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:
Crane, Packe Street Depot, 1960 - 1970
Framed photograph - bw print mobile crane at the Packe Street depot 1960
Deconstructor chimney views of Christchurch, photographs, 1930 - 1961
Black and White photographs including: View from top of Deconstructor Chimney, 1939, Cathedral Square and Winged Victory statue, Staff portraits of A.M Owen and J.Crombie, Lines Training School 1961, Centennial procession float 1940, Substations, Municipal Baths, Packe Street Depot.
Delegates to the conference of the NZ Gas Company, Wellington. , 1931-09-24
Draft programme, 1988
Draft programme printed on dot matrix paper of Official Opening of Ferrymead Historic Park, includes maps of MED building, Tramway Operations 1920s, South Island Transmission Lines, Power Stations and Substations, North Island Transmission Lines, Power Stations and Substations. North Island Transmission line route and stations existing and proposed July 1985.
Electricity Department Offices and Showrooms, 1925
Framed photograph - BW print - Electricity Dept Offices and Showrooms Feb 1925
Electricorp ephemera
Electricorp Marketing Stickers and Logo
Electronic Ripple Relay: Prints, 1980
7 x bw prints of Electronic Ripple Relay 1980 photographer Robert Shearman
Engine and Dynamos
Framed photograph - bw print depicting Davey-Paxman engine and Westinghouse dynamos
Faults, Substations, Annual Reports, Photographs, 1924 - 1962
Photographs from Annual Reports, Damage from Electrical Faults and Substations. Includes list of photographs housed at the Southpower Archives, Library and Museum, and a reference to Annual Reports with photocopies from 1924-1962
Rehoused from old temp box 2
Film : Helicopter job, Little River.
1 x 8mm film titled Helicopter Job Trig T Little River - No date