AGY-6919 | Prospect Electricity

Full description

The Electricity (Amendment) Act 1993, which took effect on 1 July 1993 (1), amended the Electricity Act 1945 to dissolve county councils and replace them with electricity distributors constituted as bodies corporate. (2) Pursuant to this Act, Prospect County Council was dissolved and replaced by Prospect Electricity. (3) The new agency was responsible for the distribution of electricity in Baulkham Hills Shire, Blacktown City, Blue Mountains City, Camden Municipality, Campbelltown City, Fairfield City, Greater Lithgow City, Hawkesbury City, Holroyd City, Liverpool City, Parramatta City, Penrith City, Rylstone Shire and Wollondilly Shire. (4)

As an electricity distributor, the principal functions of Prospect Electricity were:
(a) the purchase, transmission and distribution of electricity; (b) the provision and maintenance of works for the distribution of electricity; (c) the protection of the public from dangers arising from the transmission, distribution and use of electricity; (d) the promotion of safe and efficient use of electricity and electrical fittings and appliances; (e) the promotion of energy conservation and of measures to increase the efficiency of energy transmission and use; (f) such other functions as were approved by the Minister on the recommendation of the Corporation. (5)

Electricity distributors could also (a) conduct any business and, for that purpose use any property or the services of any staff of the distributor (b) generate electricity; (c) acquire and develop land as necessary for the exercise of its functions and dispose of land; (d) acquire or build, and maintain and dispose of, any buildings, plant, machinery, equipment or vehicles (e) make and enter into contracts or arrangements for carrying out of works or the performance of services or the supply of goods or materials; and (f) make charges and impose fees for services performed and goods and materials supplied by it; (g) appoint agents and act as agents for other persons. (6)

In 1995, the NSW Government embarked on a restructuring of the electricity generation and distribution sectors. On 29 August 1995, the Minister for Energy announced that the State's 25 electricity distributors would merge into six new bodies with Prospect Electricity to merge with Illawarra Electricity. (7) On 1 October 1995, MetSouth Energy was created by proclamation under the Electricity Act 1945. (8) On the same day, the interests and immovable assets of Prospect Electricity and Illawarra Electricity were transferred to MetSouth. (9)

Between October 1995 and February 1996, Prospect Electricity and Illawarra Electricity continued to exist as legal entities and held joint Board meetings. (10) The Electricity (Amalgamation of Electricity Distributors) Regulation 1995 provided that a former distributor would not be dissolved until all of its “staff, assets, rights and liabilities” had been transferred to a new body. (11)

The two organisations' remaining assets were transferred to MetSouth on 29 February 1996. (12)

Endnotes
1. NSW Government Gazette No.70, 30 June 1993, p.3327
2. Electricity (Amendment) Act 1993 (Act No.24, 1993), Sch.7; NSW Government Gazette No.70, 30 June 1993, p.3328.
3. NSW Government Gazette No.70, 30 June 1993, p.3328.
4. Electricity (Amendment) Act 1993, Sch.1 (26) - Prospect Electricity.
5. Electricity (Amendment) Act 1993, Sch.1 (3) Div.2 - 6C Functions of an electricity distributor.
6. Electricity (Amendment) Act 1993. Sch.1 (3) Div.2 - 6D Ancillary functions of an electricity distributor.
7. Prospect Electricity Annual Report 1994-95, p.[iv].
8. NSW Government Gazette No.118, 27 September 1995, p.6920.
9. Ibid., p.6930.
10. SR ref: NRS 21390/1.
11. Electricity Act 1945 - Electricity (Amalgamation of Electricity Distributors) Regulation 1995, s.9. (1); NSW Government Gazette No.118, 27 September 1995, p.6924.
12. NSW Government Gazette No.25, 29 February 1996, p.829.