September 6, 2013 – Explaining that it is “in the interest of full transparency, and to assist entities affected by the electricity business rules to prepare for their implementation on October 1”, the Government of New Brunswick has posted said rules on its website.

The rules are a requirement under the new Electricity Act coming into effect October 1. 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, says the government. They are designed to support the New Brunswick Open Access Transmission Tariff while maximizing efficiencies and reducing costs for NB Power.

The rules will apply to large users of the transmission system, such as generators and distribution utilities. They 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
• emergency procedures

Administration and control of the electricity business rules will formally transfer to NB Power on October 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.