Identity crisis for new power entity

Press, 26 January 1988, Page 4

Identity crisis for new power entity

The Municipal Electricity Board is not sure if that is what it should be called. ■

At the board’s inaugural meeting yesterday members wondered whether the title change from Municipal Electricity Department to M.E.B. was commercial enough. A board member, Ms Sue Suckling, believed M.E.B. was “not the most entrepreneurial name we could have found.”

However, the board chairman, Cr Maurice Carter, who is one of three Christchurch City Council representatives, said the question of a commercial profile would be addressed later but for now the board was really functioning as a de facto committee of the City Council. Mr William Broadhead, who is also a director of the Lane Walker Rudkin Group, cautioned that

M.E.D. logos on vehicles and elsewhere should not be changed to M.E.B. until a decision on the company’s new title was made.

A sub-committee was delegated to handle the appointment of a managing director for the board. The position has been advertised since January 16 and the short-list of applicants should be ready by February 10.

Another sub-committee including Cr Carter and his fellow City Council member Cr Ron Wilton, will select a consulting firm to value the department’s assets. The assets need to be revalued within three months for tax reasons. Mr Hal Mace, the M.E.D.’s general manager, reported that he and Cr Carter would meet on January 29 with Electricorp officials to discuss new bulk tariff prices.