Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - New Zealand - Electrical transformers, static converters (for example, rectifiers) and inductors

NOTIFICATION

The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6

 

1.

Notifying Member: NEW ZEALAND

If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):

2.

Agency responsible:

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority

P.O. Box: 388

Wellington, New Zealand

Phone: +64 4 470 2200

Email: star@eeca.govt.nz

Web: http://www.eeca.govt.nz

Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:

TBT Enquiry Point of New Zealand

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Ph +64 4 896 5711

wto@standards.co.nz

www.mbie.govt.nz

3.

Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [ ], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], 3.2 [ ], 7.2 [ ], other:

4.

Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Electrical transformers, static converters (for example, rectifiers) and inductors; parts thereof including HS 8504

5.

Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) Consultation: Regulation Impact Statement for

Consultation: Distribution Transformers (October 2024); (99 page(s), in English)

6.

Description of content: The notified consultation document presents policy options to:

·_        Increase the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS).

·_        Widen the scope for Distribution Transformers.

Three MEPS levels are considered in the consultation document.

7.

Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: The proposed policy options for Distribution Transformers (DTs) for supply (sale, lease, hire, or hire-purchase) will improve their energy efficiency and ensure that inefficient products are not available for supply in New Zealand. DTs are critical infrastructure components in the electricity grid, enabling voltage changes between primary and secondary circuits. They typically lose less than 2% of the energy that passes through them, but as they are energised 24 hours a day, even small increases in efficiency result in significant energy savings.

The proposed measures contribute to the New Zealand Government's action under the first Emissions Reduction Plan to "Use energy efficiently, lower costs and manage demand for energy" and will support achievement of emissions targets under the Climate Change Response Act 2002 including net zero 2050. It also aligns with New Zealand's commitment at COP28 to double energy efficiency by 2030.

8.

Relevant documents:

Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) Consultation: Regulation Impact Statement for

Consultation: Distribution Transformers (October 2024, 99 pages) available for download at: A Policy Framework for Hot Water Systems in Australia and New Zealand - 12 November 2018

The Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002 (the Regulations) are available at: Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002 (SR 2002/9) (as at 12 April 2022) Contents – New Zealand Legislation

Standards will be available from the Standards New Zealand website at: Home :: Standards New Zealand

9.

Proposed date of adoption: The proposed policy option (if progressed) will be incorporated into New Zealand Regulation no earlier than 2025.

Proposed date of entry into force: The proposed policy option (if progressed) will come into force in New Zealand Regulation no earlier than 2027.

10.

Final date for comments: 60 days from notification

11.

Texts available from: National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority

P.O. Box: 388

Wellington, New Zealand

Phone: +64 4 470 2200

Email: star@eeca.govt.nz

Web: http://www.eeca.govt.nz