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Distributors
Energex welcomes findings of operational review
The release of a report into the operational effectiveness of Queensland’s electricity distributors has highlighted the commitment of ENERGEX’s staff to improving South East Queensland’s power supply, according to CEO Terry Effeney. Mr Effeney said the report showed that significant gains in a wide range of areas of service delivery had been achieved in the past few years. “There are a range of findings in the report, however, all of those that are relevant to ENERGEX are very positive. I am especially pleased that the report’s authors have recognised the improved network reliability achieved as a result of the efforts of our staff and contractors,” said Mr Effeney. “I am also pleased that the authors said public criticism about aspects of the South East Queensland network has not been substantiated.” The Report on the Operational Review of Queensland Electricity Distributors, commissioned by the Queensland Government following claims by unions about potentially unsafe power networks, is a critical assessment of improvements since the 2004 Somerville Review. 14
The Master Electrician
Importantly the review team’s findings “do not support the allegations that recommendations of the EDSD review have not been implemented” while the Electrical Safety Office advised the review team that “it had not found any systemic electrical safety problems with ENERGEX”. Mr Effeney said that while the report overwhelmingly outlined a range of improvements achieved since 2004, the company’s staff would not be resting on their laurels. “South East Queensland continues to grow at levels well in excess of national trends and this is continuing to place pressure on any organisation involved in delivering public infrastructure,” he said. “ENERGEX has just experienced the greatest growth in the company’s history with more than 40,000 additional homes and businesses connecting to the local power grid in the past financial year. “This in itself would be a major challenge but at the same time there is also a continuing rise in the power being used by existing customers, especially as a result of increased use of air conditioning for heating and cooling.” Mr Effeney said the new report showed that there had been an almost 40 per cent growth in the number of people working
for ENERGEX or its contracting companies between 2004 and early 2008 – rising from around 3800 to almost 5300 people.
South East Queensland continues to grow at levels well in excess of national trends... The report also highlighted significant increases in investment in capital works programs (up almost 24 per cent) and operating and maintenance expenditure (up almost 33 per cent) while the key network reliability results are “much better than the minimum service standards established in the Electricity Industry Code”.
New recruits needed to power country NSW
The manager of Australia’s largest power distribution network, Country Energy, has put a call out for 58 new apprentices across regional New South Wales. Recruiting the next generation of electricity industry apprentices, Country Energy is encouraging men and women to join the business - powering country New South Wales into the future.