FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government posted today new electricity business rules.
 
"In the interest of full transparency, and to assist entities affected by the electricity business rules to prepare for their implementation on Oct. 1, we have posted them on the provincial government website,” said Energy and Mines Minister Craig Leonard. “Anyone who is interested has easy access to them and can review them."

The electricity business rules are a requirement under the new Electricity Act coming into effect on that date. They will replace the market rules created in 2004 when NB Power was separated into a group of companies as well as the New Brunswick System Operator to support a competitive electricity market in the province.

Compared to the market rules, the electricity business rules have been simplified to reflect a restructured, vertically integrated utility. They are designed to support the New Brunswick Open Access Transmission Tariff while maximizing efficiencies and reducing costs for NB Power, which, in turn, will benefit ratepayers.

The electricity business rules will apply to large users of the transmission system, such as generators and distribution utilities. The rules are focused on ensuring the reliability of the bulk electric system and address matters such as:

●    transmission planning;
●    grid connections and cost allocation;
●    outage planning;
●    real and near real time reliability assessments;
●    scheduling electricity flows;
●    generation dispatch;
●    billing and payments; and
●    emergency procedures.

Administration and control of the electricity business rules will formally transfer to NB Power on Oct. 2 in accordance with the Electricity Act and its general regulation.

Any questions or comments relating to the electricity business rules should be directed to NB Power, as the administrator of the rules, or to the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board, which will have regulatory oversight over them.


06-09-13