Robin Russell & Associates are Queensland based consulting electrical engineers. Established in 1985, the firm was created when Energex (then known as SEQEB) opened up design and construction of subdivision electricity reticulation and street lighting to private consultants and contractors. The benefits of private design and construction became obvious immediately. Costs were reduced by over 30 percent and the time taken to design and install electricity and street lighting was cut by about 10 weeks. After 23 years experience with Brisbane City Council and SEQEB, the principal, Robin Russell, worked closely with SEQEB to help develop systems and procedures for subdivision development, which are arguably the most successful and developer-friendly in Australia. The company’s policy has been to engage only the best, most skilled, designers and field staff. All are either SEQEB/Energex-trained or have received extensive in-house training. Most have had at least 20 years’ experience at this work. Right from the start, we have adopted a decentralized organization structure. All staff work from well-equipped, high-tech, home offices. This is not simply a cost-saving measure. The main benefit is that it saves everyone an hour or more each day in travelling time. It also allows staff to squeeze in additional work hours in the evenings or weekends when necessary. The flexibility this affords enables us to respond quickly when urgent jobs arrive. We believe that our clients prefer to judge us by our results, rather than the impressiveness of our corporate offices. In south-east Queensland, the company’s client base has now grown to include most of that area’s largest developers. In recent months, Ergon Energy, the electricity supplier for regional Queensland, has opened up the possibility of private design and construction of subdivision electricity and street lighting. So we have begun working closely with Ergon to ensure that the benefits which developers have gained in south-east Queensland can now spread to regional centres.