9511 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister for Energy

9511 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister for Energy: What external legal costs, if any, were incurred by any department or entity for which the Minister is responsible in each financial year since 2020/21, broken down by department or entity and by the nature of the legal work (litigation, commercial advice, employment matters, Treaty matters, or other)?

Hon Simon Watts: EA: The Authority’s external legal costs for each financial year since 2021 are set out in the table below. The Authority’s functions include making secondary legislation through the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010, monitoring and enforcing compliance with the Code market-facilitation measures and contracting for market operation services. We use external lawyers to certify Code amendments, assist with enforcement as necessary and advise as required on proposed Code changes, our statutory framework and contractual matters. We have a separate litigation fund for challenges to decisions made by the Authority (the litigation costs below are primarily met from this fund). EECA: See attached response.