Bolger hits at energy chief

Press, 2 June 1989, Page 3

Bolger hits at energy chief

By

BRENDON BURNS

in Wellington Dr Rod Deane, Electricorp’s chief executive, will be looking for a job in less than 18 months, predicts the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bolger. He took issue yesterday with Dr Deane, who earlier said some Opposition spokespeople did not see State-owned enterprises functioning in the same way as the present Ministers. Dr Deane, reputed to earn $300,000 a year with Electricorp, said government had the scope to require S.O.E.S to provide subsidised services to favoured groups. He argued

this meant S.O.E.s should be privatised. Mr Bolger said Dr Deane wanted to hand cheaper power to big users but did not think politicians should be involved. International consultants had found New Zealanders were overcharged for electricity, said Mr Bolger. “What I would like to see is a reduction for all users.”' He said Dr Deane and Electricorp seemed to have forgotten that taxpayers owned the generating capacity. Politicians, as elected representatives, had the right to comment.