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Introduction
This report details the main activities undertaken by the Board for the period 1 July 1994 to 30 June 1995.
During the report period the Board met 12 times, a total of 21 Board meeting days.
The Board's audit subcommittee continued to administer the audit programme and the line mechanics subcommittee developed teaching guidelines for the "supply" section of the industry. The committees met 7 and 5 times respectively.
The Board
Mr C T Lynch, Mr R Barbara and Mr M G Moffatt completed their terms on the Board during the year and the Board acknowledges the significant contribution made by each man in their individual areas of expertise during the period of their appointments.
The Minister of Energy appointed Stuart Frank Robb and John Winston Churchill to the Board as persons holding registration under the Electricity Act 1992. David Michael Daniel was appointed as a non registered member and James Ian Daniell was reappointed.
Registrar's Review
Operations
Whilst the Boards first year of operation was a transitional one the 1994/95 year was one of consolidation with the view to service improvement.
Purchase of Administrative Services
in order to facilitate improved services and clearly define levels of accountability in relation to service delivery a Memorandum of Understanding was developed between the Board and the Ministry of Commerce, from whom the Board chose to purchase services. The Memorandum provides
the Board with increased autonomy, includes the first Statement of Intent formatted by the Board, an Action Plan and clearly defines the Board's desired outcomes for the 1995/96 financial year. It also sets out the necessary terms and conditions, including output performance criteria and price.
Practising Licences
The Board introduced a "credit card" style of practising licence. The issue of such licences is now undertaken on a contractual basis in the private sector. Considerable advances were made in relation to the processing of applications, resulting in turnaround time for licence issuing being improved considerably.
For the 1995/96 practising licence year 17,265 practising licences were issued as at 30 June 1995.
Registers
The number of names on the Board's registers increased to 29,553 as at 30 June 1995. This is 1,503 more than at the same date last year.
Chart A shows the number of persons registered and the number of practising licences issued as at 30 June 1995.
Chart A - Persons Registered and
Practising Licenses Issued as at 30 June 1995
(43KB jpg)
Ensuring the Competence of Registered People
Work continued on the development and refinement of programmes to ensure the ongoing competence of registered people.
Considerable personnel resources were allocated to address the backlog of certificate of compliance recording from the inception of the programme.
During the year 112 contracts were entered into for the interviewing of registered people and the inspection of electrical work that had been certified under the certificate Of compliance system. The contracts represented 3,840 voluntary interviews and 13,769 work inspections with a total value of $1,100,536.11 (exclusive of GST). This expenditure represented 92% of the Boards 1994/95 estimates for such work.
The Boards original target of 15,000 interviews and 5,000 work inspections was adjusted in February 1995 to acknowledge that not all registered people wish to participate in the voluntary interview programme. This was considered unfortunate as the interview programme was initially designed as an educational mechanism. The results of the interview programme were satisfactory. However, concern remains as to whether those people who did not participate in the programme are complying with the regulatory requirements.
New targets were set at 15,000 work inspections and 8,000 interviews.
A total of 242 "warrants of authority" were issued to enable the inspection work to he carried out.
Consultants were engaged to report on the Board's audit programme. The objective of the review was to examine the audit process and supporting computer systems and to recommend improvements to increase the overall effectiveness of the audit. A report on the consultants' findings has been released and work has commenced on implementing the recommendations made.
Certificates of Compliance
The network of certificate of compliance resellers has continued to expand during the year and there are now 185 outlets throughout the country.
Sales of Certificates of Compliance
Chart B shows the number of certificates sold during the 1994/95 financial year.
Chart B - Certificates of Compliance
Sold During the 1994/95 Financial Year
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Revenue from Certificates of Compliance
Chart C shows the revenue from the sales of certificates of compliance for the period 1 July 1994/30 June 1995. Revenue is shown exclusive of GST.
Chart C - Revenue from Sales of Certificates of Compliance 1 July 1994 - 30 July 1995
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Registration Under the Transitional Provisions of the Act
The majority of transitional registration aspects relating to the Act have been completed with in excess of 28,000 people being re-registered. However, 140 applications from people seeking electrical technicians registration which, if approved, enable the applications to he registered as electrical inspectors, are yet to be finalised.
Chart D shows the status of electrical technicians applications as at 30 June 1995.
Chart D - Status of Electrical Technicians Applications as at 30 June 1995
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Examinations
In line with the Board's "on demand" policy for conducting registration examinations, 58 separate examinations were set during the year for a total of 2,003 candidates.
Chart E shows the number of candidates attempting Board-conducted registration examinations during the report period.
Chart E - Candidates Attempting Board-Conducted Examinations 1 July 1994 - 30 June 1995
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Computerisation
Considerable effort and expense was expended during the year on the continued refinement of the Board's computing systems. Practising licence issuing programmes have been enhanced to generate personalised application forms, and the validation of replies. The system also automates banking and credit card charging, and issues refund requests and personal and company receipts. These factors enahle the Board, when required, to process in excess of 1,000 practising licence applications per day.
The majority of new registrations can be processed in 7 days if all prerequisites are satisfied.
Certificate of compliance and audit recording systems have also been enhanced to improve accuracy of information held and give better management reporting.
Further computerisation will continue in the forthcoming year.
Teaching Guidelines
Development of teaching guidelines has continued. A draft document was produced for line mechanics and released to the industry for comment.
Tradespersons guidelines were reformulated.
Disciplinary and Legal Actions
Following receipt of recommendations from Complaints Assessment Committees, 14 disciplinary hearings were held by the Board with the following results:
- one electrical inspector and one electrician were found not guilty of disciplinary offences
- one electrical inspector had his registration suspended for 3 months
- one electrical inspector had his registration suspended until such time that he passed the electrical inspectors theoretical examination and practical examination (or practical assessment)
- one electrician had his registration suspended until such time that he passed the electricians theoretical and regulations examinations and the electricians practical examination (or practical assessment)
- one electrician had his registration suspended until such time that he completed a course in self certification
- one electrician had his registration suspended for 12 months
- three electricians had their registration suspended for three months
- three electricians were censured
Nine prosecutions were instituted and one letter of warning issued. Satisfactory explanations were received in three cases resulting in no further action teeing taken. Five cases are pending.
Full details of disciplinary and prosecution actions taken by the Board are published from time to time.
Publicity
The Board implemented a comprehensive national public awareness campaign that encouraged property owners, who have electrical work carried out, to engage a registered electrical worker with a current practising licence. The objectives of the campaign were:
- to protect property owners' health and safety, by ensuring they ask to see their tradesperson's practising licence before engaging them for work
- to encourage property owners to request a certificate of compliance for fixed wiring work
- to raise awareness in the industry of the need to use practising licences and certificates of compliance, both in everyday work situations, and in general promotional activities.
Positive feedback from both the industry and the public has indicated that the campaign was a success. The Board gratefully acknowledges the generous financial support it received from PDL Industries Limited, MasterTrade Limited and MM Cables Limited.
Dissemination
of and Access to Information
In order to alleviate communication problems with registered persons the Board entered into an agreement with the publisher of Electrolink magazine which permitted the publisher to mail Board information circulars to all registered electrical workers, as part of the publisher's own free magazine. The magazine provides a vehicle for industry comment and is sent, via an approved mail contractor, to all persons registered under the Electricity Act 1992. Distribution is undertaken in this manner to protect the privacy of individuals. The magazine has wide support within the electrical industry and as such the Board considers the venture to be a success.
To improve communication between the Board's office, the industry and the public, a freephone number was introduced. This service has been well utilized with 5,857 calls received in the first four months.
Financial Reports
The following pages show comparisons of the 1994/95 year with the 1993/94 year and the forecast for the 1995/96 year.
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