{"id":"sr:electricity-safety-bushfire-mitigation-regulations-2023","name":"Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2023","slug":"electricity-safety-bushfire-mitigation-regulations-2023","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":181405,"registerId":"vic-sr:electricity-safety-bushfire-mitigation-regulations-2023-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2023","content":"Version No. 002\n\n**Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2023**\n\n**S.R. No. 40/2023**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n26 June 2025\n\n**TABLE OF PROVISIONS**\n\n*Regulation Page*\n\n1 Objective 1\n\n2 Authorising provisions 1\n\n3 Commencement 1\n\n4 Revocations 1\n\n5 Definitions 2\n\n6 Prescribed particulars for bushfire mitigation plans—specified operators 4\n\n7 Prescribed particulars for bushfire mitigation plans—major electricity companies 6\n\n8 Prescribed information about bushfire mitigation plans to be made publicly available by major electricity companies 12\n\n9 Prescribed parts of electric lines excluded 14\n\n10 Prescribed times of inspection 14\n\n11 Prescribed standards of inspection 14\n\n12 Minimum clearance of private electric lines (other than bare open wire electric lines) 18\n\n13 Prescribed period in which notice of inspection is to be given 20\n\n14 Prescribed form of notice to be given before inspection 20\n\n15 Exemptions 20\n\nSchedule 1—Zone substations 21\n\nSchedule 2—Notice of inspection 23\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes 24\n\n1 General information 24\n\n2 Table of Amendments 26\n\n3 Explanatory details 27\n\n**Version No.** **002**\n\n**Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2023**\n\n**S.R. No. 40/2023**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n26 June 2025\n\n\t1 Objective\n\nThe objective of these Regulations is to provide for—\n\n(a) the preparation of bushfire mitigation plans by specified operators and major electricity companies; and\n\n(b) the inspection of overhead electric lines and supply networks.\n\n\t2 Authorising provisions\n\nThese Regulations are made under sections 151, 151A and 157 of the **Electricity Safety Act 1998**.\n\n\t3 Commencement\n\nThese Regulations come into operation on 16 June 2023.\n\n\t4 Revocations\n\nThe following Regulations are **revoked**—\n\n(a) the Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2013[[1]](#endnote-2);\n\n(b) the Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Amendment Regulations 2015[[2]](#endnote-3);\n\n(c) the Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Amendment Regulations 2016[[3]](#endnote-4).\n\n\t5 Definitions\n\nIn these Regulations—\n\n***Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules*** means AS/NZS 3000, Australian/New Zealand Standard, 'Electrical installations', as published or amended from time to time;\n\n***Automatic Circuit Recloser*** has the same meaning as in section 120K of the Act;\n\n***bare open wire or bare*** has the same meaning as in the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019[[4]](#endnote-5);\n\n***electric line construction area*** means land delineated and shown bounded by an orange line on plans lodged in the Central Plan Office and numbered LEGL./16-199 to LEGL./16-231;\n\n***fire danger period*** means a period declared under section 4 of the **Country Fire Authority Act 1958** to be a fire danger period;\n\n***high impedance faults*** means a resistance value in ohms that is equal to twice the nominal phase-to-ground network voltage in volts;\n\n***I2t*** means a measure of the thermal energy associated with the current flow, where **I** is the current flow in amps and **t** is the duration of current flow in seconds;\n\n***low impedance faults*** means a resistance value in ohms that is equal to the nominal phase‑to-ground network voltage in volts divided by 31·75;\n\n***low voltage*** has the same meaning as in the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019;\n\n***polyphase electric line*** has the same meaning as in section 120K of the Act;\n\n***required capacity*** means, in the event of a phase‑to‑ground fault on a polyphase electric line, the ability—\n\n(a) to reduce the voltage on the faulted conductor in relation to the station earth when measured at the corresponding zone substation for high impedance faults to 250 volts within 2 seconds; and\n\n(b) to reduce the voltage on the faulted conductor in relation to the station earth when measured at the corresponding zone substation for low impedance faults to—\n\n(i) 1900 volts within 85 milliseconds; and\n\n(ii) 750 volts within 500 milliseconds; and\n\n(iii) 250 volts within 2 seconds; and\n\n(c) during diagnostic tests for high impedance faults, to limit—\n\n(i) fault current to 0·5 amps or less; and\n\n(ii) the thermal energy on the electric line to a maximum I2t value of 0·10;\n\n***SWER line*** has the same meaning as in section 120K of the Act;\n\n***the Act*** means the **Electricity Safety Act 1998**;\n\n***total or partial fire ban day*** means a day or partial day that has been declared to be a day or partial day of total fire ban under section 40(1) of the **Country Fire Authority Act 1958**;\n\n***wholly or substantially replaced*** means the planned replacement or relocation of an electric line that involves—\n\n(a) the relocation of at least 4 consecutive spans of the electric line; or\n\n(b) the replacement of conductors on at least 4 consecutive spans of the electric line.\n\n\t6 Prescribed particulars for bushfire mitigation plans—specified operators\n\nFor the purposes of section 83BA(2)(b) of the Act, the following are the prescribed particulars—\n\n(a) the name, address, email address and telephone number of the specified operator;\n\n(b) the position, address, email address and telephone number of the person who was responsible for the preparation of the plan;\n\n(c) the position, address, email address and telephone number of the persons who are responsible for carrying out the plan;\n\n(d) the email address (if any) and telephone number of the specified operator's control room so that persons in the room can be contacted in an emergency that requires action by the specified operator to mitigate the danger of bushfire;\n\n(e) the bushfire mitigation policy of the specified operator to minimise the risk of fire ignition from its at-risk electric lines;\n\n(f) the objectives of the plan to achieve the mitigation of fire danger arising from the specified operator's at-risk electric lines;\n\n(g) a description, map or plan of the land to which the bushfire mitigation plan applies, identifying the location of the specified operator's at-risk electric lines;\n\n(h) the preventative strategies and programs to be adopted by the specified operator to minimise the risk of the specified operator's at-risk electric lines starting fires;\n\n(i) a plan for inspection that ensures that all of the specified operator's at-risk electric lines are inspected at regular intervals of no longer than 37 months;\n\n(j) details of the processes and procedures for ensuring that each person who is assigned to carry out the inspections referred to in paragraph (i)—\n\n(i) has satisfactorily completed a training course approved by Energy Safe Victoria; and\n\n(ii) is competent to carry out the inspections;\n\n(k) details of the processes and procedures for ensuring that persons (other than persons referred to in paragraph (j)) who carry out or will carry out functions under the plan are competent to do so;\n\n(l) the operation and maintenance plans for the specified operator's at-risk electric lines—\n\n(i) in the event of a fire; and\n\n(ii) during a total or partial fire ban day; and\n\n(iii) during a fire danger period;\n\n(m) the investigations, analysis and methodology to be adopted by the specified operator for the mitigation of the risk of fire ignition from its at-risk electric lines;\n\n(n) details of the processes and procedures by which the specified operator will—\n\n(i) monitor the implementation of the bushfire mitigation plan; and\n\n(ii) audit the implementation of the plan; and\n\n(iii) identify any deficiencies in the plan or the plan's implementation; and\n\n(iv) change the plan and the plan's implementation to rectify any deficiencies identified under subparagraph (iii); and\n\n(v) monitor the effectiveness of inspections carried out under the plan; and\n\n(vi) audit the effectiveness of inspections carried out under the plan;\n\n(o) the policy of the specified operator in relation to the assistance to be provided to fire control authorities in the investigation of fires near the specified operator's at-risk electric lines.\n\n\t7 Prescribed particulars for bushfire mitigation plans—major electricity companies\n\n(1) For the purposes of section 113A(2)(b) of the Act, the following are the prescribed particulars—\n\n(a) the name, address and telephone number of the major electricity company;\n\n(b) the position, address, email address and telephone number of the person who was responsible for the preparation of the plan;\n\n(c) the position, address, email address and telephone number of the persons who are responsible for carrying out the plan;\n\n(d) the email address (if any) and telephone number of the major electricity company's control room so that persons in the room can be contacted in an emergency that requires action by the major electricity company to mitigate the danger of bushfire;\n\n(e) the telephone number of the major electricity company that members of the public can call in an emergency that requires action by the major electricity company to mitigate the danger of bushfire;\n\n(f) the bushfire mitigation policy of the major electricity company to minimise the risk of fire ignition from its supply network;\n\n(g) the objectives of the plan to achieve the mitigation of fire danger arising from the major electricity company's supply network;\n\n(h) a description, map or plan of the land to which the bushfire mitigation plan applies;\n\n(i) the preventative strategies and programs to be adopted by the major electricity company to minimise the risk of the major electricity company's supply network starting fires;\n\n(j) details of the preventative strategies and programs referred to in paragraph (i) (including details in relation to timing and location) by which the major electricity company will ensure that, in its supply network, each polyphase electric line originating from every zone substation specified in Schedule 1 has the required capacity;\n\n(k) details of testing that will be undertaken before the specified bushfire risk period each year by which the major electricity company will ensure that its supply network can operate to meet the required capacity in relation to each polyphase electric line in accordance with paragraph (j);\n\n(l) details of the preventative strategies and programs referred to in paragraph (i) (including details in relation to timing and location) by which the major electricity company will ensure that, within an electric line construction area, each electric line with a nominal voltage of between 1 kV and 22 kV that is constructed, or is wholly or substantially replaced, in its supply network is a covered or underground electric line;\n\n(m) details of the preventative strategies and programs referred to in paragraph (i) by which the major electricity company will ensure that, in its supply network, each low voltage overhead electrical cable or wire that is constructed after the commencement of these Regulations in a hazardous bushfire risk area is insulated;\n\n(n) details of the processes and procedures by which the major electricity company will ensure that the major electricity company installs and maintains in operation an Automatic Circuit Recloser in relation to each overhead SWER line in its supply network;\n\n(o) a plan for inspection that ensures that—\n\n(i) the parts of the major electricity company's supply network in hazardous bushfire risk areas are inspected at intervals not exceeding 37 months from the date of the previous inspection; and\n\n(ii) the parts of the major electricity company's supply network in other areas are inspected at specified intervals not exceeding 61 months from the date of the previous inspection;\n\n(p) details of the processes and procedures for ensuring that each person who is assigned to carry out inspections referred to in paragraph (o) and of private electric lines—\n\n(i) has satisfactorily completed a training course approved by Energy Safe Victoria; and\n\n(ii) is competent to carry out the inspections;\n\n(q) details of the processes and procedures for ensuring that persons (other than persons referred to in paragraph (p)) who carry out or will carry out functions under the plan are competent to do so;\n\n(r) the operation and maintenance plans for the major electricity company's supply network—\n\n(i) in the event of a fire; and\n\n(ii) during a total or partial fire ban day; and\n\n(iii) during a fire danger period;\n\n(s) the investigations, analysis and methodology to be adopted by the major electricity company for the mitigation of the risk of fire ignition from its supply network;\n\n(t) details of the processes and procedures by which the major electricity company will—\n\n(i) monitor the implementation of the bushfire mitigation plan; and\n\n(ii) audit the implementation of the plan; and\n\n(iii) identify any deficiencies in the plan or the plan's implementation; and\n\n(iv) change the plan and the plan's implementation to rectify any deficiencies identified under subparagraph (iii); and\n\n(v) monitor the effectiveness of inspections carried out under the plan; and\n\n(vi) audit the effectiveness of inspections carried out under the plan; and\n\n(vii) before the specified bushfire risk period each year, report to Energy Safe Victoria the results of testing undertaken in that year in accordance with paragraph (k);\n\n(u) the policy of the major electricity company in relation to the assistance to be provided to fire control authorities in the investigation of fires near the major electricity company's supply network;\n\n(v) details of processes and procedures for enhancing public awareness of—\n\n(i) the responsibilities of owners of private electric lines that are above the surface of the land in relation to maintenance and mitigation of bushfire danger; and\n\n(ii) the obligation of the major electricity company to inspect private electric lines that are above the surface of the land within its distribution area;\n\n(w) a description of the measures to be used to assess the performance of the major electricity company under the plan.\n\n(2) In subregulation (1)(l), ***covered***, in relation to an electric line, means that a system of insulation is installed on any bare open wire forming part of the electric line.\n\n(3) In subregulation (1)(m)—\n\n***electrical cable or wire*** means the whole or any part of a cable, wire or similar thing used or to be used for the purpose of transmitting, distributing or supplying electricity, but does not include—\n\n(a) any thing enclosing or supporting the cable, wire or similar thing; or\n\n(b) a cable, wire or similar thing directly used in converting electrical energy into another form of energy;\n\n***insulated***,  in relation to an electrical cable or wire, means an electrical cable or wire that is separated from any adjoining conductive material by a permanently affixed protective layer of non-conductive material.\n\n(4) In subregulation (1)(o), ***supply network*** does not include a terminal station, a zone substation or any part of the major electricity company's underground supply network that is below the surface of the land.\n\n\t8 Prescribed information about bushfire mitigation plans to be made publicly available by major electricity companies\n\nFor the purposes of section 113A(3) of the Act, the following information specified in a major electricity company's accepted bushfire mitigation plan is the prescribed information about the plan—\n\n(a) the company's name, address and telephone number;\n\n(b) the company's telephone number for members of the public to call in an emergency that requires action by the company to mitigate the danger of bushfire;\n\n(c) the company's bushfire mitigation policy;\n\n(d) the objectives to achieve mitigation of fire danger arising from the company's supply network;\n\n(e) the description, map or plan of the land to which the bushfire mitigation plan applies;\n\n(f) the preventative strategies and programs to minimise the risk of the company's supply network starting fires;\n\n(g) the company's plan for testing to ensure that its supply network can operate to meet the required capacity in relation to each polyphase electric line originating from a zone substation specified in Schedule 1;\n\n(h) the details of the processes and procedures for installing and maintaining in operation an Automatic Circuit Recloser in relation to each overhead SWER line in the company's supply network;\n\n(i) the company's plan for inspection of its supply network;\n\n(j) the details of the processes and procedures for ensuring that each person who is assigned to carry out inspections under the plan referred to in paragraph (i) and of private electric lines—\n\n(i) has satisfactorily completed a training course approved by Energy Safe Victoria; and\n\n(ii) is competent to carry out the inspections;\n\n(k) the details of the processes and procedures for ensuring that persons (other than persons referred to in paragraph (j)) who carry out or will carry out functions under the plan are competent to do so;\n\n(l) the company's operation and maintenance plans for its supply network—\n\n(i) in the event of a fire; and\n\n(ii) during a total or partial fire ban day; and\n\n(iii) during a fire danger period;\n\n(m) the investigations, analysis and methodology adopted by the company for the mitigation of the risk of fire ignition from its supply network;\n\n(n) the company's policy in relation to the assistance to be provided to fire control authorities in the investigation of fires near the company's supply network;\n\n(o) the details of the processes and procedures for enhancing public awareness of—\n\n(i) the responsibilities of owners of private electric lines that are above the surface of the land in relation to maintenance and mitigation of bushfire danger; and\n\n(ii) the company's obligation to inspect private electric lines that are above the surface of the land within its distribution area.\n\n\t9 Prescribed parts of electric lines excluded\n\nFor the purposes of section 113F(1) of the Act, the prescribed part of a private electric line is the part of the private electric line that is installed after the point at which the line is connected to a building or other structure (not including a pole) on the land.\n\n\t10 Prescribed times of inspection\n\nFor the purposes of section 113F(1) of the Act, the prescribed times to cause an inspection of private electric lines to be carried out are—\n\n(a) for private electric lines located in hazardous bushfire risk areas, no later than 37 months after the date of the previous inspection carried out by the major electricity company; and\n\n(b) for private electric lines located in other areas, no later than 61 months after the date of the previous inspection carried out by the major electricity company.\n\n\t11 Prescribed standards of inspection\n\n(1) For the purposes of section 113F(1) of the Act, the prescribed standards for the inspection of a private electric line are—\n\n(a) the insulators and any stay wires are serviceable and are properly secured to the pole or cross‑arm; and\n\n(b) the cross-arms are serviceable; and\n\n(c) the conductors and metal ties that secure the conductors to the insulator are serviceable; and\n\n(d) in the case of a line that is horizontally constructed with bare open wire conductors, that a low voltage conductor spreader is fitted to each span of the line; and\n\n**Note**\n\nRegulation 236(1)(a) of the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 provides for the fitting of a spreader to each span of a private aerial line that is horizontally constructed with bare open wire conductors.\n\n(e) in the case of a line that has bare open wire conductors, the line complies with the minimum clearance requirements for bare live conductors set out in Table 3.8 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules; and\n\n(f) in the case of a line that has insulated and unsheathed live conductors—\n\n(i) before 16 December 2023, the line complies with the minimum clearance requirements for insulated and unsheathed live conductors set out in Table 3.8 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules; and\n\n(ii) on or after 16 December 2023, the line complies with the minimum clearance requirements set out in regulation 12(1) and (3); and\n\n(g) in the case of a line that is double insulated or is a neutral-screened cable—\n\n(i) before 16 December 2023, the line complies with the minimum clearance requirements for a neutral-screened cable set out in Table 3.8 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules; and\n\n(ii) on or after 16 December 2023, the line complies with the minimum clearance requirements set out in regulation 12(2) and (3); and\n\n(h) the insulation is in a serviceable condition; and\n\n(i) the poles must not lean more than 10 degrees from the vertical; and\n\n(j) in the case of wooden poles other than treated pine poles—\n\n(i) the girth of the pole is greater than 550 mm at any point within 200 mm above the ground; and\n\n(ii) the pole is free from termites to a depth of 300 mm below the surface of the ground; and\n\n(iii) an annulus of at least 50 mm of the wood is free of decay; and\n\n(iv) no fruiting fungal bodies are observed; and\n\n(k) in the case of treated pine poles—\n\n(i) the girth of the pole is greater than 450 mm at any point within 200 mm above the ground; and\n\n(ii) the pole is free from termites to a depth of 300 mm below the surface of the ground; and\n\n(iii) the wood is free from external decay; and\n\n(l) in the case of tubular and solid steel poles, the thickness of the metal of the pole in any corroded area below the ground is at least 75% of the sound metal above the ground; and\n\n(m) in the case of concrete poles, the pole—\n\n(i) is free of concrete decay; and\n\n(ii) does not have exposed metal reinforcement; and\n\n(n) the line complies with clause 3 of the Code; and\n\nNote to reg. 11(1)(n) amended by S.R. No. 40/2025 reg. 13.\n\n**Note**\n\nThe Code is the Code of Practice for Electric Line Clearance prescribed under regulation 7 of the Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Interim Regulations 2025[[5]](#endnote-6) and set out in Schedules 1 and 2 to those Regulations.\n\n(o) if during an inspection a hazard tree is identified, the hazard tree is notified to the responsible person.\n\n(2) In this regulation, a tree is a ***hazard tree*** if a suitably qualified arborist—\n\n(a) has assessed the tree having regard to foreseeable local conditions; and\n\n(b) has determined that the tree, or any part of the tree, is likely to fall onto, or otherwise come into contact with, an electric line.\n\n(3) For the purpose of subregulations (1)(o) and (2), it is irrelevant that the tree is not within, and is not likely to grow into, the minimum clearance space for an electric line span.\n\n(4) In this regulation—\n\n***conductor spreader*** has the same meaning as in the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019;\n\n***horizontally constructed*** has the same meaning as in the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019;\n\n***neutral-screened cable*** has the same meaning as \"Cable, neutral-screened\" has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;\n\n***private aerial line*** has the same meaning as in the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019.\n\n\t12 Minimum clearance of private electric lines (other than bare open wire electric lines)\n\n(1) For the purposes of regulation 11(1)(f)(ii), the minimum clearance requirements are that a line that passes over an area, building or structure specified in column 2 of Table 1 must not be closer than the minimum height specified in column 3 of Table 1 to—\n\n(a) the ground of, or surface of the water in, that area; or\n\n(b) the roof of that building; or\n\n(c) if the structure is a pool, the surface of the water in the pool; or\n\n(d) the highest point of the structure.\n\n(2) For the purposes of regulation 11(1)(g)(ii), the minimum clearance requirements are that a line that passes over an area, building or structure specified in column 2 of Table 1 must not be closer than the minimum height specified in column 4 of Table 1 to—\n\n(a) the ground of, or surface of the water in, that area; or\n\n(b) the roof of that building; or\n\n(c) if the structure is a pool, the surface of the water in the pool; or\n\n(d) the highest point of the structure.\n\n**Table 1**\n\n| *Column 1*<br>*Item number* | *Column 2*<br>*Area, building or structure* | *Column 3*<br>*Minimum clearance for insulated and unsheathed live conductors* | *Column 4*<br>*Minimum clearance for double insulated or neutral-screened cables* |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| 1 | Areas traversable by large trucks and agricultural machinery | 4·5 m | 4·5 m |\n| 2 | Areas traversable by vehicles other than vehicles described in item 1 | 3·0 m | 3·0 m |\n| 3 | Areas traversable by pedestrians but not by vehicle | 3·0 m | 2·7 m |\n| 4 | Areas not traversable by vehicles or pedestrians | 3·0 m | 2·7 m |\n| 5 | Areas where sailing craft or irrigation pipes are used | 13·5 m | 13·5 m |\n| 6 | Roofs used for traffic or resort | 2·7 m | 2·7 m |\n| 7 | Other roofs and structures | 1·2 m | 0·5 m |\n| 8 | Swimming pools | 3·0 m | 3·0 m |\n\n\n(3) For the purposes of regulation 11(1)(f)(ii) and (g)(ii), the minimum clearance requirements are that a line that is adjacent to or near a building, wire or other thing specified in column 2 of Table 2 must not be closer than the minimum distance specified in column 3 of Table 2 to that building, wire or other thing.\n\n**Table 2**\n\n| *Column 1*<br>*Item number* | *Column 2*<br>*Buildings, wire or other thing* | *Column 3*<br>*Minimum distance* |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 1 | Buildings, including walls | 0·9 m |\n| 2 | Clothes lines, radio and television aerials, counter poise or stay wires | 1·8 m |\n| 3 | Telecommunications lines | 0·5 m |\n\n\n\t13 Prescribed period in which notice of inspection is to be given\n\nFor the purposes of section 113F(2) of the Act, the prescribed period is not more than 45 days before the inspection and not less than 21 days before the inspection.\n\n\t14 Prescribed form of notice to be given before inspection\n\nFor the purposes of section 113F(2) of the Act, the prescribed form of notice is set out in Schedule 2.\n\n\t15 Exemptions\n\n(1) Energy Safe Victoria may, in writing, exempt a specified operator or major electricity company from any of the requirements of these Regulations.\n\n(2) An exemption under subregulation (1) may specify conditions to which the exemption is subject.\n\nSchedule 1—Zone substations\n\nRegulations 7(1)(j) and 8(g)\n\n| *Column 1* | | *Column 2* | | *Column 3* | *Column 4* | *Column 5* |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *Item* | | *Name* | | *Code* | *Latitude* | *Longitude* |\n| 1 | | Winchelsea | | WIN | -38·23644 | 144·00102 |\n| 2 | | Colac | | CLC | -38·34092 | 143·60619 |\n| 3 | | Eaglehawk | | EHK | -36·71772 | 144·25089 |\n| 4 | | Woori Yallock | | WYK | -37·77634 | 145·52933 |\n| 5 | | Maryborough | MRO | -37·04909 | 143·73727 |\n| 6 | | Seymour | SMR | -37·02548 | 145·14068 |\n| 7 | | Ballarat South | BAS | -37·59450 | 143·79908 |\n| 8 | | Bendigo TS | BET | -36·78289 | 144·25296 |\n| 9 | | Wangaratta | WN | -36·35744 | 146·31022 |\n| 10 | | Castlemaine | CMN | -37·07182 | 144·20637 |\n| 11 | | Camperdown | CDN | -38·22599 | 143·15655 |\n| 12 | | Woodend | WND | -37·33385 | 144·51729 |\n| 13 | | Kinglake | KLK | -37·51440 | 145·31615 |\n| 14 | | Rubicon A | ALA, MVE | -37·29287 | 145·81850 |\n| 15 | | Bairnsdale | BDL | -37·82537 | 147·61261 |\n| 16 | | Geelong | GL | -38·13477 | 144·33741 |\n| 17 | | Ballarat | BAN | -37·50088 | 143·85096 |\n| 18 | | Waurn Ponds | WPD | -38·21082 | 144·30380 |\n| 19 | | Lilydale | LDL | -37·76339 | 145·35840 |\n| 20 | | Wodonga and Tallangatta | WOTS | -36·15439 | 146·94682 |\n| 21 | | Myrtleford | MYT | -36·55745 | 146·72525 |\n| 22 | | Barnawartha | BWA | -36·10556 | 146·67345 |\n| 23 | | Kilmore South | KMS | -37·31798 | 144·97174 |\n| 24 | | Kalkallo | KLO | -37·53833 | 144·94140 |\n| 25 | | Gisborne | GSB | -37·45352 | 144·57625 |\n| 26 | | Belgrave | BGE | -37·93056 | 145·36096 |\n| 27 | | Moe | MOE | -38·18424 | 146·25908 |\n| 28 | | Mansfield | MSD | -37·05458 | 146·08802 |\n| 29 | | Ferntree Gully | FGY | -37·89304 | 145·29167 |\n| 30 | | Eltham | ELM | -37·71675 | 145·13881 |\n| 31 | | Ringwood North | RWN | -37·79260 | 145·23449 |\n| 32 | | Charlton | CTN | -36·26562 | 143·35478 |\n| 33 | | Benalla | BN | -36·55160 | 145·98000 |\n| 34 | | Koroit | KRT | -38·31541 | 142·43245 |\n| 35 | | Hamilton | HTN | -37·73876 | 142·02283 |\n| 36 | | Terang | TRG | -38·23860 | 142·91531 |\n| 37 | | Merbein | MBN | -34·16805 | 142·05807 |\n| 38 | | Stawell | STL | -37·05833 | 142·77839 |\n| 39 | | Bendigo | BGO | -36·76102 | 144·27897 |\n| 40 | | Ararat | ART | -37·28308 | 142·93030 |\n| 41 | | Coolaroo | COO | -37·64207 | 144·93391 |\n| 42 | | Corio | CRO | -38·07445 | 144·35898 |\n| 43 | | Lang Lang | LLG | -38·26605 | 145·56266 |\n| 44 | | Wonthaggi | WGI | -38·60885 | 145·58860 |\n| 45 | | Sale | SLE | -38·10364 | 147·06972 |\n\n\nSchedule 2—Notice of inspection\n\nRegulation 14\n\nTo the Occupier,\n\nIn accordance with section 113F(2) of the **Electricity Safety Act 1998**, please be advised that on or about [*insert date*] our asset inspector will inspect all private electric lines above the surface of land on the property you occupy, except for those parts of the lines that are installed after the point at which they are connected to a building or other structure (not including a pole).\n\nThe inspection may reveal that defects exist and maintenance is required on a private electric line on the property that you occupy. If this is the case, we will give the owner written notice of the maintenance work required to be carried out.\n\nPlease contact [*insert name of responsible person*] on [*insert telephone* *number*] if you have any queries.\n\nSigned\n\n[*insert name of major* *electricity company*]\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\nThe Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2023, S.R. No. 40/2023 were made on 6 June 2023 by the Governor in Council under sections 151, 151A and 157 of the **Electricity Safety Act 1998**, No. 25/1998 and came into operation on 16 June 2023: regulation 3.\n\nThe Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2023 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 6 June 2033 (see section 5 of the **Subordinate Legislation Act 1994**).\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nThis includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.  \nSee section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nSee section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after  \n1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThis publication incorporates amendments made to the Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2023 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\nElectricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Interim Regulations 2025, S.R. No. 40/2025\n\n| *Date of Making:* | 11.6.25 |\n| --- | --- |\n| *Date of Commencement:* | Reg. 13 on 26.6.25: reg. 3 |\n\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n3 Explanatory details\n\n1. Reg. 4(a): S.R. No. 62/2013 as amended by S.R. Nos 67/2015, 68/2015, 32/2016 and 50/2020. [↑](#endnote-ref-2)\n\n2.  Reg. 4(b): S.R. No. 68/2015. [↑](#endnote-ref-3)\n\n3. Reg. 4(c): S.R. No. 32/2016. [↑](#endnote-ref-4)\n\n4. Reg. 5 def. of ***bare open wire or bare***: S.R. No. 113/2019. [↑](#endnote-ref-5)\n\n5. Reg. 11(1)(n): S.R. No. 40/2025.\n\n  ——\n\n  **Table of Applied, Adopted or Incorporated Matter**\n\n  The following table of applied, adopted or incorporated matter was included in S.R. No. 40/2023 in accordance with the requirements of regulation 5 of the Subordinate Legislation Regulations 2014.\n\n    | **Statutory rule provision** | **Title of applied, adopted or incorporated document** | **Matter in applied, adopted or incorporated document** |\n    | --- | --- | --- |\n    | Regulation 5 definition of ***Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules*** | AS/NZS 3000:2018 (Incorporating Amendment Nos 1 and 2) Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules), 6th edition, published by Standards Australia on 26 June 2018 | The whole |\n    | Regulation 11(1)(e), (f)(i) and (g)(i) | AS/NZS 3000:2018 (Incorporating Amendment Nos 1 and 2) Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules), 6th edition, published by Standards Australia on 26 June 2018 | Table 3.8 |\n    | **Statutory rule provision** | **Title of applied, adopted or incorporated document** | **Matter in applied, adopted or incorporated document** |\n    | --- | --- | --- |\n    | Regulation 11(4) definition of ***neutral‑screened cable*** | AS/NZS 3000:2018 (Incorporating Amendment Nos 1 and 2) Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules), 6th edition, published by Standards Australia on 26 June 2018 | The whole |\n\n   [↑](#endnote-ref-6)","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available content, there is no evidence of scope change from the original intent. The regulation appears straightforwardly directed at its stated purpose: bushfire mitigation in the electricity safety context. However, the absence of substantive text makes a definitive scope assessment impossible."},"complexity_factors":["Technical subject matter involving electrical engineering standards and fire risk management","Operates within a layered regulatory framework (parent Act + these Regulations + regulatory guidelines)","Multiple regulated parties with different obligations (distributors, transmission companies, regulator)","Intersection of energy law, safety law, and environmental/land management law","Assessment is significantly limited by the near-complete absence of substantive legislative text in the provided document — only metadata and version history were supplied"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations aim to reduce bushfire risk from electricity infrastructure by imposing obligations on electricity network operators and giving enforcement roles to Energy Safe Victoria. They are expected to require bushfire mitigation planning, vegetation clearance near powerlines, inspection and maintenance of assets in high-risk areas, and reporting to the regulator.\n\nThis matters because powerlines can ignite major bushfires; effective compliance reduces ignition risk. The provided text is limited, so detailed duties need the full regulatory text."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument expressly revokes prior Bushfire Mitigation Regulations (reg 4) and replaces them with the current regime focused on plan content, inspection frequencies, technical clearance standards and public disclosure. Subsequent amendment is recorded (notably the insertion linking inspection standards to a separate Code in reg 11(1)(n) as noted in the Table of Amendments and endnotes), so the scope has been adjusted since original making to incorporate an external Code and related technical detail."},"complexity_factors":["Technical electrical requirements and metrics (eg. I2t, low/high impedance, 'required capacity') in definitions (reg 5) increase substantive technical complexity.","Detailed, multi-part inspection standards with equipment- and material-specific criteria (reg 11) and cross-references to an external Code of Practice.","Phased compliance dates and transitional rules (eg. different clearance rules before/after 16 Dec 2023 in reg 11(1)(f)/(g)) add timing complexity.","Mandatory content and procedural requirements for bushfire mitigation plans differ between 'specified operators' and 'major electricity companies' (regs 6–7), increasing regulatory variance.","Multiple inspection intervals depending on location and asset type (regs 7(1)(o), 10) create operational scheduling complexity.","Incorporation by reference of external standards (AS/NZS 3000:2018) and a separately prescribed Code (see reg 11(1)(n) note and endnotes) requires concurrent compliance with non-statutory documents.","Prescriptive clearance tables (Table 1 and Table 2 in reg 12) require site-by-site technical assessment and mapping to local conditions.","Administrative requirements for public disclosure of plan information (reg 8) and owner notification procedures (regs 13–14, Schedule 2) impose different information flows and timelines.","Discretionary exemption power vested in Energy Safe Victoria (reg 15) introduces regulatory discretion and conditional compliance paths.","Schedules (Schedule 1 list of zone substations) and multiple cross-references to the Electricity Safety Act 1998 and other Regulations increase navigational complexity when determining obligations."],"plain_english_summary":"These Regulations require specified electricity operators and major electricity companies to prepare and publish bushfire mitigation plans and to inspect overhead and private electric lines to set standards. They prescribe what plans must contain, inspection intervals and technical safety standards, who must be trained, notice periods and what information must be public. Companies must carry out inspections, meet clearance and equipment requirements, and notify owners when maintenance is needed; owners of private lines may bear repair costs. Energy Safe Victoria can grant exemptions."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original scope as bushfire mitigation regulations under the Electricity Safety Act 1998. The 2023 version consolidates and replaces the 2013 regulations and subsequent amendments without expanding beyond the core purpose of preventing bushfires caused by electrical infrastructure. While the technical requirements have been updated (particularly regarding fault protection capacity and clearance standards), the fundamental scope—regulating electricity companies' fire prevention obligations—remains consistent with the original legislative intent."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive cross-referencing to external standards (AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules) and other regulations (Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019, Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Interim Regulations 2025)","Highly technical defined terms including electrical engineering concepts: 'I2t' (thermal energy measurement), 'high impedance faults', 'low impedance faults', 'required capacity' with specific voltage and time thresholds (e.g., 250 volts within 2 seconds, 1900 volts within 85 milliseconds)","Nested conditional logic with date-based transitions: different clearance requirements apply 'before 16 December 2023' versus 'on or after 16 December 2023' in regulation 11(1)(f) and (g)","Bifurcated regulatory structure: separate but parallel requirements for 'specified operators' (regulation 6) and 'major electricity companies' (regulation 7), with the latter having significantly more detailed obligations (22 paragraphs vs 15)","Multiple exclusion clauses and carve-outs: regulation 7(4) excludes terminal stations, zone substations and underground networks from inspection timing rules; regulation 9 excludes parts of private lines connected to buildings","Incorporation of 45 specific zone substations in Schedule 1 with precise geospatial coordinates (latitude/longitude) to which specific technical capacity requirements apply","Dual table system for clearance requirements (Table 1 for heights over areas/structures, Table 2 for horizontal distances from buildings/objects) with 8 categories of areas and 3 categories of adjacent structures","Specific material standards for different pole types (wooden, treated pine, steel, concrete) with precise measurements (e.g., girth >550mm, termite-free to 300mm depth, 75% metal thickness in corroded areas)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese regulations set out the rules for electricity companies in Victoria to prevent their power lines from starting bushfires. They replace older regulations from 2013-2016 and require companies to create detailed **bushfire mitigation plans**—essentially blueprints for how they'll reduce fire risks from their equipment.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n* **Major electricity companies** (like AusNet, Citipower, Powercor, United Energy) – must prepare comprehensive plans covering their entire supply networks\n* **Specified operators** (smaller electricity businesses) – must prepare simpler plans for their \"at-risk\" power lines\n* **Private property owners** – must allow inspections of private power lines on their land and maintain them to safety standards\n* **Energy Safe Victoria** – the regulator that approves training and can grant exemptions\n\n**Key requirements:**\n\n* **Inspection schedules:** Power lines in high-risk bushfire areas must be inspected every 37 months; other areas every 61 months\n* **Technical standards:** Companies must install safety devices (Automatic Circuit Reclosers) on certain rural lines and ensure network capacity to quickly shut down faults that could spark fires\n* **Training:** All inspectors must complete approved training and prove they're competent\n* **Public transparency:** Major companies must publish their bushfire mitigation plans and provide emergency contact numbers\n* **Private line rules:** Companies must inspect private power lines (the ones running from the street to your house) and notify owners of defects. There's a specific 21-45 day notice period before inspections\n* **Clearance requirements:** Strict height rules for power lines over roads, buildings, and pools—ranging from 0.5 metres to 13.5 metres depending on the line type and what's underneath\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nAfter devastating fires like Black Saturday (2009), faulty power lines were identified as a major fire cause. These regulations aim to prevent tragedies by forcing electricity companies to proactively maintain infrastructure, install modern safety technology, and keep detailed records of their fire prevention efforts. The rules are highly technical because even small electrical faults can ignite catastrophic fires in dry conditions."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/electricity-safety-bushfire-mitigation-regulations-2023","history":"/api/acts/electricity-safety-bushfire-mitigation-regulations-2023/history","analysis":"/api/acts/electricity-safety-bushfire-mitigation-regulations-2023/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/electricity-safety-bushfire-mitigation-regulations-2023/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/electricity-safety-bushfire-mitigation-regulations-2023/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/electricity-safety-bushfire-mitigation-regulations-2023/documents"}}