esv.vic.gov.au
ESV continues to deliver REFCL
bushfire risk reduction audits
By Ian Burgwin, General Manager,
Electrical Safety and Technical Regulation
In 2017, the Government introduced the
Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation Duties)
Regulations.
The Regulations require electricity
distribution businesses to implement
technology over a five-year period that
minimises the risk of powerlines starting
bushfires in Victoria’s highest risk areas.
Currently, the Rapid Earth Fault Current
Limiter (REFCL) is the only technology
capable of achieving this. This
technology has been implemented in
high-risk bushfire zones across Victoria.
Despite current challenges, ESV is
continuing to test REFCLs to ensure
peak performance and readiness for
the 2020/2021 bushfire season.
Cooler months are traditionally the time
when compliance testing occurs, when
there there is a low likelihood of a fire
incident.
The REFCL limits the amount of energy
released when an earth fault occurs
on a powerline, usually within a tenth
of a second. Significantly reducing the
possibility of a fire being started or
someone receiving an electric shock.
Waiting until the restrictions are eased
or lifted is not appropriate, with ESV
being of the view that postponing critical
REFCL compliance testing until and
other options must be explored to allow
this work to continue.
So to meet current restrictions and
physical distancing requirements,
ESV has expanded the ways it can
use technology to regulate the
Major Electricity Companies (MECs)
employment of REFCLs.
Space is often at a premium in control
rooms where testing takes place, since
they are not designed for multiple people
to be working in them for prolonged
periods.
Maintaining social distancing can be
difficult, as the rooms are often cluttered
with multiple computer racks and other
equipment.
By using video, recording and screen
sharing technology, it is possible for
inspectors to observe the operation
and results of testing.
To date, three sites have been
successfully audited, with five further
sites scheduled for June, and many
more for the rest of the year. So far,
MECs have enthusiastically supported
these changes.
The benefit to the Victorian community
is that testing can proceed during this
challenging time and there will be no
delay to the delivery of the bushfire
risk reduction that REFCL technology
provides.
A reminder to upgrade
to ESVConnect.
All licensed electrical workers must
upgrade to ESVConnect to lodge COES
and manage licence/s. Online Services
is no longer available for REC’s, LEW’s
and IC’s.
ESVConnect has over 18,000 licensed
users and over 11,000 REC’s working
in the new system.
Logging into ESVConnect for the first
time is a step-through process from
Online Services. You’ll need to be using
Google Chrome and have your Online
Services User ID and password.
Password recovery
ESVConnect users can create their
own passwords. If you forget your
username or password, you will be
able to recover the password via your
registered email account.
Platform update
Upgrades to the platform software
commenced in March 2020 to
ensure future capability and further
enhancements can be developed in
the system. These updates will improve
development capability to ensure we
keep moving forward with the project
and development of the ESVConnect
system.
Need help upgrading?
Call our Licensing team on
1800 815 721, or head to
esv.vic.gov.au/esvconnect/ for more
information.
This includes using technology for
remote observations in otherwise
crowded spaces, like control rooms.
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