APPENDIX 1: DETAILED RULE CHANGE PROPOSAL

This Appendix presents the amendments proposed to the Rules.

a.

Amend rule 4.4.2 of technical code A of schedule C3 of part C of the

Rules as follows:
4.4

Protection of assets and the grid

Each asset owner will ensure that it provides protection
systems for its assets that are connected to, or form part of,
the grid. Each asset owner must also ensure that:

4.4.1

4.4.2

Duplicated main protection systems are

provided
Duplicated main protection systems are provided,
by that asset owner, at the grid interface at
voltages of 220 kV AC or above, so that duplicated
main protection systems are provided on each
side of the grid interface. The asset owner must
also ensure that such main protection systems
are designed, tested and maintained in accordance
with good industry practice and the requirements
set out in Appendix A; Main protection systems on
both sides of the grid interface at 220 kV are
designed to follow industry best practice such that
there are either duplicate protections or two
different main protections which have a similar
probability of detection. Circuits breaker
duplication is not required. A circuit-breaker failure
protection system shall be provided for each 220 kV
circuit breaker; and

4.4.2A For the purposes of rule 4.4.2, good industry

practice means that design, testing and
maintenance of duplicated main protection
systems conform to electricity industry standards
and practices as they are reasonably and ordinarily
applied by a skilled and experienced asset owner
to current installations in the New Zealand 220 kV
context; and
4.4.2B A circuit breaker failure protection system is
provided for each circuit breaker at voltages of
220 kV AC or above. Circuit breaker duplication is
not required; and

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b.

Include new definitions in part A of the Rules:

main protection system means a protection system designed to detect
one or more types of fault and disconnect the faulted asset from the grid
with the minimum of disruption to the grid and non-faulted assets
circuit breaker failure protection means a protection system which:

c.

(a)

operates because a circuit breaker has failed to disconnect a

faulted asset from the grid in the allocated time;

(b)

may disconnect unfaulted assets as well as the faulted asset; and

(c)

which need not be duplicated

Add the following appendix to technical code A of schedule C3 of part C of

the Rules:
Appendix A: Duplicated main protection system requirements either
side of the grid interface at 220 kV AC or higher
For the purpose of rule 4.4.2 of this technical code, duplicated main
protection systems either side of the grid interface at voltages of 220 kV
AC or above must meet the requirements set out below.
1. Duplicate main protection systems (main 1 and main 2 protection)
must be designed with sufficient coverage and probability of detection
that if any or all parts of one main protection system fail, the other
main protection system will disconnect a faulted asset before
backup protection initiates the disconnection of other non-faulted
assets.
2. Main 1 protection must be different to that selected for main 2
protection to reduce the risk of common mode failures. Relays from
the same manufacturer, including digital and analogue combinations,
are only permitted provided that the measurement principles used for
main 1 and main 2 protection are different.
3. Subject to rules 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this Appendix, each duplicated main
protection system must have:
(i)

a separate current transformer core, or equivalent

instrument, and cabling;

(ii)

a voltage transformer supply, or equivalent instrument,

separately fused at the voltage transformer and separately
cabled;

(iii)

a separate trip circuit in each of the circuit breakers it

trips;

(iv)

separate protection signalling cabling and connections,

where protection signalling is used;

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(v)

a separate test facility (separate test blocks or test

switches and test terminals);

(vi)

supervision of fused protection circuits, including DC and

voltage transformer circuits;

(vii)

supervision of the electrical continuity of the circuit

breaker trip circuits; and

(viii)

segregation of cabling, designed to minimise the number of

connections in any protection circuit, and to minimise the
risk of accidental interference with those circuits and
cabling.

4. The DC supply to duplicated main protection systems must consist

of two independent station batteries, each with its own charger,
supervision and with a capacity and carry over duty to cover charger
failure until repair and restoration. Station batteries may feed a
common primary DC busbar that is isolated and insulated. The DC
supply to each duplicated main protection system must be
separately fused at the primary DC busbar.
5. A current transformer commissioned prior to [date to be inserted17], if
not fitted with sufficient cores, is not required to comply with the
requirements of rule 3(i) of this Appendix A until the current
transformer is replaced.
6. A circuit breaker commissioned prior to [date to be inserted17], if not
designed to incorporate a second trip coil, is not required to comply
with the requirements of 3(iii) of this Appendix A until the circuit
breaker is replaced.
7. Cabling commissioned prior to [date to be inserted17], if not designed
to be segregated, is not required to comply with the segregation
requirements of rule 3(viii) of this Appendix A until the cabling
replaced.
d. Make a minor typographical correction to the defined term, circuitbreaker18, to remove the hyphen between the words circuit and
breaker in part A of the rules, and in rule 4.3 of technical code A of
schedule C3 of part C of the Rules.

17
18

To be the date on which these rule amendments come into effect.

The term circuit-breaker is not used elsewhere in the Rules other than in technical code C of schedule C3 of part C.
References in technical code C will be updated under a separate rule amendment proposal.

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