CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Jack Weston
Senior Policy Analyst | MBIE
SPEAKER BIO
Jack Weston is a Senior Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) where he works in the Energy Markets branch with a focus on electricity distribution and transmission. This includes designing and progressing amendments to the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations, considering the resilience of networks to extreme space weather, and incentivising efficiency by electricity distribution businesses. Previously with the Communications Policy team, Jack contributed to the nationwide fibre rollout, and improving rural connectivity, and before that worked as a data analyst at the Banking Ombudsman. Jack graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in Economics, and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. Originally from Rotorua Jack has a deep appreciation for New Zealand’s natural environment and particularly enjoys spending time in the Whirinaki Forest and around the Rotorua lakes.
TALK TITLE
Tree Regs on the Line – dialogue on the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations
ABSTRACT
The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) will present an overview of the recently updated Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003. The regulations aim to establish clear responsibilities for both tree owners and electricity network operators to manage the risk of trees interfering with power lines. This aims to prevent outages and reduce the risk of fires and other hazards. Changes in land use and weather patterns are increasing these risks and MBIE’s review and government’s subsequent amendments to the regulations aimed to ensure that the rules remain fit-for-purpose. This presentation will outline the outcomes of the review, key policy changes and the timeline for introduction of the new rules, and the operational impact these changes will have, highlighting the role of arborists.