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Transpower's controversial Waikato to Auckland transmission line looks likely to get the green light following the sacking of Electricity Commission head, Roy Hemmingway.
Transpower's revised proposal for the 400 kilovolt line is expected to be lodged by early october. And Energy Minister David Parker says Transpower should be "reasonably confident" of getting approval for its revised plan.
Hemmingway says he has been dumped from his role because of his independent views.
He says he received a letter from Energy Minister David Parker on Wednesday telling him he will be removed from office when his term expires on November 30. That is despite his request to stay on until work on Auckland's transmission upgrade is completed, which is likely to be some time next year.
The American says he can only conclude that he is being removed from office because he has stood up to the government as an independent regulator should.
He says he is now worried the government might dictate what happens.
Hemmingway says the government has not been supportive of the Commerce Commission's decision to turn down Transpower's proposal. He says he has insisted regulatory decisions be made on the basis of the law and facts, and not on what politicians want.
Shock, anger and dismay from Waikato pylon protesters has greeted the government's decision.
Protester Lorraine Bilby fears the original Transpower proposal will now be pushed through. She says it looks like the government is going to renege on the process it set up.
Bilby people says there is a lot of angry and disappointed people who won't let that happen.
The Energy Minister is refusing to be drawn on allegations against the government that it is politicising electricity decisions, by sacking Hemmingway.
Parker says Hemmingway has served his full three-year term.
He says despite his good work, a dysfunctional relationship has developed between the commission and Transpower. Parker says the government has moved to resolve that through changes on both sides of the divide.
He says that is for the benefit of the electricity system and consumers
