Hon David Parker
Minister of Energy

13 September 2006

Electricity Commission Chair to step down in November

Electricity Commissioner Roy Hemmingway is to step down in November, Energy Minister David Parker announced today.

“While Roy’s term as Chair of the Electricity Commission expires on 14 September, I have asked him to stay until 30 November,” Mr Parker said.

Roy Hemmingway is returning to the United States following completion of his term.

Mr Parker today paid tribute to the role Roy Hemmingway has played in establishing New Zealand’s new regulatory framework for the electricity industry.

“Roy Hemmingway has done a very good job in overseeing the establishment of the Electricity Commission. When he took up his appointment in September 2003, there was nothing in place and now under Roy’s stewardship we have a fully functioning Commission which has tackled a very heavy workload,” said Mr Parker.

“Roy Hemmingway brought with him to New Zealand a wealth of experience in electricity sector regulation. We were fortunate to have been able to attract him to this country at a time when we were introducing our own regulatory system.

“Peter Harris, a Commission Board member, already has delegated authority from the Board to exercise all the functions and powers of the chair when the chair is unavailable, and I am happy for that arrangement to continue until I find a successor to Roy Hemmingway.

I am not intending to rush the process for finding a new chair,” said Mr Parker.

ENDS

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