Veteran public servant Vince Graham retired in December, conceding with the winding up of Networks NSW in light of the partial privatisation of Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy.
Mr Massy-Greene paid tribute to Mr Graham’s leadership in reforming the state’s three electricity distribution networks Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy, acknowledging he gave 47 years of service to the state.
“Vince has driven difficult but necessary changes across the three networks since 2012 and championed sustainable improvements for the benefits of NSW families and businesses,” Mr Massy-Greene said.
“He has led much-needed reforms while balancing our customers’ interests with those of our workers and other stakeholders. During his three years as chief executive officer of Networks NSW, safety performance has improved significantly, and regulator approved capital and operating expenditure has been reduced by $3.1 billion. As a consequence, average residential network charges in NSW have been held below inflation in the past three years, after a number of years of often double-digit increases.”
In 2008, Mr Graham was appointed chief executive officer of Integral Energy, now Endeavour Energy. In 2012, he was appointed chief executive officer of Networks NSW to drive the NSW Government’s network reform program at Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy. As of January, the businesses have been re-established as independent entities ahead of the proposed long-term lease transactions of Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy.
Following Mr Graham’s retirement, the current deputy CEOs at Ausgrid (Trevor Armstrong) and Endeavour Energy (Rod Howard) will be appointed as acting chief executives pending the finalisation of the NSW Government’s lease transaction.
