AGY-2976 | Shortland Electricity / Orion Energy

Full description

Shortland Electricity was established on 1 July 1993 by the Electricity (Amendment) Act, 1993 (Act No.24, 1993). Shortland Electricity replaced the former Shortland County Council. The new agency was responsible for the supply and distribution of electricity in the following local government areas - Cities of Newcastle, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, and Cessnock and the Councils of Great Lakes (part) , Gloucester, Scone, Dungog, Port Stevens, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Merriwa (part). (1)

The principal functions of Shortland 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 are approved by the Minister on the recommendation of the Corporation. (2)

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. (3)

The policies of Shortland Electricity were determined by the Board. The Board consisted of between five and 13 members. These consisted of people from categories described in regulations or those with managerial, commercial, financial, legal or other qualifications from the various Council areas served by the Company. The Minister was entitled to appoint up to two members. The Directors appointed a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson from their number although Ministerial representatives were ineligible for these offices. (4)

The General Manager was responsible for ensuring that the Board's policies were effected. The General Manager also exercised day-to-day management of the distributor; carried out any functions delegated to him; was responsible for the appointment, direction and dismissal of staff and for implementing an equal employment opportunity plan. (5)

The company maintained a general fund and a trust fund and could invest monies held by it in accordance with the Public Authorities (Financial Arrangements) Act, 1987. The company also possessed a number of other powers in relation to the entry of premises to carry out functions, the acquisition of land and the erection of structures. (6)

By mid-June 1994 the corporate structure of Shortland Electricity was as follows: General Manager, Internal Auditor, Corporate Secretary, Executive Managers were responsible for Financial Services, Design Services, Network Control, and there was a Manager Performance Improvement. Executive Managers were responsible for the following regions: Muswellbrook, Maitland, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle. (7)

In March 1995, although still officially constituted as Shortland Electricity, a new marketing image and name - Orion Energy - was launched. This was to better position the company for operation in a national deregulated electricity market. (8)

Later in 1995, the NSW Government embarked on a restructuring of the electricity generation and distribution sectors. On 29 August it was announced that Orion Energy would merge with Sydney Electricity (9) and subsequently a number of instruments were enacted to achieve this aim. On 1 October 1995, MetNorth Energy and NorthPower Energy were created by proclamation under the Electricity Act 1945 (Act No.13, 1946). (10) On 1 October 1995, by Orders under the Electricity Act 1945, the assets and staff of Sydney Electricity were formally transferred to MetNorth (11) and some of the assets of Shortland Electricity were transferred to MetNorth and NorthPower (12), though Orion Energy and Sydney Electricity continued to operate pending the completion of the restructuring process. (13) On 29 February 1996, a further Order transferred the remaining Shortland assets, including staff, to MetNorth and NorthPower. (14)

On 1 March 1996, MetNorth Energy and NorthPower Energy were reconstituted under the new Energy Services Corporations Act 1995. (15) MetNorth was re-named EnergyAustralia by regulation commencing on 2 March 1996. (16)

Endnotes
1. Electricity (Amendment) Act 1993 s. Schedule 7 - Shortland Electricity.
2. Ibid. Schedule 1 Division 2 - 6C Functions of an electricity distributor.
3. Ibid. Schedule 1 - 6D Ancillary functions of an electricity distributor.
4. Ibid. Schedule 1 - 6N Constitution of board of electricity distributor.
5. Ibid. Schedule 1 - 6O General Manager and staff.
6. Ibid. Schedule 1 - 6Q- T Division 6 - Finance.
7. Report of the Shortland Electricity for the year ended 30 June, 1994 pp.40-41.
8. Orion Energy Annual Report 1994-95, p.8.
9. Ibid., p.2.
10. NSW Government Gazette No.118, 27 September 1995, pp.6920-21.
11. Ibid., p.6932.
12. Ibid., pp.6930-31.
13. Orion Energy - Insight, October 1995 (NRS 21149/3).
14. NSW Government Gazette No.25, 29 February 1996, p.830.
15. NSW Government Gazette No.26, 1 March 1996, pp.943-44.
16. Ibid., p.833; Energy Services Corporations Act 1995 (Act No.95, 1995), Sch.1.