Christchurch City Council. Municipal Electricity Department. (1920-1989)
Dates
- Existence: 1920 - 1989
Parallel Names
- MED
Biography
In 1903 the Christchurch City Council established a small scale public supply of electricity. In subsequent years other local councils established similar departments. The Electricity Department was restructured in 1920 and was renamed the Municipal Electricity Department in 1922.The Municipal Electricity Department took over the responsibility for the distribution of electricity to Waimairi County in 1946.
On 1 February 1989, the new company, Southpower, was officially formed by the amalgamation of the Christchurch Municipal Electricity Board and the Central Canterbury Electric Power Board. With the addition of the Port Hills Energy Authority and then Riccarton Electricity in November, it became the second largest supply authority for electricity in New Zealand.
Southpower was both a lines company and a retailer of electricity. Following government reform of the sector, in 1998 Southpower sold its retail activities and retained its network activities.
In December 1998 the company was renamed Orion New Zealand Limited.
Orion New Zealand is a community owned entity with two key shareholders - the Christchurch City Council, through its subsidiary Christchurch City Holdings Ltd (89.3%) and the Selwyn District Council (10.7%).
Found in 124 Collections and/or Records:
Showrooms and Displays: Prints, 1965
BW prints Showrooms and Displays 1965
Snowstorm, Christchurch, 1945-07-14
Framed photograph - BW print of snowstorm in Christchurch 14/07/1945
Southpower: Prints, 1923 - 1970
Southpower envelope with CH18 Afterward a Modern revolution 1923-1970 [colour and bw prints]
Southpower Volunteer Firefighters, 1985 - 2000
Mounted print - Colour print - Southpower Volunteer Firefighters by John Foster photographer
Staff Photograph Album WW2, 1940 - 1948
M.E.D Photos and clippings of staff who served in WW2
Staff photographs, 1920 - 1960
Various M.E.D Staff photographs 1920-1960s including 1 x bw print of Arthur Woolley [Lines Department], Harry Britton [Substation foreman], Frank Kidd [Substation Fitter] by George Cribb 1955 Opening Day photo with Robert Muldoon adressing staff 1983 M.E.D Staff photographs 1961 1 x bw portait of Sir A.D Dobson
Street Lamp damage, 1940-04-19
Framed photograph - BW print of Street Lamp cnr Armagh and Barbados Street after damage to a pole caused in a motor car accident, dated 19/4/1940
Substations, 1930 - 1988
Negatives and 2 x col prints of MED substations
Substations, Snowstorm damage, Cables, 1912 - 1973
Black and white and colour photographs including; MED Substations Bromley, Fitzgerald Avenue, Bealey Avenue, Ensors Road, Montreal Street and Hoon Hay [colour]. Snowstorm Halswell, June 1935. Overhead lines to St Elmo Flats, March 1931. Replacing a pole in Lyttelton Street, 1962. Jubilee Procession Float 1928.Laying of Lines SArmagh Street 1926. Interior of house, Park Terrace, 1912.
Sydney Substations: Prints, 1931
9 x bw prints Sydney Substations Dec 1931