120NCovering or placing underground electric lines

120N Covering or placing underground electric lines

(1) A major electricity company must cover or place underground each new electric line that meets the prescribed specification that it constructs within an electric line construction area.

(2) A major electricity company must cover or place underground each electric line that—

(a) meets the prescribed specification; and

(b) it reconstructs or substantially reconstructs within an electric line construction area; and

(c) is of at least 4 consecutive spans or has conductors on at least 4 consecutive spans.

(3) A major electricity company that contravenes subsection (1) or (2) is liable to pay a pecuniary penalty—

(a) not exceeding $350 000 for each kilometre or a part of a kilometre of an electric line that is not covered or placed underground in accordance with that subsection; and

(b) in the case of a continuing contravention of subsection (1) or (2), a daily amount not exceeding $1000 for each day that contravention continues after service on the major electricity company by Energy Safe Victoria of notice of that contravention*.*

(4) This section does not apply to a major electricity company that is exempted from complying with this section under an Order under section 120W and complies with that Order.

(5) In this section—

cover, in relation to an electric line, means install a system of insulation on a bare open wire in accordance with the relevant major electricity company's accepted bushfire mitigation plan.

S. 120O inserted by No. 18/2017 s. 4.