Members of the new Electricity Commission

Energy Minister Pete Hodgson has appointed an Electricity Commission which will preside over the industry.

It will be chaired by American Roy Hemmingway, who has spent the past few years doing similar work in Oregon.

The commission's five other members include a lawyer, two engineers, an economist and a local body politician. All have been involved in various aspects of the electricity industry.

Hodgson said he was confident the commission had the balance of skills necessary to meet the Government's objective to "have power delivered in an efficient, fair, reliable and environmentally sustainable manner to all consumers".