National power policy called for

The Government has moved to speed up work to clarify how electricity transmission projects should be treated under the Resource Management Act.

In another move designed to address concerns about the ageing national grid, ministers yesterday announced that work had begun to thrash out a "nationally consistent framework" to support and protect power transmission throughout the country.

There has been concern about inconsistencies in the way different local authorities implement the Resource Management Act for electricity transmission projects.

In some instances, when Transpower wants to make minor changes to its network or complete maintenance, it is treated differently from one region to another.

Economic Development Minister Trevor Mallard yesterday said there was no national framework for local bodies to use when they had to decide on proposals for power lines.

That would change when a new national policy statement on electricity transmission was completed, he said.

The Government began looking at a national policy statement for transmission in late 2004, when a reference group was set up to consider if one was worthwhile.

Electricity sector sources have suggested the work went on the backburner for some time, but it now appears to be firmly back in the spotlight as the Government responds to widespread concern about the national grid.

Those doing the work include Energy Minister David Parker, Environment Minister David Benson-Pope and Mr Mallard.

As well as the national policy statement - which will give comprehensive directives - officials are also working on a national environmental standard on power transmission.

According to the ministers, this will spell out "minor activities" that Transpower can undertake and which are needed to run and maintain the national grid without requiring resource consents.