Power and Water and Territory Generation bosses get the axe
The bosses of Power and Water Corporation and Territory Generation have both been sacked following a damning investigation into a nine-hour blackout in Alice Springs
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THE bosses of Power and Water Corp and Territory Generation have both been sacked following an damning investigation into a nine-hour blackout in Alice Springs.
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Chief Minister Michael Gunner revealed this morning that he had sacked Territory Generation CEO Tim Duignan and Power and Water CEO Michael Thomson over their “unacceptable” responses during a nine-hour blackout in Alice Springs on October 13.
Following the system-wide power outage, the Utilities Commissioner conducted independent investigation into the incident.
“The independent inquiry into this found an unacceptable level of preparedness for this incident,” Mr Gunner told ABC Darwin.
“No work had been done essentially for when this occurred to know how to respond to it in terms of role-playing, having the right procedures in place, or knowing how do you respond to this when it happens.
“That led to the confusion and delays in getting the power back on.
“All of this is unacceptable, which is why we acted swiftly and decisively because the people of Alice Springs do deserve to have their power on and know the people who manage that power will look after them in a time of crisis.”
Mr Gunner said David Brown has been appointed as acting CEO of Territory Generation and Djuna Pollard is the acting CEO of the Power and Water Corporation.
It comes after the NT Electrical Trade Union slammed Territory Generation management following the blackout, warning Alice Springs could face a summer of blackouts if the Government didn’t take urgent action.
Mr Thomson and Mr Duignan have been CEOs since 2015 and 2014 respectively.
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