New electricity business rules published in New Brunswick

FREDERICTON GNB – - FREDERICTON GNB – New electricity business rules were recently published by Energy and Mines Minister Craig Leonard as one of his first acts under the Electricity Act, which is also now in effect.

"The new electricity business rules are an integral part of the improved operations, and I am pleased to publish them,” said Leonard. "These rules will reduce the red tape to which companies using NB Power's transmission system must adhere and make our electricity market simpler and more efficient."

The electricity business rules 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.

The provincial government made the electricity business rules available online in early September so companies affected by them could review them and prepare for today.

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 are focused on ensuring the reliability of the bulk electric system and address matters such as:

â—? transmission planning

â—? grid connections and cost allocation

â—? outage planning

â—? real and near real time reliability assessments

â—? scheduling electricity flows

â—? generation dispatch

â—? billing and payments and

â—? emergency procedures.

Administration and control of the electricity business rules will formally transfer to NB Power on Oct. 2, 2013 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 has regulatory oversight over them.

“The Electricity Act will bring greater stability to NB Power and will allow the company to operate in a more efficient, transparent and business-like manner,” Leonard said.