Undesirable trading situations

Part 1 of the Code defines an undesirable trading situation as any situation that:

• threatens, or may threaten, confidence in, or the integrity of, the wholesale market; and
• in the reasonable opinion of the Electricity Authority, cannot satisfactorily be resolved by any other mechanism available under this Code (but for the purposes of this paragraph a proceeding for a breach of clause 13.5A is not to be regarded as another mechanism for satisfactory resolution of a situation).

Anybody may report the development, or possible development, of a UTS. The person/organisation does not need to be an industry participant.

If you have grounds to suspect an undesirable trading situation, please take immediate action. Read the following guidelines, then complete and return the claim form.

We investigate all UTS claims lodged with us. However, we cannot commence an investigation if more than 10 business days have passed since the situation, which is suspected or anticipated to be a UTS, has occurred (Code clause 5.1A). Your swift action is therefore imperative.

If you are in doubt about this time limit or whether another party has already claimed the UTS, please contact uts@ea.govt.nz or 04 474 2260 immediately.

We are responsible for determining whether a UTS is developing or has developed (Code clause 5.2(1)).

If a UTS has occurred, we may take any action to correct the situation that we consider appropriate (Code clause 5.2(2)). For example, suspending Code requirements or imposing new requirements on industry participants.

It's our obligation and priority to correct the situation and restore the electricity market to normal operation as soon as possible.