One Canty power authority?

Press, 28 January 1986, Page 25

One Canty power authority?

Canterbury should have one electricity authority if the region’s electricity distribution is to be restructured, according to the Central Canterbury Electric Power Board. In its submission to the Local Government Commission, the board said that it had put short-term interests aside to reach a sound long-term solution for consumers. Detailed study of various options had not been possible because of inadequate time, the board said. , A copy of its submission vws discussed at yesterday’s Ellesmere County

Council meeting. “The board opposes any electricity distribution restructuring that would disadvantage rural consumers,” the board said. “The loss to another authority of the board’s urban area could lead to a rise of 25 to 30 per cent in the retail tariff to rural consumers. “This is because of the higher average cost involved in giving the service to rural consumers. The board opposes the transfer of funds from electricity revenue <for non-energy-related purposes.”

Consumer-elected representation on a single electricity authority for the region is preferred by the board. Conservation The Nature Conservation Council has asked for comments about its role from Ellesmere councillors. Recent changes in environmental administration may lead to a takeover of the nature conservation council’s functions by a Government department, or other agency. “The council is concerned that such moves could lead to the demise

of some of the functions it performs,” Ellesmere councillors were told in a letter from the council. “It is particularly worried that the prompt, practical and independent character of its advice may suffer.” Cr N. A. Osborne said that the Nature Conservation Council’s functions could be undertaken by a Government department under the new environment administration. “The council provides advice and I’m sure there are experts within the new.L department who cover the same thing,” she said.