Latest news
Gas equipment
Scheme Rules
implementation
Powercor to plead
guilty
By Enzo Alfonsetti, Manager, Type A
Gas Appliance & Component Safety By Jonathan Granger, Head of Communications and Marketing
Gas equipment certification
Scheme Rules (The Rules)
have been published that
impose new requirements
on certification schemes
recognised in Victoria. Electricity distribution company Powercor has
indicated it will plead guilty to multiple charges
brought by Energy Safe Victoria for failing to
keep trees clear of powerlines.
These new Rules enhance the individual
acceptances granted to existing gas
equipment certification bodies.
The Rules clearly outline regulatory
expectations for certification bodies
and allow for a consistent safety
and compliance outcome across
all recognised certification bodies.
While most of the requirements in
The Rules are consistent with current
certification processes, there are a
number of important changes the
certification bodies will be required
to enforce:
» » the certified appliance to be fitted
with a national compliance mark
» » certified product's details to be
provided to a publically searchable
national database of certified
products
» » suppliers are to sign a declaration
confirming they are aware of their legal
obligations to manufacturer and supply
a product that is safe under normal
and reasonably foreseeable use
» » certifications are to be updated within
two years from the date of publication
of a standard amendment.
All recognised certification bodies are
required to comply with the new Rules
depending on the date a certification is
issued. All new certifications issued after
1 January 2019 are required to comply
with these Rules.
Victoria’s Director of Energy
Safety Paul Fearon welcomed this
development and was pleased
that Powercor were accepting
responsibility for failing to meet
their safety obligations.
“In our view Powercor’s
management of the vegetation
was poor and that left communities
at risk of potentially damaging
bushfires,” he said.
“This is a clear warning to all
electricity distribution businesses
that ESV will take firm action to
ensure compliance with energy
safety regulations, especially ahead
of what is expected to be a hot and
windy summer.”
Six charges related to three grass
fires connected with tree branches
hitting high voltage powerlines.
A further 51 charges incorporate
189 breaches of Electric Line
Clearance regulations where
Powercor had allowed vegetation
to get too close to powerlines
along a corridor from Benalla to
Mildura.
In December 2019, at Shepparton
Magistrate’s Court, Powercor indicated
it would plead guilty when the case
resumes in April 2019.
Mr Fearon said Powercor had
undertaken significant work to improve
its bushfire risk mitigation since ESV’s
investigations commenced.
The Electric Line Clearance
regulations prescribe minimum
distances between powerlines and
vegetation to mitigate electricity safety
risks, including fire starts. Distribution
businesses are obliged to comply.
Most of the line clearance breaches
occurred in low bushfire risk areas,
although changes to land and water
management have left conditions
significantly drier than previously,
greatly increasing the risks of fire in
these areas.
ESV has substantially increased
vegetation inspections over recent
years to better protect the community.
The fires occurred earlier this year
near the townships of Rochester
(6th January), Port Campbell
(28th January) and Strathmerton
(20th January).
Existing certifications have an additional
12 months to transition and are required
to comply with new Rules from
1 January 2020.
The Scheme Rules are available
from the GTRC website at
www.gtrc.gov.au/publications
08
Read more on the St Patrick's
Day fires on our website at
esv.vic.gov.au/electrical-
incident-reports