Beginning Feb. 1, SaskPower announced that all gas and electrical inspections will now be handled by an independent regulatory organization, the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan (TSASK), moving forward.
The change is part of the provincial government’s initiative to consolidate all safety-related permitting, inspection and licensing functions within one organization, said a SaskPower press release. The transfer was originally announced in 2018 by the Ministry of Government Relations, with licensing service transferred on Aug. 4, 2020.
“Consolidating inspections into a central agency makes sense,” said Rachelle Verret Morphy, vice president of corporate and regulatory affairs, in a press release. “Having inspections done by a central regulatory body will increase efficiency in this field and enable SaskPower resources to focus on our core business: to continue to provide reliable, safe power for our customers.”
First established in 2010, TSASK operates as a not-for-profit regulatory agency that delivers safety programs related to pressure equipment, elevating devices and other equipment across the province.
SaskPower confirmed that no jobs within the Crown were lost as a result of this transfer of responsibility, as over 90 gas and electrical inspection employees are moving to TSASK.
Additionally, the transfer is supported by the Electrical Contractors of Saskatchewan and the Mechanical Contractors Association of Saskatchewan.
“TSASK is dedicated to providing timely and consistent permitting, inspections and licensing services to the people of Saskatchewan,” said William Scott, chief executive officer at TSASK. “We’re looking forward to adding gas and electrical inspections to the services we offer.”
