Manx Gas’s boss says he won’t be rushed into making any decision about the company’s standing charges.

Ian Plenderleith has taken over at the company after its increase in standing charges led to a number of demonstrations and a lot of complaints.

The managing director of International Energy Group said: ’It’s important that I stand back and listen to the concerns of both the public and MHKs and understand the problems and details, then decide on the next steps and the best way to achieve a charging structure customers understand and which is fair to them and the gas they are using.

’There will be an extensive dialogue with both MHKs, customers and the Office of Fair Trading before we decide how we achieve this.

’That is something that can happen in a matter of weeks.

’Arriving at the best solution for all concerned will take longer.

’It will require a lot of communication and dialogue between all the parties. There is no point in reversing one problem and replacing it with another.’

He added: ’I’m not going to be rushed into anything, there will be no knee jerk reaction. I would, however, welcome involving customers to help us find the appropriate Standing Charge solution."

Mr Plenderleith was previously the boss of Dee Valley Water Company and before that chief executive with Tallinn Water in Estonia.

He said: ’It has been a very positive start for me at Manx Gas in discovering that the health and safety performance is exemplary, this is an area which perhaps does not get the publicity it deserves but stands comparison with the very best in the UK.

’In addition, the performance of the assets is very good indeed and customers have not been seeing problems with interruptions of supply. I’m particularly delighted by the passion and enthusiasm of the staff, who genuinely care about the customers and want to deliver the highest quality of services and security for them. These are excellent foundations to build from.’

When he was chief executive officer of Dee Valley Water, the company outperformed Ofwat’s five-year cost targets by 8 per cent.

His responsibilities at Tallinn included managing all aspects of the business and United Utilities interests in Estonia through a 20-year privatisation contract serving 400,000 customers with a direct workforce of over 300 staff and revenues of 50 million euros a year.

The company is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Tallinn Stock Exchange and is the only privatised water utility in the Baltic region.

’In the short time I have been in the island I sense there is a strong community feeling and I believe that Manx Gas should be more part of that,’ says Mr Plenderleith, aged 54, who lives within walking distance of the Manx Gas offices on North Quay in Douglas.

’I would like to see Manx Gas spread its wings, become more of a community faced organisation, the creation of new positions with members of staff becoming community liaison representatives, active among community organisations across the island.

’Their job will be to meet stakeholders, charities, church groups, people who want to "do good" for their community and discuss how Manx Gas can help them to do a better job.

’Those community liaison representatives taking part in coffee mornings, making sure people have the right tariff and listening to any concerns they may have and how Manx Gas can help those communities.’

Mr Plenderleith’s first major decisions include bringing all IEG’s human resources operations from the Channel Islands to the Isle of Man with the appointment of the organisation’s of a human relatios manager who will also be based in the Manx Gas offices.

He spends a week a month in the Channel Islands.

Married, he has two children, Noah, aged eight, and Alice, aged four.

Marion, his wife is Estonian, although they met in Finland. He plays football and golf when he can and weekends are often taken up with him coaching a junior football team. Long walks are also on the agenda with his two dogs, a two-year-old Hungarian vizla and a 12-year-old Dalmatian from Estonia.

Mr Plenderleith (pictured) left school at 16 with six O-levels and then set off travelling the world. At the age of 25, and back in the UK, he got some qualifications and finished his business studies as a degree.

’My first job when I came back from travelling was on the phones at the customer contact centre of North West Electricity Board (Norweb),’ he said.

’I’ve also been a billing clerk, a pay roll clerk plus a clerk in accounts payable. In fact, I may take time out to spend an occasional afternoon on the Manx Gas customer contacts desk.

’I so enjoyed those times and they have made it easier for me to relate to employees who do those jobs. You understand their frustrations.’

Four years saw him working in South America for Norweb, much of it in Argentina.

’I believe it’s important not to be hurried in making any decision which results in going from the frying pan into the fire. At the top of my agenda in taking the company forward will be to focus on consultations and dialogues with customers and members of Tynwald.

’As a utility company we are in a privileged position, which means we must deliver the highest standards of customer service to the citizens of the Isle of Man.’