09
For all the latest energy safety news visit www.esv.vic.gov.au
ESV prosecutes
Powercor
By Brett Fox, Head of Regulatory
Assurance
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) will prosecute
electricity distribution business Powercor
for numerous powerline clearance
breaches, three of which resulted in fires.
The three grass fires occurred near the
townships of Rochester (6th January), Port
Campbell (28th January) and Strathmerton
(20th January).
Powercor has been charged with:
» » Breaching key provisions of the Code
of Practice for Electric Line Clearance
in contravention of section 90 of the
Electricity Safety Act 1998). If proven
this could attract a fine of up to $39,642
per charge
» » Failing to minimise the risks to property
from a supply network (section 98(b) of
the Electricity Safety Act 1998). If proven
this could attract a fine of up to $237,855
per charge
» » Failing to comply with a bushfire
mitigation plan (section 113B(2) of the
Electricity Safety Act 1998). If proven this
could attract a fine of up to $237,855 per
charge.
All three grass fires were caused by
tree branches coming into contact with
powerlines.
ESV has further charged Powercor
with an additional 189 breaches of Electric
Line Clearance regulations in a corridor that
stretches from Mildura to Shepparton. In
each case, powerlines were either touching
or very close to vegetation.
The regulations prescribe minimum
distances between powerlines and vegetation
to mitigate electricity safety risks, including
fire starts. Distribution businesses are obliged
to comply with the Act and regulations.
Take five with ESV’s
latest addition − Sandy
By Mirna Bukic,
Digital Communications Advisor
We sat down with ESV’s new Compliance
Officer for Renewable Energy, Sandy Atkins,
and chat all things renewable and brewing.
How did you get interested in renewable
energy?
Through brewing beer. When I was younger
there wasn’t the large amount of micro-breweries
around like there are today. I wanted more variety
than just Carlton Draught or VB so I started
making my own beer. This opened my eyes to
the fact that you don’t have to just settle for the
main stream, same old, same old.
The same thing happened with electricity.
Solar panels became more accessible and
I wanted to have the ability to make my own
energy instead of just buying it all from the
mainstream energy provider. That was over
10 years ago when there was only around 22,000
solar panel systems installed on Australian roofs.
Today there is over 1.8 million.
What’s important for us to know about
renewables?
Renewables, and more specifically small
scale renewables that are connected behind
the customer’s meter are going to change the
energy system.
These type of renewable systems are doing
to the energy industr