Minister of Blackouts

David Parker has resigned his remaining Ministerial posts, including Energy.

This weeks TransTasman has an interesting article about the Energy Sector, stating:

• Meridian Energy and Genesis have asked the Electricity Commission to bring it's reserve power station on line, but the Electricity Commision has said no.


• Meridian CEO Keith Turner says Transpower needs to upgrade the National Power Grid to Auckland, but the Electricity Commission wants it to explore alternatives to it's planned upgrade.


• The Commerce Commission is telling Transpower not to pre-fund it's planned National Grid Upgrade, and threatened it with price controls.


• Transpower also want to upgrade the Cook Strait Power Cable, and the Electricity Commission wants South Island Generators to pay for it, not North Island consumers.

TransTasman calls is a "buggers muddle" and asks when someone in Government will step in and sort out all the (mainly Government-owned) companies and Government agencies so some action will go ahead.

With David Parker gone, now if the oppurtunity to get decisive action from a new Minister of Energy. Given Labour's track record of hand-wringing on complicated issues, I don't hold out much hope.