The purpose of the SOO “is to enable identification of potential opportunities for efficient management of the grid including investment in upgrades and investment in transmission alternatives.”1 The SOO is required to:2 • set out the grid reliability standards (GRS); • set out the grid planning assumptions (GPA); and • include an analysis of the performance of the power system against the GPA and. [...] For each of the next three years it increases at the higher of: • the rate of growth of the fitted exponential curve; or • the percentage increase of the Commission’s electricity demand projection for that region in the year. [...] For subsequent years it increases in proportion to the Commission’s electricity demand projection for the region so that in the long-run peak demand growth in a region is proportionate to electricity demand growth in the region. [...] The modifications are: • the Taranaki data have been calculated net of the Motonui methanex plant as it is not expected this plant will re-open in the near future; • because of the long period when service was disrupted, the South Canterbury peak for 2006/07 has been based on the 2005/06 peak plus 3%; and NZIER – Grid Planning Assumptions 6 • the 2003/04 data were removed from the dataset used for. [...] The Commission has already asked network companies for the information to enable it to do this; • argued that the hybrid approach to estimating the regional demand projections is unduly complex for the apparent impact it has on the projections; • argued that the 2003/04 data should not be removed from the data set used to estimate ‘expected’ and ‘prudent’ peal demand; • argued that clearer ‘health.