Powerline clearance fines to be issued in Vic
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) now has the power to issue fines to Victorian electricity companies and councils that do not keep trees safely clear of powerlines.
Contact between trees and powerlines can result in fires, electrocutions and power outages, which can lead to serious property damage, network outages and, in serious cases, injury or loss of life.
To avoid risk, electricity companies (responsible for powerlines on private land and regional public land) and councils (urban public land) are responsible for maintaining trees within safe distances under the Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Regulations 2020.
ESV’s previous powers to take enforcement action against electricity companies and councils for line clearance breaches were limited to issuing warnings or notices to take corrective action, or prosecution through the court system.
However, as of Friday, 1 July, ESV has had the power to issue a fine worth 25 penalty units or $4623 for each line clearance breach.
ESV Commissioner and Chairperson Marnie Williams said, “These new powers will provide faster resolution while reducing the time taken to prosecute offenders through the courts.
“It will also lead to a stronger deterrent to organisations that are not meeting this important safety requirement.”
In applying this new enforcement tool, ESV’s focus will be risk-based with fines being issued in situations where a line clearance breach is seriously impacting the safety of people or property.
For situations of widespread non-compliance or where serious harm or property damage has occurred, ESV may still seek to prosecute in accordance with its Compliance and Enforcement Policy and Prosecution Guidelines.
To highlight the dangers of trees being too close to powerlines, ESV has produced a short animation, which also alerts the community to the line clearance responsibilities across Victoria.
More than 1100 power outages caused by trees touching powerlines occur in Victoria each year, affecting 400,000 residences and businesses.
For more information, visit esv.vic.gov.au.
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