By CHRIS DANIELS consumer reporter
Anti-privatisation forces are poised to launch a bid for control of Auckland electricity lines company Vector.
Nominations for positions on the community-owned Auckland Energy Consumer Trust close next month.
Its 260,000 consumers will be able to vote from September 22.
The trust owns all shares in Vector, distributing dividends to consumers.
It is sitting on $107 million, ready to pay out to its customers in Auckland, Manukau and Papakura.
Trust chairman Michael Barnett announced last night that he would not stand for re-election.
He has supported a partial sale of Vector to pay for putting power lines underground.
The executive of the conservative local body group Citizens and Ratepayers is meeting tonight to decide an election manifesto and which candidates to endorse.
It is likely to oppose privatisation, supporting more public scrutiny of the trust and putting more power lines underground.
C&R president John Collinge said last year that there was no reason to sell Vector, and there were "considerable dangers in so doing."
Circumstances could, however, arise where a minority interest could be sold to individual consumers to raise capital.
Coralie Van Camp, a staunch privatisation opponent, confirmed yesterday that she would be a candidate.
She saw no reason to sell the lines company and was "highly suspicious" of the motives of those who wanted to.
Karen Sherry, who opposed privatisation during her time on the trust, said yesterday that she would stand as an independent.
In the last election, she was endorsed by C&R.
Craig Little said he would probably stand.
Asked if he supported privatisation, he said: "The trust made a decision not to proceed with any privatisation process and I agree with that."
Privatisation would not be the main election issue, he said.
Trustee Morris Brown, also endorsed by C&R, said he did not believe in a full Vector sale and supported continued trust ownership.
He would not say whether he would support a part sale.
Nominations for the elections close on Friday, August 4.
Voting papers will be posted to Vector customers from September 22.
Electors have until October 7 to return their votes.
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