SaskPower CEO Robert Watson resigns over smart meter controversy
Review said Crown utility didn't adequately look after safety concerns
SaskPower CEO Robert Watson has resigned following release of a report on the smart meter program.
Bill Boyd, the minister responsible for SaskPower, said Watson submitted his resignation on the weekend and it was accepted.
The smart meter review released Monday faulted the Crown corporation for not doing a better job looking after customer safety. During the summer, there were eight smart meter fires.
Watson was appointed to the top job at the provincially owned power utility in 2010 after six years as CEO at SaskTel, the government's phone company.
He will not receive severance, said Bill Boyd, the minister responsible for SaskPower.
SaskPower sent out a press release Monday afternoon, stating it will be examining the review, and "take recommendations forward as planning for new smart meters continues in the next several years."
“SaskPower employees are working hard to address the challenges faced with the smart meter program,” said Boyd in the release. “This report provides valuable insight as to where gaps existed. We will be implementing changes accordingly over the next few days.”
SaskPower is the province's biggest Crown corporation, with assets of $7 billion and revenues in 2012 of $1.8 billion.