Electrical Workers
Registration Board and Electrical Workers Licensing Group
Strategic Plan 2002-2005
December 2002
Contents
Our Mission
Electrical Safety for all New Zealanders through the
ongoing competency of electrical workers.
Introduction
The Electrical Workers Registration Board is a statutory
body established in 1992. Members are appointed by, and
responsible to, the Minister of Energy.
The Boards main functions are set out in the Electricity
Act 1992.
Under section 148(2) of the Act, the Board has all the
"powers" as are reasonably necessary or
expedient" to enable it to carry out its functions.
During 2000 the Board commenced a process of critically
reviewing processes being used and agreed that it would
concentrate on governance and policy setting matters as well
as the disciplinary role it is required to undertake.
In 2001 work commenced on a strategic plan, which would set
the Boards direction for the period 2002-2005. The Board
approved the plan in February 2002. This document details the
plan.
John Sickels
Registrar
October 2002
Desired Result
The key objective in introducing the strategic plan is for
the Board and the Electrical Workers Licensing Group, which
provides professional and administrative services to the
Board, to be a business unit as efficient and effective as it
can be.
Drivers for a New Strategic Direction
For many years sectors of the industry were concerned at
what was seen, as excessive overhead costs practitioners were
required to pay through their licensing and associated fees.
Concern has also been expressed at the costs of the complaint
process.
Industry and the public have also been concerned at the
time taken to have complaints against registered electrical
workers finalised.
Those concerns along with opportunities to integrate Board
functions into the Ministry, the forthcoming EnergySafe
legislative programme and the overall desire to offer industry
a more efficient organisation were the drivers to the new
strategic direction.
Benefits
It is considered that there will be considerable annual
cost savings resulting from the strategy. Whilst the savings
will not be fully realised in the 2002/2003 financial year
full benefits will be available in the 2003/2004 year and out
years.
There will be a positive impact on public safety, as a
proactive approach will be taken against known transgressors
of the licensing regime immediately. Non serious complaints
against registered electrical worker will be processed within
four weeks and the time taken to finalise serious complaints
will be reduced to fifteen weeks.
Benefits will also be obtained by staff being able to focus
on core functions.
The Pictorial Plan
The following shows the pictorial version of the Board's
Strategic Plan.
Versions for specific screen resolutions:
» 1024x768 (31 KB)
» 800x600 (97
KB)
» 640x480 (67
KB)
Overview of Plan
The Strategic Plan is made up of six separate sections and
these are: -
- The EWLG/EWRB story
- Vision and Strategic Goals
- Financial Perspective
- Client Perspective
- Process Perspective
- Strategic Initiatives
The EWLG/EWRB Story
This section states the overarching intent of the plan and
that is to ensure "Electrical Safety for all New
Zealanders through the ongoing competency of electrical
workers."
Vision and Strategic Goals
The plan sets three distinct Strategic Goals, which focus
on the EWLG/EWRB's primary role as industry regulator.
The Goals are: -
- To set electrical workers licensing competency standards
which achieve maximum public and worker safety for least
impediment to industry (Industry Standards).
- To identify electrical workers who operate below
industry standards (Compliance).
- To encourage a positive behaviour change among
non-compliant licensed electrical workers (Enforcement).
Financial Perspective
As one of industry's main concerns has been the cost
relating to the complaint process the Plan sets financial
targets for the three Strategic Goals as:
- 40% of total operating costs for setting electrical
worker licensing competency standards (Industry
Standards).
- 40% of total operating costs for identify licensed
electrical workers who operate below industry standards
(Compliance)
- 20% to encourage a positive behaviour change
(Enforcement).
Client Perspective
From a Client perspective the plan recognises that public
safety will be increased through licensed electrical worker
competency.
In addition the Plan recognises that there will be
confidence in industry that persons who transgress the
occupational licensing requirements will be dealt with.
The Plan also provides electrical workers with the most
"painless" method possible for gaining a license to
practice.
Process Perspective
The process perspective will be achieved by the EWLG/EWRB
setting and communicating clear industry expectations, backed
up by a rapid, proactive response to non-compliance.
Strategic Initiatives
The Plan sets overriding Strategic Initiatives as follows:
-
- Define the EWLG/EWRB cost drives including corporate
overheads.
- Move to licensing as the sole income source.
- Investigate the viability of an industry levy for action
against persons who transgress the licensing requirements.
- Establish Service Level Agreements with the Ministry of
Economic Developments National Processing Centre, Call
Centre and Investigating Unit.
- Design EWLG/EWRB management reporting processes and
integrate information.
- Align personnel structure with the strategy.
The Plan also sets specific Strategic Initiatives for the
three Strategic Goals. These are as follows: -
Industry Standards
- Define approach for analysing the causes of
non-compliance.
- Re-negotiate the two existing memorandums of
understanding with the Electrotechnology Industry Training
Organisation and the Electricity Supply Industry Training
Organisation.
- Work towards 50% of electrical workers using the EWRB
web enabled licensing system.
- Provide all stakeholders with full information on
industry compliance.
Compliance
- Further develop the EWRB risk based audit strategy and
the joint strategy for industry self audits.
- Develop a targeted consumer awareness strategy.
- Actively pursue non-registered people who work in breach
of the licensing provisions.
- Make all information available to practising license
holders.
Enforcement
- Introduce EnergySafe complaints process.
- Actively seek to prosecute persons working in
contravention of the Act.
|
Return
to Top
