SaskPower CEO Robert Watson resigns over smart meter controversy

SaskPower CEO Robert Watson has resigned following release of a report on the smart meter program.

Bill Boyd, the minister responsible for SaskPower, said Watsonsubmitted his resignation on the weekend and it was accepted.

• Customer safety not enough of a priorityfor SaskPower: Review

The smart meter review released Mondayfaulted the Crown corporation for notdoing a better job looking after customer safety. During the summer, there were eight smart meter fires.

Watson was appointed tothe 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 thereview, and"takerecommendationsforward 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 meterprogram, saidBoyd in the release.This report provides valuable insight as to where gaps existed. We will be implementing changes accordingly overthe next few days.

SaskPower is the province's biggest Crown corporation, with assets of $7 billion and revenues in 2012 of $1.8 billion.