The authority wanted a further round of consultation before making a final transmission pricing methodology (TPM) decision. The revised date for a decision was now April 2017.
''This is not great news for the aluminium smelter, as it is keen for the promised TPM gains as soon as possible. For the same reason, it is also a modest negative for Meridian. However, we had already assumed that the TPM would take longer than the authority originally planned and there is no change to any views,'' he said.
The authority also indicated the avoided cost of transmission (ACOT) final decision had not been made and would not come into effect until April 1, 2018, at the earliest. The authority had been aiming for April 1, 2017.
As with the TPM, Forsyth Barr had anticipated a delay and its forecasts for Trustpower - the most affected party - did not assume the loss of ACOT revenue of about $20million until April 1, 2019, Mr Foster said.
The south of the South Island would benefit from the changes in pricing and the Otago-Southland Employers Association had been a strong advocate for the changes.
Some prices would increase in the North Island and the Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) had been advocating for no change.
The EMA said it was puzzled and deeply concerned as to why the Electricity Authority had pushed its transmission pricing proposal into another round of consultation.
Tauranga-based Trustpower has also sought a judicial review of the process that led to the recommendations, which has yet to begin.
Prime Minister John Key raised doubts about the proposed reforms, which were not due for implementation until 2019.
A supplementary consultation paper would be issued on December 6 for submissions by February 10, along with a response to the points raised on the issues paper that caused such controversy.
''We will consider whether any further process steps are required, for example cross-submissions or a hearing, after considering submissions on the supplementary TPM consultation paper,'' the authority said in a statement.
