New Chief Executive Officer for Energex

Experienced energy industry executive Terry Effeney will lead Queensland’s biggest electricity company after being appointed Chief Executive Officer of Energex, Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson said today.

Mr Effeney is currently the Chief Operating Officer for regional Queensland energy company Ergon Energy and will join Energex in early 2007.

Mr Effeney has more than 25 years experience in the energy industry, combining an engineering and economics background with extensive operational management experience.

The Minister said Effeney would steer Energex during an important time in the company’s history with key industry issues occurring in the coming year, including the deregulation of the domestic electricity and gas market.

Energex is one of Queensland's biggest organisations with $6.6 billion in total assets and more than 3,800 employees.

In the past three years the company has undergone major growth with nearly 1,000 more staff employed in September 2006 than in June 2004.

The organisation is midway through a record $3 billion-plus five-year capital expenditure program and in the 2006/07 financial year is spending $643 million upgrading the electricity network. A further $263 million has been committed to maintenance and operation of the network – combined an average of almost $2.5 million a day.

“Mr Effeney has a strong background in the energy industry and he's joining the organisation at one of the busiest times of the year.

"I welcome Mr Effeney to Energex and look forward to working with him in the New Year," Mr Wilson said.

“While many businesses wind back during December and January, this is traditionally one the busiest times for Energex staff who are on call around the clock for the summer storm season.

“Up to 1,000 Energex workers are on standby this summer storm season, ready to tackle any issue the wild weather throws at the electricity network. This includes field crews and support staff in the Control and Contact Centres.

Energex supplies electricity to a population of around 2.7 million people in south east Queensland, through almost 50,000 km of overhead and underground power lines.

Media Inquiries: Ellen McIntyre 3225 1819