Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Electricity Industry Act 2010

Electricity industry governance - Monitoring and enforcement - Code enforcement

56: Pecuniary penalty orders

You could also call this:

“Fines for breaking electricity industry rules”

The Rulings Panel can give you a fine for breaking electricity industry rules, but only if the Electricity Authority asks them to. When deciding if they should fine you and how much, they think about how serious your rule-breaking was.

They look at things like how bad the rule-breaking was, how it affected other people in the electricity industry, and whether you did it on purpose or by accident. They also consider when and how the rule-breaking happened, if you’ve broken rules before, and if you told the Authority about it yourself.

The Rulings Panel also thinks about how long the problem went on for, what you did when you found out about it, and if you got any benefits from breaking the rules. They’ll consider how the fine might affect you and the electricity industry. They can also think about other things they think are important when deciding about the fine.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM2634396.

Topics:
Business > Industry rules Environment and resources > Climate and energy
Previous

55: Restrictions on remedies, or

"Limits on what you can do if someone breaks the electricity rules"

Next

57: Offence to breach certain orders of Rulings Panel, or

"You must follow certain orders from the Rulings Panel or you might get in trouble"

Part 2 Electricity industry governance
Monitoring and enforcement: Code enforcement

56Pecuniary penalty orders

  1. The Rulings Panel may make a pecuniary penalty order under section 54(1)(d) only on an application by the Authority.

  2. In determining whether to make a pecuniary penalty order and, if so, the amount of the order, the Rulings Panel must consider the seriousness of the breach of the Code, having regard to the following:

  3. the severity of the breach:
    1. the impact of the breach on other industry participants:
      1. the extent to which the breach was inadvertent, negligent, deliberate, or otherwise:
        1. the circumstances in which the breach occurred:
          1. any previous breach of the Code by the industry participant or specified person:
            1. whether the industry participant or specified person disclosed the matter to the Authority:
              1. the length of time the breach remained unresolved:
                1. the participant’s or specified person’s actions on learning of the breach:
                  1. any benefit that the participant or specified person obtained, or expected to obtain, as a result of the breach:
                    1. the impact of the penalty on the participant or specified person and on the electricity industry:
                      1. any other matters that the Rulings Panel thinks fit.

                        Compare
                        Notes
                        • Section 56(2)(e): amended, on , by section 62(1) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 11).
                        • Section 56(2)(f): amended, on , by section 62(1) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 11).
                        • Section 56(2)(h): amended, on , by section 62(2) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 11).
                        • Section 56(2)(i): amended, on , by section 62(3) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 11).
                        • Section 56(2)(ia): inserted, on , by section 25 of the Electricity Industry Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 46).
                        • Section 56(2)(ia): amended, on , by section 62(3) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 11).