Electricity Inquiry Opens To Public Submissions - 2 April 1998
[ Last Updated 19 October 2007 ]
The Ministerial Inquiry into the Auckland Power Supply Failure expects to begin sitting in Auckland at the end of May, Inquiry Chairman Hugh Rennie said today.
"The Inquiry has adopted an open approach to submissions and provision of information," Mr Rennie said.
"Information can be forwarded to the Inquiry at any time and this can take the form of submissions. Those wishing to make submissions may wish to wait for the technical report to be completed first."
Mr Rennie said that as directed by the Government, there will be two distinct stages of the Inquiry. The first stage will focus on the production of technical reports. These will consider distribution network planning and risk evaluation associated with the cable installation management and the maintenance. A second part of the technical report will investigate the technical cause of the cable failure.
"The second stage of the Inquiry will review the technical reports as well as other aspects of the terms of reference. These include organisational issues, all aspects of governance structures, accountability arrangements and customer contracts, risk management contingency planning and any other relevant factors," Mr Rennie said.
"The Inquiry is directed to recommend any changes necessary to ensure that security risks relating to distribution lines are managed efficiently in the future.
"These recommendations must take into account the costs and benefits of any changes, including the cost of alternative measures to insure against outages."
Mr Rennie said a public notice would run in the New Zealand Herald tomorrow (2 April) outlining details of the Inquiry process. A second public notice would be placed in the Herald after the technical report had been produced indicating the submission closing date.
He emphasised that the Ministerial Inquiry is an investigation and not a Court.
"There will be no formal speeches and although Inquiry members may ask questions, there are no rights for other persons to ask questions or cross-examine," he said.
"Sittings of the Inquiry will be in public except in any case where the Inquiry is persuaded that strong grounds for confidentiality require a private sitting to be held."
Mr Rennie said he and the other Inquiry members want the Inquiry to be a helpful and user-friendly means of meeting the Ministerial terms of reference.
To assist the public the Inquiry has established a Website address http://www.moc.govt.nz/inquiry . This will provide information on the terms of reference, the process and procedure and the reports as they become publicly available.
The Inquiry has also established a New Zealand toll free number 0800 264 183.
For further information:
| Hugh Rennie: |
Chairman |
Phone 04-499 2684 |
| John Gilbert: |
Inquiry Manager |
Phone 0800 264 183 or 04-474 2696 |
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