Comments sought on energy innovation bill

The Commerce Committee is seeking submissions on the Energy Innovation (Electric Vehicles and Other Matters) Amendment Bill.

The bill encourages energy innovation such as emerging energy technologies and increased variation in energy-related business models to enable New Zealand to respond to its environmental and energy objectives.

The bill – an omnibus bill – aims to amend the Electricity Industry Act 2010 and the Energy (Fuels, Levies, and References) Act 1989 to allow the government, through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), to focus levy funding on the areas where the greatest impact can be made, as well as to improve the operation and administration of those levies:

It also aims to amend the Land Transport Act 1998 and the Road User Charges Act 2012 to implement measures to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs), specifically by extending the road user charge exemption to include heavy electric vehicles (EVs) and clarifying a bylaw-making power so that road controlling authorities (RCA) may make bylaws to provide for EVs to have access to bus and high occupancy vehicle lanes.

Finally it aims to amend the Electricity Industry Act 2010 to clarify how electricity industry legislation applies to secondary networks as a growing business model in the sector.

“As energy technology advances New Zealand continues to improve efficiency and meet our climate change commitments,” says chairperson of the Commerce Committee Melissa Lee. “This bill aims to accommodate innovation such as EVs as well as reduce emissions and improve energy productivity.”

Interested parties have until February 1, 2017 to respond. For more information and to read the Regulatory Systems (Commercial Matters) Amendment Bill, visit Parliament’s website (www.parliament.nz/en).