Hon Hekia Parata
Acting Minister of Energy and Resources
9 August 2011Media Statement
Appointments to the Electricity Authority's Rulings Panel
The Acting Minister of Energy and Resources, Hekia Parata, has announced the following appointments and reappointment to
the Electricity Authority’s Rulings Panel.
Wellington barrister Peter Dengate Thrush has been appointed chairperson, replacing Gael Webster who has completed her
term.
Mr Dengate Thrush is a member of the Copyright Tribunal and, until June 2011, was Chairman of the board of Internet
Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). He has been a member of the Rulings Panel since March 2008 and
deputy Chair since July 2008.
Geraldine Baumann has been appointed the new Deputy Chair. Ms Baumann has 30 years experience in the electricity sector.
She was on the board of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority from 2001 to 2007, the board of Genesis Energy
from 2002 to 2008, and a member of the Board of Inquiry to consider the National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy
from 2008 to 2009.
Wellington barrister Nicola Wills and former electricity sector executive and consultant Susan Roberts have also been
appointed replacing Craig Taylor and John Isles who have both completed their terms.
John O’Sullivan has been reappointed.
Members are appointed by the Governor General in accordance with a recommendation from the Minister of Energy and
Resources after consultation with the Minister of Justice and Electricity Authority.
The Rulings Panel was established in 2004. It investigate breaches of the Electricity Industry Code 2010, in accordance
with Section 23 of the Electricity Industry Act 2010.
ENDS