Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019

102 Authorising provisions

These Regulations are made under sections 149, 151, 151A, 152 and 157 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998.

103 Commencement

These Regulations come into operation on 6 December 2019.

104 Revocations

The Regulations listed in Schedule 1 are revoked.

Division 2—Definitions and interpretation

105 Definitions

In these Regulations—

accessories has the same meaning as "accessory" has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

active conductor has the same meaning as "active" has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

aerial bundled cable means an insulated conductor manufactured in accordance with the specifications set out in any of the following—

(a) AS/NZS 3560.1;

(b) AS/NZS 3560.2;

(c) AS/NZS 3599.1;

(d) AS/NZS 3599.2;

aerial line means a conductor placed above the ground or water and in open air;

alternative design solution means a design and installation method adopted under regulation 204;

alternative supply has the same meaning as "supply, alternative" has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

apprentice means a person deemed to be licensed under section 39 of the Act;

AS 1074 means AS 1074 Steel tubes and tubulars for ordinary service, as published or amended from time to time;

AS 2067 means AS 2067 Substations and high voltage installations exceeding 1 kV a.c., as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 2053.2 means AS/NZS 2053.2 Conduits and fittings for electrical installations Part 2: Rigid plain conduits and fittings of insulating material, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 2053.3 means AS/NZS 2053.3 Conduits and fittings for electrical installations Part 3: Rigid plain conduits and fittings of fibre-reinforced concrete material, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 2053.5 means AS/NZS 2053.5 Conduits and fittings for electrical installations Part 5: Corrugated conduits and fittings of insulating material, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 2053.6 means AS/NZS 2053.6 Conduits and fittings for electrical installations Part 6: Profile-wall, smooth-bore conduits and fittings of insulating material, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 3003 means AS/NZS 3003 Electrical installations—Patient areas, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 3007 means AS/NZS 3007 Electrical equipment in mines and quarries—Surface installations and associated processing plant, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 3013 means AS/NZS 3013 Electrical installations—Classification of the fire and mechanical performance of wiring system elements, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 3016 means AS/NZS 3016 Electrical installations—Electric security fences, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 3560.1 means AS/NZS 3560.1 Electric cables—Cross-linked polyethylene insulated—Aerial bundled—For working voltages up to and including 0·6/1(1·2) kV Part 1: Aluminium conductors, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 3560.2 means AS/NZS 3560.2 Electric cables—Cross-linked polyethylene insulated—Aerial bundled—For working voltages up to and including 0·6/1(1·2) kV Part 2: Copper conductors, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 3599.1 means AS/NZS 3599.1 Electric cables—Aerial bundled—Polymeric insulated—Voltages 6.35/11(12) kV and 12.7/22(24) kV Part 1: Metallic screened, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 3599.2 means AS/NZS 3599.2 Electric cables—Aerial bundled—Polymeric insulated—Voltages 6.35/11(12) kV and 12.7/22(24) kV Part 2: Non-metallic screened, as published or amended from time to time;

AS 3600 means AS 3600 Concrete structures, as published or amended from time to time;

AS 3891.1 means AS 3891.1 Air navigation—Cables and their supporting structures—Marking and safety requirements Part 1: Permanent marking of overhead cables and their supporting structures for other than planned low-level flying, as published or amended from time to time;

AS 3891.2 means AS 3891.2 Air navigation—Cables and their supporting structures—Marking and safety requirements Part 2: Low level aviation operations, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 4680 means AS/NZS 4680 Hot-dip galvanized (zinc) coatings on fabricated ferrous articles, as published or amended from time to time;

AS 4702 means AS 4702 Polymeric cable protection covers, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 4792 means AS/NZS 4792 Hot-dip galvanized (zinc) coatings on ferrous hollow sections, applied by a continuous or a specialized process, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 5033 means AS/NZS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 5139 means AS/NZS 5139 Electrical installations—Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment, as published or amended from time to time;

AS/NZS 7000 means AS/NZS 7000 Overhead line design, as published or amended from time to time;

Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules means AS/NZS 3000 Electrical installations, as published or amended from time to time;

bare open wire or bare, in relation to an aerial line, means uninsulated conductors supported by insulators;

battery system means a battery or battery energy storage system that has—

(a) a nominal operating voltage exceeding 12 volts direct current; and

(b) an individual or combined rated storage capacity equal to or greater than one kilowatt hour;

battery energy storage system has the same meaning as "battery energy storage system BESS" has in AS/NZS 5139;

common area means a portion of a multiple occupancy that is not an individual occupier's portion;

common property has the same meaning as it has in the Owners Corporations Act 2006;

communication equipment includes data transfer equipment, security system equipment, intercom and public address system equipment, nurse call system equipment and audio-visual equipment;

compliant heavy duty non-metallic conduit means a heavy duty non-metallic conduit that complies with the specifications set out in any of the following—

(a) AS/NZS 2053.2;

(b) AS/NZS 2053.3;

(c) AS/NZS 2053.5;

(d) AS/NZS 2053.6;

conductor has the same meaning as it has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

conductor cover means a pipe or tube that is applied to a conductor to provide a protective barrier;

conductor spreader means an insulated rod used to maintain the clearances between the bare open wire conductors of a low voltage private aerial line;

consumer billing meter means a device that measures and records the production or consumption of electricity and is used by an electricity supplier to determine the amount of electricity consumed by or supplied by a consumer;

consumer electricity generation system means a generation system that is connected to an electrical installation that is intended to supply electricity, either continually or occasionally, to all or part of that electrical installation, but does not include a generation system with an installed or nameplate capacity of 30 megawatts or more;

consumer's mains has the same meaning as "consumer mains" has in the Australian/
New Zealand Wiring Rules;

consumer's terminals means the connection devices used for the connection of an electrical installation to the supply network of a major electricity company or an interstate electricity supplier;

covered, in relation to an aerial line, means an aerial line (other than an insulated aerial line) comprised of conductors that are fitted with a conductor cover;

Conductor cover is defined in this regulation.

d.c. traction conductor means an overhead tram trolley wire, a train contact wire or a tram or train catenary or traction feeder that operates on direct current but does not include tram and train negative conductors that are installed on or below the ground;

distribution board means a switchboard other than a main switchboard;

distribution network means a supply network (generally at nominal voltage levels of 66 000 volts or below) that is used to distribute electricity to electrical installations;

domestic electrical installation has the same meaning as "Electrical installation, domestic" has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

double insulation has the same meaning as it has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

effective supervision, in relation to electrical work, means—

(a) being present at the site of the electrical work to the extent necessary to ensure that the work is being correctly performed and carried out in accordance with the Act and these Regulations; and

(b) being aware of the details of the work being performed and giving detailed instructions and directions with respect to the work;

electrical fault has the same meaning as it has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

electricity supplier includes distribution companies;

embedded network has the same meaning as it has in the Metering Code;

emergency lift means a lift intended to operate in an emergency;

Essential Services Commission means the Essential Services Commission established under the Essential Services Commission Act 2001;

extra low voltage means a voltage not exceeding—

(a) 50 volts alternating current; or

(b) 120 volts ripple-free direct current;

fire pump means an electrically-driven fire hydrant booster pump, a pump for an automatic sprinkler, water spray, deluge or similar fire extinguishing system and—

(a) includes a pump for fire hose reels if those fire hose reels are the only means of fire protection for a premises;

(b) does not include a pump used to establish and maintain pressure in a fire hydrant or fire extinguishing system provided that any fire hydrant or fire extinguishing system does not rely on that pump for its water supply;

grid-connected inverter system means a system containing an inverter that is capable of being connected in parallel with the supply network of an electricity supplier;

hazardous area has the same meaning as "Area, hazardous" has in the Australian/
New Zealand Wiring Rules;

high voltage means a voltage exceeding low voltage;

horizontally constructed, in relation to an aerial line, means a construction method where the individual conductors of an aerial line are supported by insulators mounted on crossarms;

individual occupier's portion means a portion of a multiple electrical installation that is—

(a) under the control of an individual occupier; or

(b) designed to be under the control of an individual occupier;

installation work responsible person means the person who is responsible for the carrying out of electrical installation work under section 41A of the Act;

interstate electricity supplier means a person who—

(a) engages in the distribution or supply of electricity in Victoria; and

(b) owns or operates a distribution network in Victoria along which electricity supplied from an adjacent State is conveyed; and

(c) is exempted by an Order under section 17 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 from the requirement to obtain a licence under that Act in respect of the distribution or supply of electricity;

insulated, in relation to an aerial line, means an aerial line (other than a covered aerial line) comprised of conductors that are separated from any adjoining conductive material by a permanently affixed protective layer of non‑conducting material;

licensed electrical inspector means a person holding an electrical inspector's licence under Part 3 of the Electricity Safety (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2010[1];

licensed electrical switchgear worker means a person holding an electrical switchgear worker's licence under Part 3 of the Electricity Safety (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2010;

licensed electrician means an electrical installation worker holding an electrician's licence under Part 3 of the Electricity Safety (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2010;

low voltage means a voltage exceeding extra low voltage but not exceeding—

(a) 1000 volts alternating current; or

(b) 1500 volts direct current;

main earthing conductor has the same meaning as it has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

main switch has the same meaning as it has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

main switchboard has the same meaning as "Switchboard, main" has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

metering code means the Electricity Customer Metering Code, as published or amended from time to time by the Essential Services Commission;

multiple electrical installation has the same meaning as "electrical installation, multiple" has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

multiple occupancy means land that has 2 or more individual occupier's portions;

negative conductor means a conductor in a circuit of a railway that is maintained at approximately the same electrical potential as the train track or tram track;

neutral conductor has the same meaning as "neutral" has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

neutral screen cable has the same meaning as "Cable, neutral-screened" has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

normal supply has the same meaning as "supply, normal" has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

other cable system means—

(a) telecommunication and control cables; or

(b) aerial earth cables;

overhead break-away device means a mechanical device designed to disconnect an overhead electric line from its supporting structure and the electricity supply when the electric line is subjected to an external stress that exceeds the tensile or design strength of the electric line;

patient area has the same meaning as it has in AS/NZS 3003;

photovoltaic array has the same meaning as "PV array" has in AS/NZS 5033;

pole line means an aerial line supported by 2 or more poles or towers;

private aerial line means a private electric line that is an aerial line and includes any pole that supports an electricity supplier's aerial line, but does not include a pole that is part of the supply network of—

(a) a major electricity company; or

(b) an interstate electricity supplier;

Private electric line is defined in section 3 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998.

private pole means a pole or support tower that is part of a private aerial line;

protected aerial line means an aerial line that forms part of protected infrastructure;

protected infrastructure means protected installations and protected supply networks;

protected installation means—

(a) a low voltage electrical installation operating on public land; or

(b) a high voltage electrical installation; or

(c) a private electric line;

protected supply network means—

(a) a supply network owned or operated by a major electricity company; or

(b) a supply network owned or operated by an interstate electricity supplier; or

(c) a railway supply network; or

(d) a tramway supply network;

protective equipment means equipment that is intended to automatically isolate the active conductors of a circuit if an electrical fault occurs;

public land means—

(a) Crown land; or

(b) land vested in a Minister of the Crown; or

(c) land vested in a public statutory authority or Council; or

(d) land (whether privately or publicly owned) used for public purposes;

railway supply network means the supply network of a railway that is used by electric trains;

readily accessible has the same meaning as "Accessible, readily" has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

reference code means a unique identifying number or code provided by Energy Safe Victoria under regulation 237;

registered electrical contractor means an electrical contractor registered under Part 2 of the Electricity Safety (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2010;

reinforced insulation has the same meaning as it has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

related body corporate has the same meaning as it has in section 9 of the Corporations Act;

retailer has the same meaning as it has in the Electricity Industry Act 2000;

safety service has the same meaning as it has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

service line means the final span or section of a low voltage aerial line or underground line that—

(a) is part of the supply network of—

(i) a major electricity company; or

(ii) an interstate electricity supplier; and

(b) is connected to a point of supply;

Point of supply is defined in section 3 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998.

service protective device means a fuse, circuit breaker or other protective equipment installed for interrupting the supply to an electrical installation from the supply network of a major electricity company or interstate electricity supplier;

span, in relation to an aerial line or private aerial line, means a section of the aerial line between 2 adjacent supporting structures;

stand-alone power system means a power generation system connected to an electrical installation that is not connected to an electricity supplier's supply network;

subcircuit has the same meaning as "Subcircuit, final" has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

submains has the same meaning as it has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

substantial reconstruction means—

(a) in the case of private aerial lines supported by means of a catenary, replacement or repair of more than 20% of the number of spans supported by a catenary or catenaries or replacement or repair of more than 20% of the number of poles for the catenary or catenaries supporting a cable;

(b) in the case of all other private aerial lines, replacement or repair of more than 20% of the number of spans or replacement or repair of more than 20% of the number of poles in that line supporting wiring;

substation has the same meaning as it has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

supplementary supply has the same meaning as "supply, supplementary" has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

supply isolating device has the meaning set out in regulation 207(4);

SWER means single wire earth return;

the Act means the Electricity Safety Act 1998;

the Blue Book means the Code of Practice on electrical safety for the work on or near high voltage electrical apparatus, as published or amended from time to time by Energy Safe Victoria;

the Orange Book means the Victorian Traction Industry Electrical Safety Rules, as published or amended from time to time by Energy Safe Victoria;

tramway supply network means the supply network of a tramway;

transition pole private electric line means a private electric line that consists of one private pole that—

(a) supports the point of supply for that private electric line; and

(b) other than a service line, is only connected to underground consumer's mains;

transitional portion, in relation to an underground line that enters or exits the ground from the surface of the land, means—

(a) in the case of a low voltage underground line, the first 1000 millimetres of that line; or

(b) in the case of a high voltage underground line, the first 2000 millimetres of that line—

measured from the point where the underground line enters or exits the ground;

underground line means a conductor placed under the ground and includes any part of the conductor that is at or above the surface of the ground;

vegetation management rules means the Electrical Safety Rules for Vegetation Management Work Near Overhead Powerlines by Non-Electrical Workers, as published or amended from time to time by Energy Safe Victoria;

vegetation management work means—

(a) the pruning, cutting, trimming or felling of vegetation in the vicinity of a protected aerial line; or

(b) the application of herbicides to vegetation that is in the vicinity of a protected aerial line;

vessel has the same meaning as it has in the Marine Safety Act 2010.

106 When is a person competent to perform a task?

For the purposes of these Regulations, a person is competent to perform a specified task if that person has acquired, whether through training, qualifications or experience (or a combination of these), the skills necessary to perform that task correctly.

107 Interpretation

(1) If a provision of any document applied, adopted or incorporated by, or referred to in, these Regulations is inconsistent with any provision of these Regulations, the provision of these Regulations prevails.

(2) Any diagrams used in these Regulations are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be a comprehensive depiction of the situation they illustrate or to extend the meaning of the regulation to which they relate.

108 Application of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules

The Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules are applied, adopted or incorporated under these Regulations with the following modifications—

(a) every reference in the Rules to a regulatory authority is a reference to Energy Safe Victoria;

(b) every reference in the Rules to an electrician is a reference to a licensed electrician;

(c) every reference in the Rules to a licensed electrical contractor is a reference to a registered electrical contractor;

(d) every reference in the Rules to water and gas suppliers includes a reference to telecommunication suppliers.

Part 2—Electrical installations

Division 1—Wiring methods for electrical installations

201 Application

This Part does not apply to electrical work carried out on—

(a) a major electricity company's supply network; or

(b) a railway supply network; or

(c) a tramway supply network; or

(d) an interstate electricity supplier's supply network; or

(e) the signalling, control or communications systems of a railway or tramway.

202 General wiring methods for electrical installations

A person must not install, alter, repair or maintain an electrical installation or a portion of an electrical installation unless the installation or the installed, altered, repaired or maintained portion of the installation complies with—

(a) Divisions 1 to 9 of this Part; and

(b) Part 2 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules; and

(c) in the case of a high voltage electrical installation, AS 2067; and

(d) in the case of a low voltage overhead electric line located on public land or any high voltage overhead electric line, AS/NZS 7000.

203 Electrical installations installed before commencement of these Regulations

(1) Despite regulation 202, an existing electrical installation or portion of an existing electrical installation may be repaired or maintained using methods that comply with Part 1 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules, other than clause 1.9.4.

(2) In this regulation, existing electrical installation means an electrical installation that was installed before the commencement of these Regulations other than—

(a) an electric fence; or

(b) an electrical installation to which regulation 206 applies; or

(c) consumer's mains to which regulation 228(2) applies; or

(d) a private aerial line to which regulation 234 applies.

204 Alternative design solution

(1) This regulation applies to an electrical installation or a portion of an electrical installation (other than a domestic electrical installation or portion of a domestic electrical installation) that, because of its unusual requirements, application or intended use, cannot meet the requirements of Part 2 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules.

(2) A person may adopt a design and installation method (an alternative design solution) that—

(a) satisfies the requirements of sections 1.5, 1.6, 1.7 and 1.8 of Part 1 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules; and

(b) will provide a level of safety from physical injury, fire and electric shock that is at least equivalent to the level that would be provided if Part 2 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules was complied with.

(3) A person may only elect to adopt the alternative design solution before the person signs the certificate of compliance that relates to the alternative design solution.

(4) Before commencing the installation work related to an alternative design solution, a person must obtain written consent from the owner of the electrical installation to depart from the requirements of Part 2 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules.

(5) Before commencing the installation work relating to an alternative design solution, a person must have a design of that alternative design solution verified as complying with Part 1 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules by a competent person who was not involved with the design of the alternative design solution.

(6) On the adoption of an alternative design solution in relation to an electrical installation, the person must do the following things—

(a) clearly and permanently mark the main switchboard of the installation where the alternative design solution has been adopted and any other switchboard that is associated with the alternative design solution with the following words—

"Warning—parts of this installation adopt an alternative design solution under the Wiring Rules";

(b) maintain documentation that details—

(i) the nature and extent of the alternative design solution; and

(ii) the electrical installation or portions of the electrical installation where the alternative design solution was used; and

(iii) why the requirements of Part 2 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules could not be met; and

(iv) how compliance with subregulation (2) was achieved; and

(v) the verification required by subregulation (5).

(7) A copy of the documentation referred to in subregulation (6)(b) must—

(a) be given to the owner of the electrical installation and to Energy Safe Victoria; and

(b) be retained by the person responsible for the carrying out of the electrical installation work for a period of 3 years commencing after the completion of the electrical installation work.

(8) To avoid doubt, despite an alternative design solution being adopted for a portion of an electrical installation, all remaining portions of the electrical installation must comply with Part 2 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules.

(9) Energy Safe Victoria may require an independent competent person to certify that the materials, equipment and methods adopted under an alternative design solution are equivalent to the requirements of Part 2 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules.

Division 2—Additional obligations for certain types of electrical installation work

205 High voltage electrical installation work

(1) Before commencing any electrical installation work related to the installation, alteration or repair of a high voltage electrical installation, the person who is to carry out the work must ensure that the design of that installation work has been verified in writing as complying with AS 2067 and AS/NZS 7000 (if applicable) by a competent person who was not involved in the design of the installation work.

Regulation 257 prohibits a licensed electrical inspector involved with the independent verification of proposed high voltage installation work from inspecting that work when completed.

(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply to the repair or maintenance of a high voltage electrical installation provided that the repair or maintenance does not alter the original design of that installation.

(3) A person carrying out high voltage electrical installation work must comply with the requirements of the Blue Book when carrying out that work.

206 Electrical installation work in patient areas

A person must not install, alter, repair or maintain an electrical installation or a portion of an electrical installation in an area that the person knows or should reasonably be expected to know is a patient area or intended to be a patient area unless the installation or the installed, altered, repaired or maintained portion of the installation complies with AS/NZS 3003.

Regulation 505 deals with the obligation of a person who commissions electrical installation work in a patient area to provide information on the location of patient areas to the contractor or electrician they have commissioned to carry out the work.

Division 3—Additional general wiring requirements

207 Control of electrical installations

(1) The electricity supply to an electrical installation must be controlled on the main switchboard by one or more main switches that control the whole of the electrical installation.

Main switchboard and main switch have the same meaning as they have in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules.

(2) Despite subregulation (1), the following electrical equipment is not required to be controlled by a main switch—

(a) consumer's mains;

(b) equipment for metering or the control or protection of metered or metering circuits owned by a major electricity company, an interstate electricity supplier or a retailer;

(c) a service protective device owned by a major electricity company or an interstate electricity supplier;

(d) any ancillary equipment, measuring equipment, supply isolating device and associated wiring that are required to be connected to the supply side of the main switch or switches, provided that the wiring and equipment are confined within or on the switchboard;

(e) equipment, such as voltage sensing equipment, associated with a safety service that is connected on the supply side of a main switch in accordance with Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

(f) equipment, such as voltage sensing equipment, associated with an alternative supply system that is connected on the supply side of a main switch in accordance with Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

(g) fault-current limiters;

(h) surge diverters installed to protect consumer's mains or main switchboards;

(i) an over-current protective device of the kind required by these Regulations to be installed at the origin of a private aerial line;

(j) consumer's terminals.

(3) Despite subregulation (1), an electricity supply to an electrical installation that is supplied by a generation system contained within that electrical installation may be controlled by a main switch on a switchboard that is not the main switchboard.

(4) In subregulation (2)(d), a supply isolating device means a load break switch or circuit breaker that—

(a) is installed on the supply side of the main switch or switches of an electrical installation; and

(b) is only intended to be operated by an authorised person (within the meaning of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules) and is labelled for operation by authorised persons only; and

(c) will be locked in the closed position during normal operation of the electrical installation; and

(d) will not be able to be opened or operated to the open position while locked in the closed position (other than automatically in response to an electrical fault); and

(e) is capable of being locked in the open position; and

(f) in the case of a circuit breaker, achieves discrimination between it and the next protective devices on the load side of the circuit breaker within the electrical installation.

208 Earthing systems

(1) A low voltage electrical installation required to be earthed must have an earthed neutral connection or a multiple earthed neutral (MEN) connection—

(a) at the main switchboard; or

(b) at an earth bar or link within a substation; or

(c) made through an earthing conductor or terminal provided by the electricity supplier.

(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply to an electrical installation installed for use at a mine (other than an underground mine) if that electrical installation is earthed using an earthing system that complies with AS/NZS 3007.

(3) An electrical installation that is required to be earthed but is not connected to an electricity supplier's distribution system may use a system of earthing approved by Energy Safe Victoria.

209 Main earthing conductor

A main earthing conductor must be taken from the main earthing terminal, connection or bar at the main switchboard to—

(a) an earth electrode; or

(b) an earth bar or link within a substation forming part of the electrical installation; or

(c) an earthing conductor or terminal provided by the electricity supplier.

Main earthing conductor has the same meaning as it has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules.

210 Connection of consumer billing meters and neutral conductors

A low voltage consumer billing meter must not be connected in series with a neutral conductor or be used as a connection point for metered or unmetered neutral conductors.

Neutral conductor has the same meaning as it has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules.

211 Premises with consumer electricity generation systems

A person who carries out electrical installation work on a consumer electricity generation system must, in the premises where the consumer electricity generation system is installed or connected to, clearly and permanently mark the main switchboard, any fire indicator panels and all switchboards that will be energised by that consumer electricity generation system—

(a) with the following words—

"Warning—this premises contains an electricity generation system"; and

(b) with the location of isolation switches for all electricity generation systems installed or connected to the premises.

Consumer electricity generation system is defined in regulation 105.

212 Battery systems

A battery system must be installed, altered, repaired or maintained in accordance with AS/NZS 5139.

213 Electric security fences

An electric fence (other than an electric fence intended primarily for the containment of animals) must be installed, altered, repaired or maintained in accordance with AS/NZS 3016.

214 Electricity supplies—construction and demolition sites

(1) Any switchboard or metering enclosure (other than a free standing enclosure) installed on a construction or demolition site must be securely attached to a pole, post, wall or other structure that is rigid and secure.

(2) Any free standing switchboard or metering enclosure installed on a construction or demolition site must be securely fixed in place.

(3) Any underground consumer's mains that enter into a switchboard or metering enclosure installed on a construction or demolition site must—

(a) from the point at which it exits the ground up to the point at which it enters the enclosure, be enclosed in compliant heavy duty non*‑*metallic conduit; and

(b) from the point at which it exits the ground up to a point that is within 100 millimetres of the point at which it enters the enclosure, be provided with additional mechanical protection that is of a construction that meets the mechanical protection classification of WSX3 specified in Appendix F of AS/NZS 3013.

Compliant heavy duty non-metallic conduit is defined in regulation 105.

Division 4—Segregation and labelling of electricity supplies and wiring

215 Multiple occupancy buildings and subdivisions—supplies to individual occupiers' portions

(1) If normal electricity supplies for individual occupiers' portions of a multiple occupancy subdivision or building are established at a single point, the individual wiring supplying each individual occupier's portion must be placed on common property or a common area associated with the subdivision or building.

(2) If an alternative or supplementary supply supplies or is intended to supply more than one individual occupier's portion in a multiple occupancy subdivision or building, any wiring providing alternative supply or supplementary supply to those individual occupiers' portions must be placed on common property or a common area associated with the subdivision or building.

(3) If an alternative or supplementary supply supplies or is intended to supply one individual occupier's portion in a multiple occupancy subdivision or building, any individual wiring providing alternative supply or supplementary supply to that individual occupier's portion must be placed on one or a combination of the following—

(a) that individual occupier's portion;

(b) common property or a common area associated with the subdivision or building.

(4) Subregulation (2) does not apply to an alternative supply or supplementary supply that complies with the requirements of regulation 218.

216 Wiring passing through individual occupiers' portions

(1) This regulation applies to a multiple occupancy subdivision or building that was constructed with individual wiring that supplies normal electricity supplies to an individual occupier's portion that—

(a) passes through other individual occupiers' portions; or

(b) passes through the service ducts of other individual occupiers' portions.

(2) If electricity supplies to an individual occupier's portion of a multiple occupancy subdivision or building are found to be passing through another individual occupier's portion or service ducts in another individual occupier's portion, a person carrying out electrical installation work related to that wiring must ensure that—

(a) any accessible sections of wiring passing through the other individual occupier's portion or the service ducts in the other individual occupier's portion are clearly and permanently identified, by means of marking or attached labels, at intervals not exceeding 2 metres to indicate that the wiring is not controlled from the switchboard of the other individual occupier's portion; and

(b) any accessible switchboard of the other individual occupier's portion through which the consumer's mains or submains or service ducts pass are clearly and permanently marked with the following words—

"Warning—not all wiring passing through these premises is controlled from this switchboard"; and

(c) a sign, durable card or other durable material is fixed to any accessible switchboard of the other individual occupier's portion through which the wiring or service ducts pass setting out the location of the wiring or service ducts.

(3) Despite regulation 215(1), the individual wiring to which this regulation applies may be altered, repaired or maintained in its current location provided that the person carrying out the electrical installation work complies with subregulation (2).

(4) Despite regulations 215(2) and 215(3), an alternative or supplementary supply may be installed, altered, repaired or maintained in the same location as the existing individual wiring to which this regulation applies provided that the person carrying out the electrical installation work complies with subregulation (2) in relation to the alternative or supplementary supply wiring.

(5) In this regulation—

accessible has the same meaning as it has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules.

217 Wiring passing through other allotments

(1) If wiring related to an allotment enters into or passes through another allotment that does not have another source of electricity supply—

(a) any switchboard located on the other allotment through which the wiring enters into or passes must—

(i) be clearly and permanently marked with the following words—

"Warning—not all wiring passing through this land or these premises is controlled from this switchboard"; and

(ii) show the location of the wiring on a sign, durable card or other durable material; or

(b) if there is no switchboard located on the other allotment, a durable sign or durable card or other durable material must be located at or near the electrical equipment being supplied with electricity, that shows the location of the wiring and the location of the isolation switches which control the electricity supply to the wiring; or

(c) if there is no switchboard located on the other allotment and the wiring passes through the allotment without supplying any electrical equipment with electricity, a durable sign must be located or underground cable marker must be located at regular intervals along the route of the electric line, that shows a warning drawing attention to the existence and location of the wiring.

(2) If wiring related to an allotment enters into or passes through another allotment that has another source of electricity supply, the other allotment that the wiring enters into or passes through must comply with regulation 218.

(3) In this regulation, allotment means land which can be disposed of separately under section 8A of the Sale of Land Act 1962 without being subdivided.

1 Regulation 215 prohibits electricity supplies for an individual occupier's portion from passing through or entering another individual occupier's portion.

2 Regulation 222 prohibits consumer mains from entering or crossing any property that is contiguous to the property the consumer's mains supplies.

218 Properties with multiple points of supply

(1) If a property has more than one point of supply or is intended to have more than one point of supply, a person must not install or alter an electrical installation at the property or a portion of an electrical installation at the property unless the installation or the installed or altered portion of the installation complies with this regulation.

(2) Any submains or subcircuits connected to a point of supply must only be installed within the boundary of a zone established within the property and must only supply electricity within that zone.

(3) Each zone established within a property must, wherever possible, follow easily recognisable property features and must not intermingle with or cross over other established zones.

(4) A zone diagram must be placed in each main switchboard within the property that contains the following information—

(a) a diagram showing the location and boundaries of each zone;

(b) the location of each zone's point of supply and consumer mains;

(c) the location of each zone's main switchboard;

(d) the location of any submains or switchboards located within any zone.

(5) Subject to subregulation (6), each main switchboard at the property must be clearly and permanently marked with the following words—

"Warning—not all wiring installed in these premises is controlled from this main switchboard".

(6) Subregulation (5) does not apply if a main switchboard can remotely control every other main switchboard installed or connected to the property it is installed in.

(7) Each switchboard installed or connected to the property that is not a main switchboard must be clearly and permanently marked with a label that clearly identifies the main switchboard it is connected to.

(8) This regulation does not apply to a property that is only supplied electricity from one point of supply connected to a distribution network and one or more points of supply provided by consumer electricity generation systems located within the allotment.

(9) For the purposes of this regulation, point of supply includes the point where a supplementary supply or alternative supply provided from another allotment crosses the boundary of the allotment it is supplying electricity to.

(10) In this regulation, allotment means land which can be disposed of separately under section 8A of the Sale of Land Act 1962 without being subdivided.

Division 5—Underground electric lines

219 Route of underground lines

(1) A person who carries out electrical installation work on an underground electric line must ensure that a record of the route of the underground electric line is recorded in a legible and permanent form on a durable material that is fixed—

(a) at the main switchboard; or

(b) in a position approved by Energy Safe Victoria.

(2) A person who carries out electrical installation work must ensure the record is fixed in accordance with subregulation (1) before the certificate of compliance for the installation work is signed and—

(a) before the electric line is connected to the electricity supply; or

(b) if the electrical circuits or electrical equipment handled in the course of the electrical installation work were not disconnected from the electricity supply, before the electrical installation is first used after it is completed; or

(c) if the person has not completed all the electrical installation work they have been engaged to complete at the premises where the underground electric line is located, within 5 business days after carrying out the installation work.

(3) The route of the electric line must be recorded as accurately as practicable with a margin of error not exceeding 200 millimetres.

(4) A person who carries out electrical installation work on an underground electric line on public land (other than an electric line forming part of a railway) must, before the line is connected to an electricity supply or within 2 business days after relocating the line, give sufficient information to enable every cable of the line to be located and identified to the person who controls the underground electric line.

1 Section 46 of the Act generally prohibits the construction of electric lines on public land unless an exemption applies.

2 See also section 76(1) of the Act.

220 Minimum depths of high voltage underground lines and underground lines on public land and on private land not owned or leased by the owner of the line

(1) A high voltage underground line or any underground line on public land or on private land not owned or leased by the owner of the line set out in column 1 of Table 220 must not be closer to the surface of the ground than the relevant minimum depth specified in column 2, 3, or 4 of that Table.

Section 46 of the Act generally prohibits the construction of electric lines on public land unless an exemption applies.

(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply to the transitional portion of an underground line if the transitional portion—

(a) is protected by a mechanical cover in accordance with regulation 221; or

(b) is enclosed in a compliant heavy duty non‑metallic conduit; or

(c) is enclosed in a medium or heavy galvanised steel tube that complies with AS 1074.

(3) Subregulation (1) does not apply to—

(a) the negative conductors of a railway or tramway supply network; or

(b) those portions of underground lines that are above ground.

Table 220—Minimum depths for underground lines from the surface of the ground

221 Mechanical protection of underground lines above the ground on public land and on private land not owned or leased by the owner of the line

(1) Any portion of an underground line on public land or on private land not owned or leased by the owner of the line that is at or above the surface of the ground must be mechanically protected from the point 300 millimetres below where the line exits the ground to a height of 2400 millimetres from any surface accessible to the public.

(2) The mechanical protection must be one of the following—

(a) a cable guard made of mild steel of 2⋅5 millimetre thickness for a high voltage underground line and 1⋅6 millimetre thickness for a low voltage underground line and galvanised in accordance with AS/NZS 4680 and AS/NZS 4792;

(b) a galvanised steel tube that complies with AS 1074.

(3) This regulation does not apply to negative conductors.

Section 46 of the Act generally prohibits the construction of electric lines on public land unless an exemption applies.

Division 6—Consumer's mains

222 Consumer's mains not to enter or cross contiguous property

Consumer's mains must not enter or cross any property that is contiguous to the property the consumer's mains supplies.

223 Protection of underground consumer's mains

(1) An electrical installation that is supplied from an underground electric line must have—

(a) protective equipment provided at the point of supply; or

(b) the consumer's mains cables sheathed from the point of supply to the first protective device located within the installation.

(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1)(b), an electricity supplier's protective device at the installation's metering point may be regarded as the first protective device.

224 Construction of underground consumer's mains

(1) Underground consumer's mains that run from the property boundary to the building or structure housing the protective equipment (the relevant portion) must be buried to a depth of at least 500 millimetres below the surface of the ground.

(2) The relevant portion must be—

(a) suitable for use underground; and

(b) enclosed in—

(i) a compliant heavy duty non-metallic conduit; or

(ii) a medium or heavy galvanised steel tube that complies with AS 1074.

(3) In the case of a relevant portion that is a multi‑core or neutral screen cable, the relevant portion must be—

(a) enclosed in—

(i) a compliant heavy duty non-metallic conduit; or

(ii) a medium or heavy galvanised steel tube that complies with AS 1074; or

(b) provided with mechanical cover in accordance with regulation 225.

(4) Underground consumer's mains must, from the point that the consumer's mains are connected to the distribution supply network to the electrical installation's first protection device, be—

(a) comprised of double insulation; or

(b) a neutral screen cable with any conductor cores of the cable that are not enclosed by the outer sheathing of the cable (the exposed cores) double insulated in accordance with subregulation (5).

(5) For the purposes of subregulation (4)(b), the exposed cores must be double insulated—

(a) in the case of exposed cores connected to the distribution supply network, up to the point of that connection; or

(b) in the case of exposed cores connected to an electrical installation, up to the electrical installation's first protection device.

(6) Subregulation (1) does not apply to the transitional portion of the underground consumer's mains if that transitional portion is—

(a) enclosed as required under subregulation (2)(b); or

(b) provided with additional mechanical cover in accordance with regulation 225.

225 Mechanical cover of consumer's mains

(1) For the purposes of regulation 224(3)(b) and 224(6)(b), mechanical cover must—

(a) be placed not less than 50 millimetres and not more than 75 millimetres above the consumer's mains; and

(b) be not less than 150 millimetres wide; and

(c) overlap the consumer's mains by at least 40 millimetres on each side; and

(d) touch or overlap each other so that no spaces are left between the slabs or cover strips; and

(e) excluding the transitional portion, be installed with a minimum depth of cover of 500 millimetres from the top of the additional mechanical protection to the surface of the ground; and

(f) consist of one or a combination of the following—

(i) precast concrete slabs having a thickness of not less than 40 millimetres and a classification of not less than grade 20 in accordance with AS 3600;

(ii) polymeric cable cover strip complying with AS 4702.

(2) If mechanical cover is used to protect an underground line, the line (other than the transitional portion of the line) must be—

(a) laid on a bed of not less than 50 millimetres of sand or friable soil free of sharp stone; and

(b) covered by not less than 50 millimetres of the same material.

226 Construction of underground consumer's mains within a structure

Underground consumer's mains that enter into a building or structure must, from the point they enter the building or structure up to the housing or mounting containing the building or structure's protective equipment, be enclosed in—

(a) a compliant heavy duty non-metallic conduit; or

(b) a medium or heavy galvanised steel tube that complies with AS 1074.

Compliant heavy duty non-metallic conduit is defined in regulation 105.

227 Construction of underground consumer's mains on the exterior of a building or structure

If any above ground portion of underground consumer's mains are to be affixed to the external surface of a building or structure, the consumer's mains must, from the point that is 300 mm below the ground to the point that is 2400 mm above the ground, be of a construction that meets the mechanical protection classification WSX3 specified in Appendix F of AS/NZS 3013.

228 Insulation resistance of underground consumer's mains

(1) Before consumer's mains are first placed into service or use, the insulation resistance—

(a) between the conductors of underground consumer's mains; and

(b) between the conductors of underground consumer's mains and earth; and

(c) if the consumer's mains conductors are surrounded by a metallic sheath, between the conductors of underground consumer's mains and the metallic sheath—

must not be less than the relevant minimum insulation resistance specified in column 2 of Table 228 when tested with a 500V d.c. insulation resistance tester.

(2) When existing underground consumer's mains are reconnected to electricity supply, the insulation resistance—

(a) between the conductors of underground consumer's mains; and

(b) between the conductors of underground consumer's mains and earth; and

(c) if the consumer's mains conductors are surrounded by a metallic sheath, between the conductors of underground consumer's mains and the metallic sheath—

must not be less than one megohm when tested with a 500V d.c. insulation resistance tester.

Table 228—Minimum insulation resistance of underground consumer's mains

• Column 1**Route length of underground consumer's mains Column 2**Minimum insulation resistance
• A ≤ 50 m 50 megohms
• B > 50 m and ≤ 75 m 45 megohms
• C > 75 m and ≤ 100 m 40 megohms
• D > 100 m and ≤ 125 m 35 megohms
• E > 125 m and ≤ 150 m 30 megohms
• F > 150 m and ≤ 175 m 25 megohms
• G > 175 m and ≤ 200 m 20 megohms
• H > 200 m and ≤ 225 m 15 megohms
• I > 225 m and ≤ 250 m 10 megohms
• J > 250 m 5 megohms

Division 7—Aerial lines and pole mounted substations

229 Minimum distances between aerial lines and the ground or water

(1) A low voltage aerial line on public land or on private land not owned or leased by the owner of the line must not, at any time, be closer to—

(a) the ground; or

(b) the surface of any water that is not accessible to boats with masts—

than the relevant minimum distance specified in column 2 or 3 of Table 229.1 for the location of the aerial line set out in column 1 of that Table.

(2) A high voltage aerial line set out in column 1 of Table 229.2 must not, at any time, be closer to—

(a) the ground; or

(b) the surface of any water that is not accessible to boats with masts—

than the relevant minimum distance specified in column 2, 3 or 4 of that Table that corresponds to that aerial line.

(3) An aerial line must not, at any time, be closer than 13 500 millimetres to the surface of any water that is accessible to boats with masts.

(4) The minimum distances specified in column 2, 3, or 4 of Tables 229.1 and 229.2 do not apply to a part of an aerial line that is within a substation.

(5) In Tables 229.1 and 229.2—

arterial road has the same meaning as it has in the Road Management Act 2004;

freeway has the same meaning as it has in the Road Management Act 2004;

over-dimensional route means the roads and streets marked as an over-dimensional route on the Over Dimensional (OD) Route Network map, as published on the VicRoads website from time to time;

Port of Melbourne container route means the roads and streets marked as a container route on the Port of Melbourne Container Routes Network Map, as published on the VicRoads website from time to time.

Table 229.1—Minimum distances to the ground or water surface from low voltage aerial lines on public land or within an easement on private land

| | Type of aerial line | | | Column 1<br>Location of aerial line | Column 2<br>Bare live conductors | Column 3<br>Insulated live conductors | | | Minimum distance to ground or surface of water | | | Over a 2000 mm wide strip in the centre of each carriageway of a road | 5500 mm | 5500 mm | | Over any other part of a freeway, arterial road, over‑dimensional route or Port of Melbourne container route | 5500 mm | 5500 mm | | Over any other part of any other road | 5500 mm | 4900 mm | | Over any part of a driveway | 5500 mm | 4600 mm | | Over any other ground traversable by vehicles (other than a road) | 5500 mm | 4600 mm | | At the connection to a building or structure (excluding a pole) | Not permitted | 3000 mm | | Over the surface of any water not accessible to boats with masts | 4500 mm | 4500 mm | | Elsewhere | 5000 mm | 3000 mm |

Table 229.2—Minimum distances to the ground or water surface from high voltage aerial lines

230 Minimum distance from the ground for substations

The minimum distance from the ground for any part of the supporting platform and equipment (except conductors) for a pole-mounted substation that is mounted on or attached to a pole or the crossarms of a pole is—

(a) if the substation is more than 500 millimetres from the vertical projection of the kerb line (in the direction away from a vehicular carriageway) and that substation is more than 200 millimetres from the surface of the pole, no less than 3600 millimetres from the ground; and

(b) if the substation is more than 500 millimetres from the vertical projection of the kerb line (in the direction away from a vehicular carriageway) and that substation is 200 millimetres or less from the surface of the pole, no less than 2400 millimetres from the ground; and

(c) in any other circumstances, no less than 4600 millimetres from the ground.

231 Construction and maintenance of poles and towers

Poles, towers and other structures supporting aerial lines must—

(a) be as vertical as is practicable; and

(b) if located on or near a roadside, not lean over the kerb line in the direction of a vehicular carriageway more than 5 degrees from the perpendicular and not lean in any other direction more than 10 degrees from the perpendicular; and

(c) if located elsewhere, not lean more than 10 degrees from the perpendicular in any direction.

232 Marking of electric lines

If aerial lines are within the vicinity of an airport or airfield, the lines must be marked to indicate their position and direction in accordance with AS 3891.1 and AS 3891.2.

Division 8—Private electric lines

233 Prescribed voltage

For the purposes of the definition of low voltage electric line in section 3 of the Act, the prescribed voltage is low voltage.

234 Private electric lines in hazardous bushfire risk areas

A private electric line that is to be constructed or substantially reconstructed in a hazardous bushfire risk area must be placed underground.

1 Private electric line and hazardous bushfire risk area are defined in the Electricity Safety Act 1998.

2 Private aerial line and substantial reconstruction are defined in regulation 105.

235 Existing private service lines in hazardous bushfire risk areas—alternative compliance

(1) Regulation 234 does not apply to the substantial reconstruction of an existing private service line that is not located in an electric line construction area provided that the private service line to be substantially reconstructed will—

(a) be comprised of aerial bundled cable; and

(b) have a single overhead break-away device that has been approved by Energy Safe Victoria fitted at the point where the private service line is attached to the distribution company supply pole; and

(c) be protected at its origin with an over-current protective device (other than a fuse link) that operates in all active conductors and can be operated from the ground.

(2) In this regulation and regulation 237, private service line means a private aerial line that is—

(a) one span in length; and

(b) connected to company assets located on private land; and

(c) connected to a building or structure (other than a private pole).

1 Private aerial line, substantial reconstruction, aerial bundled cable, overhead break-away device and active conductor are defined in regulation 105.

2 Distribution company and company assets are defined in section 3 of the Act.

3 Electric line construction area is defined in section 120K of the Act.

236 Private aerial lines—construction requirements

(1) A private aerial line to be installed, altered, repaired or maintained must—

(a) if it is horizontally constructed with bare open wire conductors, have a conductor spreader fitted to each span of conductor in a manner that effectively prevents the conductors from clashing; and

(b) in any case, be protected at its origin with an over-current protective device (other than a fuse link) that operates in all active conductors and can be operated from the ground.

Private aerial line, horizontally constructed, bare open wire, conductor spreader and active conductor are defined in regulation 105.

(2) If a private electric line or private aerial line to be installed, altered, repaired or maintained crosses water at a point where the water is navigable, there must be affixed a clear and permanent sign warning of the electric line erected at the normal high water mark—

(a) at all boat ramps providing access to the water; and

(b) at all points where the electric line starts crossing the water; and

(c) at a point that is at least 20 and not more than 100 metres before the electric line when approaching the line by water.

(3) Subregulation (1) does not apply to transition pole private electric lines.

(4) This regulation does not apply to reconstruction work permitted to be carried out under regulation 237.

Transition pole private electric line is defined in regulation 105.

237 Emergency restoration of private aerial lines in high bushfire risk areas

(1) Regulations 234, 235 and 236 do not apply to a substantial reconstruction of a private aerial line in a hazardous bushfire area that has been rendered inoperative by a fault if the installation work responsible person complies with this regulation.

(2) Before commencing any reconstruction work, the installation work responsible person must—

(a) obtain a written undertaking from the owner of the private aerial line that the owner will, within 60 days after the date on which the undertaking is given—

(i) have the private aerial line placed underground; or

(ii) in the case of a private service line that is not located in an electric line construction area, comply with the requirements of regulation 235(1); and

(b) if requested by Energy Safe Victoria, provide Energy Safe Victoria with a digital photograph or copy of the written undertaking referred to in paragraph (a); and

(c) obtain a reference code from Energy Safe Victoria for that work.

(3) Within 5 business days of completing the reconstruction work, the installation work responsible person must provide Energy Safe Victoria with—

(a) a copy of the undertaking referred to in subregulation (2)(a); and

(b) the reference code for that work; and

(c) the certificate of electrical safety for the reconstruction of the private electric line.

(4) If Energy Safe Victoria is satisfied that the installation work responsible person has obtained or will obtain the undertaking required by subregulation (2)(a), Energy Safe Victoria must provide as soon as is practicable after being requested to do so by the installation work responsible person, a reference code for the reconstruction work.

(5) The owner of a private aerial line reconstructed in accordance with this regulation must have that private aerial line—

(a) placed underground; or

(b) in the case of a private service line that is not located in an electric line construction area, made compliant with the requirements of regulation 235(1); or

(c) disconnected from electricity supply—

within 60 days after the date the owner gave the written undertaking referred to in subregulation (2)(a).

Division 9—Façade mounted wiring

238 High voltage conductors must not be supported along the façade of a building or structure

(1) A high voltage conductor must not, at any time, be supported along—

(a) the façade of a building or structure; or

(b) any part of a building or structure that adjoins a public way or space.

(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply to a high voltage conductor that is part of an electric security fence that complies with AS/NZS 3016.

239 Low voltage conductors supported along the façade of a building or structure

(1) A low voltage conductor (other than a low voltage insulated conductor) must not, at any time, be supported along—

(a) the façade of a building or structure; or

(b) any part of a building or structure that adjoins a public way or space.

(2) A low voltage insulated conductor supported along the façade of a building or structure or any part of a building or structure adjoining a public way or space, must not, at any time, be closer to a part of a building or structure or the ground set out in Column 1 of Table 239 than the relevant minimum distance specified in Column 2 of that Table that corresponds to that part of the building or structure or the ground.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation, a low voltage conductor is supported along a building or structure if the conductor is supported by the building or structure at a distance of no more than 300 millimetres from the building or structure.

The illustrations below show the locations where façade mounted low voltage insulated conductors are permitted. The following is an explanation of the letters in the illustrations:

A is the minimum distance of 2500 mm to a low voltage insulated conductor vertically from the ground of a building or structure.

B is the minimum distance of 300 mm to a low voltage insulated conductor above a window or door of a building or structure.

C is the minimum distance of 500 mm to a low voltage insulated conductor from each side of and below a window of a building or structure.

D is the minimum distance of 1000 mm to a low voltage insulator conductor from each side of a door or balcony of a building or structure.

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Table 239—Minimum distances to parts of buildings or structures from low voltage insulated conductors supported along the façade of the building or structure

| Column 1<br>Parts of building, structure or the ground | Column 2<br>Minimum distance to low voltage insulated conductor | | Vertically from ground | 2500 mm | | Above windows and doors | 300 mm | | Each side of and below windows | 500 mm | | Each side of doors and balconies | 1000 mm | | From metallic parts | 50 mm |

Division 10—Testing of electrical installation work

240 General testing requirements for low voltage electrical installation work

For the purposes of section 44(1)(b) of the Act, electrical installation work (other than high voltage installation work) must be tested in accordance with the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules to verify that the installation work complies with Divisions 1 to 9 of Part 2 after the work is completed and before certification or inspection of the work under the Act.

241 Testing of underground consumer's mains

(1) For the purposes of section 44(1)(b) of the Act, if underground consumer's mains are installed for the first time, the insulation resistance of the consumer's mains that were installed must be tested to verify that the consumer's mains comply with regulation 228(1) after the work is completed and before certification or inspection of the work under the Act.

(2) For the purposes of section 44(1)(b) of the Act, if electrical installation work is carried out on existing underground consumer's mains, the insulation resistance of the consumer's mains that were subject to the work must be tested to verify that the consumer's mains comply with regulation 228(2) after the work is completed and before certification or inspection of the work under the Act.

242 Testing of electrical installation work in patient areas

For the purposes of section 44(1)(b) of the Act, if electrical installation work includes electrical work in a patient area, the licensed electrical installation worker carrying out that work must ensure that the electrical installation work is tested in accordance with AS/NZS 3000 to verify that the installation work complies with AS/NZS 3003 after the work is completed and before certification or inspection of the work under the Act.

243 Testing of photovoltaic arrays

If electrical installation work includes electrical work on a photovoltaic array, the licensed electrical installation worker carrying out that work must ensure that the electrical installation work is tested in accordance with AS/NZS 5033 to verify that the installation work complies with AS/NZS 5033 after the work is completed and before certification or inspection of the work under the Act.

244 Testing of battery systems

If electrical installation work includes electrical work on a battery system, the licensed electrical installation worker carrying out that work must ensure that the electrical installation work is tested in accordance with AS/NZS 3000 to verify that the installation work complies with AS/NZS 5139 after the work is completed and before certification or inspection of the work under the Act.

245 Testing of grid-connected inverter energy systems

If electrical installation work includes electrical work on a grid-connected inverter energy system, the licensed electrical installation worker carrying out that work must ensure that the electrical installation work is tested after the work is completed and before it is placed into service to verify the following—

(a) that the inverter energy system takes longer than 60 seconds to connect to the distribution network after the installation's main switch is closed;

(b) that the inverter energy system disconnects from the distribution network in less than 2 seconds after the installation's main switch is opened.

246 Testing of high voltage electrical installation work

(1) If electrical installation work includes the installation or alteration of a high voltage electrical installation, the licensed electrical installation worker carrying out that work must ensure that the electrical installation work is tested in accordance with AS 2067 to verify that the installation work complies with the design that was independently verified under regulation 205 after the work is completed and before it is placed into service.

(2) A licensed electrical installation worker who carries out electrical installation work on the earthing systems of high voltage substations or high voltage electrical installations must ensure that the work is tested after the work is completed and before it is placed into service to ensure that—

(a) the resistance to earth is not greater than is required by the design that was independently verified under regulation 205; and

(b) the earthing connections will maintain their conductivity; and

(c) the earth potential rise does not exceed that required by the design that was independently verified under regulation 205.

247 Persons authorised to carry out testing

For the purposes of this Division, the licensed electrical installation worker carrying out electrical installation work must ensure that the testing is carried out by—

(a) a licensed electrician; or

(b) a person who is licensed to carry out the electrical installation work; or

(c) in the case of the testing of high voltage electrical installation work, a competent person.

See also regulation 253(2).

248 Results of testing of high-voltage electrical installation work

A person who carries out the testing set out in regulation 246(1) or (2) must—

(a) record the results of the testing in writing; and

(b) give a copy of those results to the owner of the premises where the testing was carried out; and

(c) retain a copy of the results for a period of 3 years from the date the testing was carried out.

Division 11—Inspection of electrical installation work

249 Electrical installation work that must be inspected

(1) For the purposes of section 45 of the Act, prescribed electrical installation work means work on all or part of any of the following electrical installations if they are ordinarily operated at low voltage or a voltage exceeding low voltage—

(a) consumer's mains, main earthing systems, consumer's terminals, connection devices for consumer's mains, any supports for overhead service lines (including any poles), overcurrent protective devices installed at the origin of a private aerial line and those parts of main switchboards that are related to the control of electrical installations or the protection against the spread of fire;

(b) if a main switchboard or a replacement main switchboard is connected for the first time, any circuit protective devices, switchgear, controlgear, circuit breakers and wiring systems of that main switchboard that are in place at the time that the items set out in paragraph (a) are inspected;

(c) submains, earthing systems and any distribution boards related to the control of individual occupiers' portions of a multiple occupancy;

(d) if a distribution board related to the control of an individual occupier's portion of a multiple occupancy, or a replacement distribution board related to the control of an individual occupier's portion of a multiple occupancy, is connected for the first time, any circuit protective devices, switchgear, controlgear, circuit breakers and wiring systems of that distribution board that are in place at the time the items set out in paragraph (c) are inspected;

(e) high voltage installations, except high voltage electrical equipment that is—

(i) associated with an electric discharge lighting system; or

(ii) associated with X-ray equipment; or

(iii) associated with high frequency equipment; or

(iv) within self-contained equipment supplied at low voltage;

(f) electricity generation systems including any wiring systems, switchgear, controlgear or accessories installed to provide control or protection to those generation systems (excluding stand-alone power systems with a power rating that is less than 500 volt-amperes);

(g) electric fences used for security purposes but not including electric fences intended primarily for the containment of animals;

(h) electrical equipment installed in a hazardous area and electrical equipment associated with the protection of a hazardous area but not installed within the hazardous area;

(i) circuit protective devices, switchgear, controlgear, wiring systems and accessories (other than fire detection and alarm systems) installed to provide control or protection to—

(i) fire pumps (excluding pumps for fire hose reels where those hose reels are not the sole means of fire protection); or

(ii) air handling systems intended to exhaust or control the spread of smoke or fire; or

(iii) the electricity supply for emergency lifts;

(j) an alternative design solution installed in an electrical installation.

(2) For the purposes of section 45 of the Act, prescribed electrical installation work means work on all or part of any electrical installation operated at any voltage in a patient area (other than communication equipment operated at extra low voltage).

(3) For the purposes of section 45 of the Act, prescribed electrical installation work means electrical installation work on all or part of any battery system including work on associated wiring systems, switchgear, controlgear and accessories.

(4) For the purposes of section 45 of the Act, prescribed electrical installation work does not include—

(a) the repair or maintenance of a single component part of an electrical installation; or

(b) the replacement of a single component part of an electrical installation by an equivalent component part at the same location; or

(c) the installation or connection of a consumer billing meter.

(5) A single component referred to in subregulation (4) includes any terminating device required to connect that single part of an electrical installation to the electricity supply.

250 Inspection of prescribed electrical installation work

(1) For the purposes of section 45(1) of the Act, prescribed electrical installation work must, within 8 business days after the completion of that work, be inspected by a licensed electrical inspector who must assess whether or not the work complies with Divisions 1 to 10 of this Part.

(2) A licensed electrical inspector must not inspect prescribed electrical installation work unless—

(a) the inspector has a copy of the certificate of compliance for that electrical installation work which is signed by the person who carried out the work; and

(b) the certificate contains a description of all of the prescribed electrical installation work to be inspected.

251 Certificates of inspection

For the purposes of section 45(4)(d) of the Act, the certificate of inspection must contain the following details—

(a) the name and licence number of the licensed electrical inspector who inspected the work;

(b) the employer (if any) of the licensed electrical inspector;

(c) the date of the inspection;

(d) the date the certificate of inspection was completed;

(e) the inspector's signature.

See also regulations 253(1)(c) and 260.

252 Details to be accurate and legible—certificate of inspection

A licensed electrical inspector must ensure that the details required by section 45(4) of the Act are complete, accurate and legible on each copy of the certificate of inspection.

253 Obligations of licensed electrical inspectors

(1) A licensed electrical inspector must not sign a certificate of inspection unless that inspector—

(a) has attended at the electrical installation address stated on the certificate of compliance and while in attendance—

(i) has carried out an inspection of all prescribed electrical installation work described in the certificate of compliance in accordance with the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules and these Regulations; and

(ii) has carried out testing of all prescribed electrical installation work described in the certificate of compliance in accordance the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules; and

(iii) has carried out the tests set out in Division 10 that were required to be carried out on all prescribed electrical installation work described in the certificate of compliance; and

(b) is satisfied on reasonable grounds that all prescribed high voltage electrical installation work described in the certificate of compliance has been satisfactorily tested in accordance with regulation 246; and

(c) in circumstances where the inspector knows or should be reasonably expected to know that the premises or land related to the electrical installation work being inspected will be electrically unsafe to connect to the electricity supply or unsafe to use, has stated on the certificate of inspection that the installation appears to be electrically unsafe.

(2) In the case of high voltage installation work, a licensed electrical inspector may comply with subregulation (1)(b) by being present at the site of the high voltage installation to the extent necessary to ensure that the required tests are being correctly performed and completed and endorsing the results of that testing.

254 Notification of completion of certificate of inspection

(1) A licensed electrical inspector who carries out an inspection of prescribed electrical installation work must, in accordance with this regulation, give to Energy Safe Victoria electronic notification of completion of the certificate of inspection within 4 business days after completion of that inspection.

(2) The notification must be given in a manner approved by Energy Safe Victoria.

255 Licensed electrical inspectors must retain a copy of certificates of inspection

A licensed electrical inspector must retain a copy of any paper certificate of inspection issued for 3 years after the date the inspector signed the certificate.

256 Licensed electrical inspectors must not inspect their own work

A licensed electrical inspector inspecting the prescribed electrical installation work must not be the licensed electrical installation worker who carried out the work or the installation work responsible person in relation to that work.

257 Licensed electrical inspectors must not inspect work if involved with the design of the work

(1) A licensed electrical inspector inspecting prescribed electrical installation work must not be a person who was involved in the design of that electrical installation work or the verification of the work required by regulation 205.

(2) For the purposes of this regulation, a licensed electrical inspector was not involved in the design of electrical installation work if the inspector only provided advice in relation to the requirements of—

(a) the Act; or

(b) these Regulations.

258 Installation work responsible person must not use an employee to inspect any work they are responsible for

An installation work responsible person must ensure that the licensed electrical inspector inspecting any prescribed electrical installation work that they are responsible for is not a person who is employed by—

(a) the installation work responsible person; or

(b) a related body corporate of the installation work responsible person.

259 Notification of defects by inspectors

If electrical installation work that has been inspected by a licensed electrical inspector does not comply with Division 3 of Part 3 of the Act or this Part, the inspector who has inspected the work must notify the installation work responsible person of the defects relating to the work within 4 business days after the inspection.

260 Inspector must note defects on certificate of inspection

(1) For the purposes of section 45(4)(d) of the Act, a licensed electrical inspector who has inspected prescribed installation work that does not comply with Division 3 of Part 3 of the Act or this Part must complete the defects section on the certificate of inspection.

(2) Despite subregulation (1), a licensed electrical inspector is not required to record any defects in the work on the customer's copy of the certificate of inspection if the defects in the work are rectified at the time of the inspection.

261 Certificates of compliance

(1) For the purposes of section 44(3)(c) of the Act, a certificate of compliance must contain the details set out in this regulation.

(2) In the case of electrical installation work under a periodic certificate of electrical safety, the certificate of compliance must state—

(a) the name, address, registration or licence number and telephone number of the installation work responsible person; and

(b) the name and licence number of the licensed electrical installation worker who carried out the electrical installation work; and

(c) the address and the postcode of the electrical installation; and

(d) the contact details of the person for whom the work is carried out; and

(e) the date of completion of the work; and

(f) the date the certificate of compliance was completed.

(3) In the case of electrical installation work under any other certificate of electrical safety, the certificate of compliance must state—

(a) the name and registration or licence number of the person who is the installation work responsible person in relation to the electrical installation work; and

(b) the name and licence number of the licensed electrical installation worker who carried out the electrical installation work; and

(c) the address and the postcode of the electrical installation; and

(d) the contact details of the person for whom the work is carried out; and

(e) the date of completion of the work; and

(f) the date of issue of the certificate.

262 Details to be accurate and legible—certificate of compliance

A licensed electrical installation worker must ensure that the details required by section 44(3) of the Act are complete, accurate and legible on each copy of the certificate of compliance.

263 Notification of completion of certificate of compliance

(1) The person who is responsible for the carrying out of electrical installation work must, in accordance with this regulation, give electronic notification of completion of the certificate of compliance (other than a certificate of compliance that is part of a periodic certificate of electrical safety) to Energy Safe Victoria within 2 business days after that completion.

(2) The notification must be given in a manner approved by Energy Safe Victoria.

264 Installation work responsible person must retain a copy of certificates of compliance

An installation work responsible person must retain a copy of any paper certificate of compliance issued for 3 years after the date the installation work responsible person signed the certificate.

Reg. 265 substituted by S.R. No. 112/2023 reg. 4.

265 Authorised amount—certificates of electrical safety

(1) For the purposes of section 45B(12)(a) of the Act, the authorised amount for a certificate of electrical safety form relating to prescribed electrical installation work is—

(a) for an electronic certificate sold on or after 1 November 2023 and before 1 November 2028, 2·3 fee units; or

(b) for an electronic certificate sold on or after 1 November 2028, 2·2 fee units; or

(c) for a paper certificate sold on or after 1 November 2023 and before 1 November 2028, 2·5 fee units; or

(d) for a paper certificate sold on or after 1 November 2028, 2·4 fee units.

(2) For the purposes of section 45B(12)(b) of the Act, the authorised amount for a periodic certificate of electrical safety form is—

(a) for a periodic certificate sold on or after 1 November 2023 and before 1 November 2028, 57 fee units; or

(b) for a periodic certificate sold on or after 1 November 2028, 55·6 fee units.

(3) For the purposes of section 45B(12)(c) of the Act, the authorised amount for any other certificate of electrical safety form is—

(a) for an electronic certificate sold on or after 1 November 2023 and before 1 November 2028, $9; or

(b) for an electronic certificate sold on or after 1 November 2028, $8.10; or

(c) for a paper certificate sold on or after 1 November 2023 and before 1 November 2028, $10; or

(d) for a paper certificate sold on or after 1 November 2028, $8.90.

Part 3—Electricity suppliers

301 Safety services

An electricity supplier must not require a person to install protective equipment between the point of supply and any main switches for safety services.

302 Service lines and directly connected installations

(1) An electricity supplier must ensure that the supplier's service lines and low voltage electricity supplies to directly connected installations—

(a) contain a neutral conductor that is—

(i) continuous from any point of supply to the neutral terminal of the substation it is connected to; and

(ii) easily identified; and

(iii) verified as being a neutral conductor; and

(b) are protected by protective equipment, installed in accordance with regulation 303, that can isolate each of the active conductors of an electrical installation.

(2) In this regulation and regulation 303—

directly connected installation means an electrical installation that is supplied with low voltage electricity by consumer's mains that are directly connected to an electricity supplier's substation.

303 Installation of protective equipment

(1) In the case of an aerial service line, protective equipment must be installed—

(a) at, or next to, the point of supply; or

(b) at, or next to, any point where an unmetered consumer's mains is attached to the consumer's premises; or

(c) at any pole to which a consumer's mains is attached; or

(d) at the electricity supplier's pole to which a service line is connected.

(2) In the case of an underground service line, protective equipment must be installed—

(a) at, or next to, the point at which the consumer's mains is connected to the electricity supplier's supply main; or

(b) at, or within 3000 millimetres of the point at which the electricity supplier's supply cable crosses the property boundary of the property that it supplies; or

(c) if an aerial service line has been converted to an underground line, at the point at which the aerial service line was connected to the consumer's premises; or

(d) at, or next to, the electricity supplier's metering equipment located at the consumer's premises, but only if the unmetered portion of the consumer's mains that runs from the property boundary to the building or structure housing the metering equipment is suitable for use underground and—

(i) is of a double insulated construction; or

(ii) is surrounded by a neutral screen.

(3) In the case of low voltage electricity supplies to a directly connected installation—

(a) if the electricity supply is connected or will be connected to a substation constructed or reconstructed after 1 December 2020, low voltage protective equipment must be installed within the substation; or

(b) if the electricity supply is connected or will be connected to a substation constructed or reconstructed before 1 December 2020, low voltage or high voltage protective equipment must be installed within the substation; or

(c) if the electricity supply is connected or will be connected to a pole-mounted substation, low voltage protective equipment must be installed on the substation pole.

(4) Despite subregulation (3)(a), high voltage protective equipment may be used to protect low voltage electricity supplies if—

(a) the main switchboard of the directly connected installation and the substation it is connected to are located in adjoining rooms; and

(b) discrimination between any low voltage protective equipment within the substation and the directly connected installation's first low voltage protection device cannot be achieved; and

(c) the high voltage protective equipment installed in the substation will achieve the same level of protection as would have been achieved if subregulation (3)(a) had been complied with.

304 Suppliers must ensure use of double insulation

An electricity supplier must ensure that the conductor insulation of any of its aerial lines that are service lines are comprised of double insulation or reinforced insulation when the service line is installed or replaced.

305 Supply of electricity to premises

An electricity supplier must not supply electricity to premises by overhead service line unless that service line is—

(a) securely attached to the premises and to any pole that supports the service line; and

(b) insulated in accordance with regulation 304 if required; and

(c) is not readily accessible to any person.

Part 4—Reporting and records

401 Reporting of serious electrical incidents

(1) The following persons must report a serious electrical incident to Energy Safe Victoria in accordance with this regulation—

(a) an employer who becomes aware of a serious electrical incident that—

(i) relates to electrical work carried out by the employer's workers; or

(ii) occurred at a location where the employer's workers were carrying out electrical work;

(b) a person who has, to any extent, the management or control of a workplace who becomes aware of a serious electrical incident that occurs at the workplace;

(c) a registered electrical contractor who becomes aware of a serious electrical incident relating to work being carried out by the registered electrical contractor or one of its workers;

(d) an operator of a high voltage electrical installation who becomes aware of any serious electrical incident occurring within that electrical installation;

(e) an operator of a complex electrical installation who becomes aware of any serious electrical incident occurring within that complex electrical installation;

(f) an operator of a railway or tramway who becomes aware of any serious electrical incident occurring in relation to an electrical installation or supply network associated with that railway or tramway;

(g) an operator of an embedded network who becomes aware of any serious electrical incident occurring in relation to that embedded network;

(h) subject to subregulation (5), any other installation work responsible person who becomes aware of a serious electrical incident relating to work for which that person is responsible for carrying out;

(i) subject to subregulation (5), an electrical worker who becomes aware of a serious electrical incident relating to work carried out by that worker or at a location where the electrical worker is carrying out electrical work.

(2) As soon as practicable after becoming aware that the serious electrical incident has occurred or is occurring, a person referred to in subregulation (1) must report, by telephone, to Energy Safe Victoria all details of the incident within the person's knowledge.

(3) A person referred to in subregulation (1) must, within 20 business days after reporting the incident, give a written report of the incident to Energy Safe Victoria.

(4) The report referred to in subregulation (3) must be in a form approved by Energy Safe Victoria and, if required by Energy Safe Victoria, must be given to Energy Safe Victoria by means of an electronic communication.

(5) An electrical worker or installation work responsible person is not required to comply with this regulation if—

(a) the electrical worker or installation work responsible person has reported the details of the serious electrical incident to another person listed in subregulation (1), and the other person is required to report the serious electrical incident to Energy Safe Victoria; or

(b) the electrical worker or installation work responsible person has been advised by another person listed in subregulation (1) that they have reported the serious electrical incident to Energy Safe Victoria.

402 Reporting of other electrical incidents—accidental contact and electric shock

(1) The following persons must report a reportable electrical incident to Energy Safe Victoria in accordance with this regulation—

(a) an employer who becomes aware of a reportable electrical incident that—

(i) relates to work carried out by the employer's electrical workers; or

(ii) occurred at a location where the employer's workers were carrying out electrical work;

(b) a person who has, to any extent, the management or control of a workplace who becomes aware of a reportable electrical incident that occurs at the workplace;

(c) a registered electrical contractor who becomes aware of a reportable electrical incident relating to work being carried out by the registered electrical contractor or one of its workers;

(d) an operator of a high voltage electrical installation who becomes aware of a reportable electrical incident occurring within that electrical installation;

(e) an operator of a complex electrical installation who becomes aware of a reportable electrical incident occurring within that complex electrical installation;

(f) an operator of a railway or tramway who becomes aware of a reportable electrical incident occurring in relation to an electrical installation or supply network associated with that railway or tramway;

(g) an operator of an embedded network who becomes aware of a reportable electrical incident occurring in relation to that embedded network;

(h) subject to subregulation (4), any other installation work responsible person who becomes aware of a reportable electrical incident relating to work for which that person is responsible for carrying out;

(i) subject to subregulation (4), an electrical worker who becomes aware of a reportable electrical incident relating to work carried out by that worker or at a location where the electrical worker is carrying out electrical work.

(2) Within 20 business days after becoming aware that a reportable electrical incident has occurred or is occurring, a person referred to in subregulation (1) must give a written report to Energy Safe Victoria that includes all details of the incident within the person's knowledge.

(3) The report referred to in subregulation (2) must be in a form approved by Energy Safe Victoria and, if required by Energy Safe Victoria, must be given to Energy Safe Victoria by means of an electronic communication.

(4) An electrical worker or installation work responsible person is not required to comply with this regulation if—

(a) the electrical worker or electrical installation work responsible person has reported the details of the incident to another person listed in subregulation (1) and the other person is required to report the incident to Energy Safe Victoria; or

(b) the electrical worker or electrical installation work responsible person has been advised by another person listed in subregulation (1) that they have reported the incident to Energy Safe Victoria.

(5) This regulation does not apply to a major electricity company.

(6) In this regulation—

reportable electrical incident means an incident involving electricity in which a person—

(a) has made accidental contact with any electrical installation; or

(b) has received an electric shock as the result of direct or indirect contact with any electrical installation.

403 Reporting of serious electrical incidents—fire control authorities

(1) For the purposes of section 142(3) of the Act, a fire control authority must—

(a) as soon as is practicable report to Energy Safe Victoria by telephone, on a telephone number specified by Energy Safe Victoria, all of the details of any urgent reportable incident it attends; and

(b) within a month of serious electrical incident occurring, provide Energy Safe Victoria with a written report containing all details of any serious electrical incident it has attended; and

(c) within a month of completing an investigation into a fire of an electrical nature, provide Energy Safe Victoria with a written report containing the results of that investigation.

(2) The report referred to in subregulation (1)(b) must be in a form approved by Energy Safe Victoria and, if required by Energy Safe Victoria, must be given to Energy Safe Victoria by means of an electronic communication.

(3) In this regulation, urgent reportable incident means a serious electrical incident which causes or has the potential to cause—

(a) the death of or injury to a person; or

(b) a serious risk to public safety.

404 Reporting of electrical incidents (other than serious electrical incidents)—fire control authorities

(1) A fire control authority must—

(a) within a month of the fire occurring provide Energy Safe Victoria with a written report containing details within its knowledge regarding any fire that it believes to be of an electrical nature (other than a fire that was a serious electrical incident); and

(b) within a month of the incident occurring, provide Energy Safe Victoria with a written report containing all details within its knowledge regarding any incident involving electricity (other than a fire that was a serious electrical incident) in which a person—

(i) made accidental contact with any live electric line or live electrical equipment; or

(ii) received an electric shock as a result of direct or indirect contact with any supply network or electrical installation.

(2) The reports referred to in subregulations (1)(a) and (b) must be in a form approved by Energy Safe Victoria and, if required by Energy Safe Victoria, must be given to Energy Safe Victoria by means of an electronic communication.

405 Records to be maintained

An electricity supplier that has received a certificate of inspection referred to in section 45(2) of the Act must retain a copy of the certificate, together with a record of the date the supplier connected the installation to the electricity supply, for 3 years after the date of the certificate.

Part 5—Electrical safety duties and safety standards

Division 1—Safety standards and general duties

501 Safety standards—high voltage electrical installations

(1) An owner or operator of a high voltage electrical installation that is not a complex electrical installation or part of a railway or tramway supply network must ensure that—

(a) the high voltage electrical installation or the installed, altered, repaired or maintained portion of the high voltage electrical installation complies with Divisions 1 to 10 of Part 2; and

(b) any portion of the high voltage electrical installation using direct current does not leak stray electrical currents into the ground; and

(c) the high voltage electrical installation is safe and maintained and operated safely; and

(d) an assessment of the owner's or operator's compliance with the requirements of subregulation (2) is carried out by a competent person at least once every 2 years.

(2) An owner or operator of a high voltage electrical installation that is not a complex electrical installation or part of a railway or tramway supply network must ensure that—

(a) any person operating the high voltage electrical installation has a standard of qualifications, proficiency and experience that enables that person to safely operate the high voltage electrical installation; and

(b) any person operating or maintaining the high voltage electrical installation complies with the owner's or operator's operating and maintenance procedures; and

(c) any person operating or maintaining any part of the high voltage electrical installation is trained, authorised and instructed to perform the work on the high voltage electrical installation in accordance with the owner's or operator's operating and maintenance procedures; and

(d) any person under the control of the owner or operator who is working on or near the high voltage electrical installation—

(i) is appropriately trained in accordance with the Blue Book and aware of the requirements of the Blue Book; and

(ii) complies with the provisions of the Blue Book that apply to the work that the person is carrying out; and

(iii) uses an Electrical Access Authority for work on or near the high voltage electrical installation, as required by the Blue Book.

(3) An owner or operator of a high voltage electrical installation that is not a complex electrical installation or part of a railway or tramway supply network must prepare written operating and maintenance procedures that describe the methods of operation, maintenance, earthing, isolation, energisation and de-energisation of the high voltage electrical installation.

502 Safety standards—complex electrical installations

(1) An owner or operator of a complex electrical installation that is not part of a railway or tramway supply network must ensure that—

(a) the complex electrical installation or the installed, altered, repaired or maintained portion of the complex electrical installation complies with Divisions 1 to 10 of Part 2; and

(b) any portion of the complex electrical installation using direct current does not leak stray electrical currents into the ground; and

(c) an assessment of the owner's or operator's compliance with the requirements of subregulation (2) is carried out by a competent person at least once every 2 years.

(2) An owner or operator of a complex electrical installation that is not part of a railway or tramway supply network must ensure that—

(a) any person operating the complex electrical installation has a standard of qualifications, proficiency and experience that enables that person to safely operate the complex electrical installation; and

(b) any person operating or maintaining the complex electrical installation complies with the owner's or operator's operating and maintenance procedures; and

(c) any person operating or maintaining any part of the complex electrical installation is trained, authorised and instructed to perform the work on the complex electrical installation in accordance with the owner's or operator's operating and maintenance procedures; and

(d) any person under the control of the owner or operator who is working on or near a part of the complex electrical installation that is operating at high voltage—

(i) is appropriately trained in accordance with the Blue Book and aware of the requirements of the Blue Book; and

(ii) complies with the provisions of the Blue Book that apply to the work that the person is carrying out; and

(iii) uses an Electrical Access Authority for work on or near any parts of the complex electrical installation that is operating at high voltage, as required by the Blue Book.

(3) An owner or operator of a complex electrical installation that is not part of a railway or tramway supply network must prepare written operating and maintenance procedures that describe the methods of operation, maintenance, earthing, isolation, energisation and de-energisation of the complex electrical installation.

503 Safety standard—railway and tramway supply networks

(1) An owner or operator of a railway supply network or tramway supply network must ensure that—

(a) any person operating the railway or tramway supply network has a standard of qualifications, proficiency and experience that enables that person to safely operate the railway or tramway supply network; and

(b) any person operating or maintaining the railway or tramway supply network complies with the owner's or operator's operating and maintenance procedures; and

(c) any person operating or maintaining any part of the railway or tramway supply network is trained, authorised and instructed to perform the work on the supply network in accordance with the owner's or operator's operating and maintenance procedures; and

(d) any person under the control of the owner or operator who is working on or near a railway or tramway supply network—

(i) is appropriately trained in accordance with the Orange Book and aware of the requirements of the Orange Book; and

(ii) complies with the provisions of the Orange Book that apply to the work that the person is carrying out; and

(iii) uses an Electrical Access Authority for work on or near the railway or tramway supply network, as required by the Orange Book.

(2) An owner or operator of a railway or tramway supply network must prepare written operating and maintenance procedures that describe the methods of operation, maintenance, earthing, isolation, energisation and de-energisation of the railway or tramway supply network.

504 Safety standard—embedded networks

(1) An owner or operator of an embedded network must ensure that any person who is carrying out electrical installation work on the embedded network is appropriately licensed to carry out that work.

(2) An owner or operator of an embedded network must ensure that the embedded network is safe and maintained and operated safely.

505 Safety standard—patient areas

(1) The occupier of any premises that contains a patient area or an area that is intended to be a patient area must ensure that any person who is carrying out electrical installation work in the patient area is appropriately licensed to carry out that work.

(2) The occupier of any premises that contains a patient area or an area that is intended to be a patient area must ensure that any electrical installation located in the patient area is safe and maintained and operated safely.

(3) A person who commissioned electrical installation work on any premises that contains a patient area or an area that is intended to be a patient area must ensure that—

(a) any person who is carrying out electrical installation work in the patient area is appropriately licensed to carry out electrical installation work; and

(b) the registered electrical contractor or licensed electrician commissioned to carry out the electrical installation work in the patient area is given written notice prior to the carrying out of the electrical installation work that includes the following information—

(i) whether or not the electrical installation work requires or includes electrical installation work in a patient area or an area intended to be a patient area;

(ii) the location and boundary of any patient area;

(iii) the use or intended use of any patient area.

Division 2—Maintenance duties related to private aerial lines

506 Private aerial line maintenance

(1) If the occupier of any premises receives a written notice from a major electricity company or Energy Safe Victoria requiring maintenance to be carried out on a private aerial line located at the premises, the occupier must—

(a) if the occupier is the owner of the premises—

(i) cause the required maintenance to be completed within 90 days of receiving the notice; or

(ii) cause the private aerial line to be disconnected from the electricity supply; or

(b) if the occupier is not the owner of the premises, notify the owner of the premises or the owner's agent of the maintenance that is required to be carried out within 14 days of receiving the notice.

(2) If the owner of any premises or the owner's agent receives a notification under subregulation (1)(b), the owner must—

(a) cause the required maintenance to be completed within 90 days of receiving the notification; or

(b) cause the private aerial line to be disconnected from the electricity supply.

Division 3—Supervision duties

507 Supervision of apprentices carrying out electrical installation work

(1) A person who employs an apprentice must ensure that any electrical installation work carried out by the apprentice is carried out under effective supervision in accordance with the Apprentice Supervision Requirements.

(2) A licensed electrician or licensed electrical switchgear worker who is supervising an apprentice carrying out electrical installation work must supervise that apprentice in accordance with the Apprentice Supervision Requirements.

(3) In this regulation, Apprentice Supervision Requirements means the Requirements for the effective supervision of apprentice electricians, as published or amended from time to time by Energy Safe Victoria.

Division 4—Duties related to electrical installation work carried out on energised electrical equipment

508 Who is a person conducting a business or undertaking under this Division?

In this Division, a reference to a person conducting a business or undertaking that is carrying out electrical installation work on energised equipment is a reference to—

(a) in the case of electrical installation work carried out by an electrical contractor, the electrical contractor conducting the business or undertaking that is carrying out the electrical installation work; or

(b) in the case of electrical installation work carried out by an electrical worker employed by a person (other than an electrical contractor), the employer of the person who is carrying out the electrical installation work; or

(c) if paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply, the electrical worker who is carrying out the electrical installation work.

509 Electrical installation work carried out on energised electrical equipment may only be permitted in particular circumstances

(1) A person conducting a business or undertaking that is carrying out electrical installation work must ensure that the electrical installation work is not carried out on energised electrical equipment unless—

(a) it is necessary in the interests of health and safety that the electrical installation work is carried out on the energised electrical equipment; or

(b) it is necessary that the electrical equipment is energised in order for the electrical installation work to be carried out properly; or

(c) it is necessary that the electrical installation work is carried out on energised electrical equipment for the purposes of testing the electrical installation work in accordance with Division 10 of Part 2; or

(d) there is no reasonable alternative means of carrying out the electrical installation work.

(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1)(a), (b) or (d), electrical installation work may include testing of the energised electrical equipment.

510 Preliminary steps before carrying out electrical installation work on energised electrical equipment

(1) A person conducting a business or undertaking that is carrying out electrical installation work on energised electrical equipment must ensure that before the electrical installation work is carried out, the following steps are followed—

(a) a competent person conducts a risk assessment in relation to the proposed electrical installation work and records the results of the risk assessment;

(b) the area where the electrical installation work is to be carried out is clear of obstructions so as to allow for easy access and exit by the person who is carrying out the electrical installation work;

(c) the point at which the electrical equipment can be disconnected or isolated from its electricity supply is—

(i) clearly marked or labelled; and

(ii) clear of obstructions so as to allow for easy access and exit by the person who is carrying out the electrical installation work; and

(iii) capable of being operated quickly;

(d) the person conducting the business or undertaking authorises the commencement of the electrical installation work after consulting with the person with management or control of the premises where the work is to be carried out.

(2) Subregulation (1)(c) does not apply if—

(a) the electrical installation work is to be carried out on energised electrical equipment on the electricity supply side of the main switch of a main switchboard; and

(b) the point at which the energised electrical equipment can be disconnected from its electricity supply is not reasonably accessible from the location at which the electrical installation work is to be carried out.

511 How electrical installation work is to be carried out on energised electrical equipment

(1) A person conducting a business or undertaking that is carrying out electrical installation work on energised electrical equipment must ensure that the electrical installation work is carried out—

(a) by a competent person who has tools, testing equipment and personal protective equipment that—

(i) are suitable for the work; and

(ii) have been properly tested; and

(iii) are maintained in good working order; and

(b) in accordance with a safe work method statement prepared for the work.

(2) A person conducting a business or undertaking that is carrying out electrical installation work on energised electrical equipment must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the person who carries out the electrical installation work uses the tools, testing equipment and personal protective equipment properly.

See also section 43(4) of the Act.

(3) For the purposes of subregulation (1)(b), the safe work method statement must—

(a) identify the electrical installation work; and

(b) specify the hazards associated with the electrical installation work and the risks associated with those hazards; and

(c) describe the measures to be implemented to control the risks; and

(d) describe how the measures referred to in paragraph (c) are to be implemented.

Part 6—Duties of the public

601 Application of Part—protected installations

(1) An owner or operator of a protected installation may do any thing in relation to a protected installation that is otherwise prohibited by regulations 603 to 619 if the owner or operator does that thing when the protected installation is isolated from the electricity supply.

(2) A person may do any thing in relation to a protected installation that is otherwise prohibited by regulations 603 to 619 if the person—

(a) does that thing with the written permission of the owner or operator of the protected installation; and

(b) does that thing when the protected installation is isolated from the electricity supply; and

(c) complies with any conditions imposed by the owner or operator in giving the permission.

(3) An authorised person may do any thing in relation to a protected installation that is otherwise prohibited by regulations 603 to 619 if doing the thing—

(a) is necessary to connect or disconnect the protected installation from the electricity supply; or

(b) is required or authorised by or under any law; or

(c) is necessary for safety reasons.

(4) In this regulation—

authorised person means—

(a) the electricity supplier that is supplying electricity to the protected installation; or

(b) a person authorised by the electricity supplier that is supplying electricity to the protected installation to do a thing permitted by subregulation (3);

safety reasons includes the prevention and mitigation of bushfires that may arise out of incidents involving protected installations.

602 Application of Part—protected supply networks

A person may do any thing in relation to a protected supply network that is otherwise prohibited by regulations 603 to 619 if—

(a) the person does that thing with the written permission of the owner or operator of the protected supply network and complies with any conditions imposed by the owner or operator in giving the permission; or

(b) the person—

(i) is employed or engaged by the owner or operator of a protected supply network; and

(ii) is authorised by the owner or operator to do that thing in relation to its protected supply network.

603 Protected infrastructure—striking objects

A person must not throw, hit, kick, launch, discharge, fire or project, or cause to be thrown, hit, kicked, launched, discharged, fired or projected, any object—

(a) with intent to strike any part of a protected infrastructure; or

(b) if there is significant risk that the object will strike any part of a protected infrastructure.

604 Protected infrastructure—aircraft, kites, remotely piloted aircraft etc.

(1) A person must not launch, release, operate, fly or land any aircraft, airship, unmanned aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, rocket, glider, hang glider, hot air balloon, parachute, mechanically propelled model aircraft, model glider or kite within 45 metres of protected infrastructure that is above the ground.

(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply to a person who lands an aircraft, airship, glider, hang glider, hot air balloon or parachute if the landing was reasonably necessary in the particular circumstances.

(3) Subregulation (1) does not apply to a remotely piloted aircraft that weighs less than 2 kilograms and does not come closer to protected infrastructure set out in Row A of Table 604 than the relevant minimum distance specified in Row B of that Table that corresponds to that protected infrastructure.

Table 604—Minimum distances from remotely piloted aircraft to protected infrastructure

| | Column 1 | Column 2 | | Row A<br>Protected infrastructure | An aerial line supported by poles and any protected infrastructure associated with the aerial line | An aerial line supported by towers and any protected infrastructure associated with the aerial line | | Row B<br>Minimum distance from the protected infrastructure in all directions | 3000 mm | 6000 mm |

605 Protected infrastructure—entangled objects

A person must not pull or interfere with any object resting on or entangled in protected infrastructure unless the action is reasonably necessary to prevent or reduce injury to any person or damage to property.

606 Protected infrastructure—blasting and fires

A person must not—

(a) carry out blasting or cause blasting to be done; or

(b) light, cause to be lit or allow to remain alight any fire; or

(c) install equipment or operate processes likely to create an explosive atmosphere—

in the vicinity of protected infrastructure in such a manner that the protected infrastructure is likely to be destabilised or damaged or an explosion is likely to occur.

607 Damage to underground portion of protected infrastructure

(1) A person must not place or cause to be placed any corrosive, abrasive, heavy or deleterious material or substance that damages or is likely to damage protected infrastructure above or in the vicinity of any underground portion of the protected infrastructure if the person reasonably should have known the existence and location of the protected infrastructure.

(2) A person must not allow to remain or cause to be allowed to remain any corrosive, abrasive, heavy or deleterious material or substance that damages or is likely to damage protected infrastructure above or in the vicinity of any underground portion of the protected infrastructure if the person reasonably should have known the existence and location of the protected infrastructure.

608 Protected infrastructure—excavating

(1) A person must not make an excavation deeper than 300 millimetres on public land unless the person—

(a) has inspected—

(i) the register kept by the relevant distribution company under section 77(1) of the Act; and

(ii) the register kept by the relevant person who operates a railway under section 76(2) of the Act; and

(b) has located any underground protected infrastructure in the vicinity of the excavation.

(2) A person must not cut away, excavate or remove, or cause to be cut away, excavated or removed, any earth or material supporting or covering any protected infrastructure so as to endanger the stability of the infrastructure or reduce the depth of the infrastructure.

(3) A person must not make an excavation deeper than—

(a) 900 millimetres at a distance closer than 15 000 millimetres; or

(b) 300 millimetres at a distance closer than 1500 millimetres—

from any tower supporting any protected infrastructure.

(4) A person must not make an excavation deeper than—

(a) 1800 millimetres at a distance closer than 3000 millimetres; or

(b) 900 millimetres at a distance closer than 1500 millimetres—

from any pole or lighting standard supporting any protected infrastructure or from any pole or bed log to which is affixed a staywire used for the support of the protected infrastructure.

(5) A person must not make an excavation deeper than 300 millimetres at a distance closer than 600 millimetres from any wall, fence or foundation of a substation of a protected infrastructure.

(6) A person must not make an excavation or penetration deeper than 300 millimetres within 10 000 millimetres of a SWER substation.

(7) A person must not make an excavation or penetration deeper than 300 millimetres on private land if the person knows or should reasonably have known that an underground electric line was located in the vicinity of the proposed excavation or penetration.

(8) A person does not contravene subregulation (7) if the person has inspected any record of the route of underground lines located on the property and located any underground lines in the vicinity of the proposed excavation or penetration.

609 Protected infrastructure and protected aerial lines—altering levels

(1) A person must not place any material above ground level below a low voltage protected aerial line located on public land in a manner that alters the level of the ground.

(2) A person must not place any material above ground level below a high voltage protected aerial line in a manner that alters the level of the ground

so as to reduce the distance between the ground and the aerial line to less than the minimum distance required under regulation 229(2)(a).

(3) A person must not place any material above ground level next to protected infrastructure operating on public land that reduces the distance between the ground and the protected infrastructure.

610 Minimum distances between parts of buildings, structures, scaffolding and posts and protected aerial lines

(1) A person must not build, erect or maintain a structure, building, scaffolding or post in a location if the structure, building, scaffolding or post will, at any time, be closer to a protected aerial line than the minimum safety distance set out for that protected aerial line.

(2) If, after a structure, building, scaffolding or post is constructed, a protected aerial line is constructed closer to the structure, building, scaffolding or post than the minimum safety distance permits, the owner or operator of the protected aerial line is taken to have given permission for the structure, building, scaffolding or post to remain within the minimum safety distance in relation to that aerial line.

(3) In this regulation, the minimum safety distance in relation to a protected aerial line, means the minimum distance specified for the type of protected aerial line set out in column 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 of Table 610 in relation to the location of the protected aerial line specified in column 1 of that Table.

Table 610—Minimum distances from parts of buildings, structures, scaffolding or posts to protected aerial lines

• Nominal voltage ('U') Type of aerial line
• Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7 Column 8
• U ≤ 1000V U > 1000V 1000V 33 kV 33 kV 132 kV 132 kV 275 kV 275 kV 330 kV 330 kV 500 kV
• Location of aerial line Insulated Bare neutral Bare active Insulated with earth screen Insulated without earth screen Bare or covered Bare Bare Bare Bare
• Minimum distance between aerial line and structure
• Vertically above those parts of any structure normally accessible to a person 2·7 m 2·7 m 3·7 m 2·7 m 3·7 m 4·5 m 5·0 m 6·5 m 7·0 m 8·0 m
• Vertically above those parts of any structure not normally accessible to a person but on which a person can stand 2·0 m 2·7 m 2·7 m 2·7 m 2·7 m 3·7 m 4·5 m 6·0 m 6·5 m 7·5 m
• In any direction (other than vertically above) from those parts of any structure normally accessible to a person, or from any part of a structure not normally accessible to a person but on which a person can stand 1·0 m 1·5 m 1·5 m 1·5 m 2·7 m 2·7 m 3·0 m 4·5 m 5·0 m 6·0 m
• In any direction from those parts of any structure not normally accessible to a person. 0·6 m 1·0 m 1·0 m 1·5 m 2·1 m 2·1 m 2·5 m 3·5 m 4·0 m 5·0 m

The following is an explanation of the letters in the illustration below:

A is the location of an aerial line vertically above those parts of a structure normally accessible to a person.

B is the location of an aerial line vertically above those parts of a structure not normally accessible to a person but on which a person can stand.

C is the location of an aerial line in a direction (other than vertically above) from those parts of a structure normally accessible to a person, or from any part of a structure not normally accessible to a person but on which a person can stand.

D is the location of an aerial line in a direction from those parts of a structure not normally accessible to a person.

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611 Minimum distances between materials, protected aerial lines and protected infrastructure

(1) A person must not place any flammable material or allow flammable material to remain closer than 3000 millimetres in any direction from a wall or fence of any substation or switch yard that forms part of protected infrastructure.

(2) A person must not place any flammable material or allow flammable material to remain vertically below a protected aerial line.

(3) A person must not place any flammable material or allow flammable material to remain so that, at any time, the flammable material is closer than the relevant horizontal distance specified in Row A of Table 611 from any point of the vertical projection below a protected aerial line.

(4) A person must not place any material or allow any material to remain so that, at any time, the material is closer than the relevant horizontal distance marked "h" specified in Row B of Table 611 from any point of the vertical projection below a protected aerial line unless the material is no closer vertically below the line than the vertical distance marked "v" specified in Row B of Table 611.

Table 611—Minimum distances from materials to protected aerial lines

• Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7
• Aerial lines Nominal voltage ("U")
• Type of material U ≤ 1500V d.c. traction conductor 1 kV a.c. or 1500V d.c. < U ≤ 33 kV 33 kV< U ≤ 132 kV 132 kV< U ≤ 275 kV 275 kV< U ≤ 330 kV 330 kV< U ≤ 500 kV
• Row AFlammable material Horizontal distance 3000 mm 3000 mm 3000 mm 4600 mm 5500 mm 6400 mm
• Row BAny other material "h" 1500 mm 2100 mm 3000 mm 4500 mm 5500 mm 6400 mm
• "v" 3700 mm 4600 mm 4600 mm 6800 mm 8000 mm 9800 mm

612 Minimum distances between parts of vehicles, vessels, plant, machinery and protected aerial lines

(1) A person must not operate a vehicle, vessel, fixed plant, mobile plant or machinery so that any part of the vehicle, vessel, plant, machinery or any fixed or removable attachment of that vehicle, vessel, plant or machinery comes closer to a protected aerial line set out in Row A of Table 612 than the relevant minimum distance specified in Row B of that Table that corresponds to that protected aerial line.

(2) This regulation does not apply to a person who is operating a vehicle to transport a load.

Table 612—Minimum distances from any part of a vehicle, plant or machinery to protected aerial lines

613 Minimum distances between transported loads and protected aerial lines

A person must not drive or manoeuvre a vehicle with a load or transport a load so that the load is closer to a protected aerial line set out in Row A of Table 613 than the relevant minimum distance specified in Row B of that Table that corresponds to that protected aerial line.

Table 613—Minimum distances from transported loads to protected aerial lines

• Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7
• Alternating current aerial lines Nominal voltage ("U")
• Row AAerial line U ≤ 1 kV a.c. bare conductor and U ≤ 1500V d.c. traction conductor U ≤ 1 kV a.c. insulated conductor 1 kV< U ≤ 66 kV a.c. and 1500V < U ≤ 66 kV d.c. 66 kV< U ≤ 132 kV 132 kV< U ≤ 275 kV 275 kV< U ≤ 330 kV 330 kV< U ≤ 500 kV
• Row BMinimum distance from the aerial line in all directions 600 mm 300 mm 1000 mm 1500 mm 3200 mm 3700 mm 4700 mm

614 Minimum distances between persons and protected aerial lines

(1) A person must not come closer to a protected aerial line set out in column 1 of Table 614 than the relevant minimum distance specified in column 2 of that Table that corresponds to that protected aerial line.

(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply to—

(a) a licensed electrician engaged by the owner or operator of the protected aerial line to carry out electrical installation work on that line; or

(b) a qualified person carrying out vegetation management work in the vicinity of a protected aerial line; or

(c) a telecommunications worker who has satisfactorily completed a training course accepted by Energy Safe Victoria that relates to working safely near live electrical apparatus for non-electrical workers; or

(d) a person engaged by the owner or operator of the protected aerial line who is carrying out electrical installation work on the line, under the effective supervision of a licensed electrician, if the person—

(i) has completed an electric line worker apprenticeship that relates to electrical work on high voltage aerial lines; and

(ii) has the written permission of the owner or operator of the line.

(3) In this regulation, qualified person means a person who holds a current certificate that is approved by Energy Safe Victoria specifying satisfactory completion of a training course in tree clearing.

See also regulation 616(2).

Table 614—Minimum distances from persons to protected aerial lines

| Column 1<br>Type of aerial line Nominal voltage ("U") | Column 2<br>Minimum distance | | Insulated low voltage conductors | 100 mm | | Bare or covered low voltage conductors | 1500 mm | | High voltage conductors U ≤ 66 kV | 2000 mm | | High voltage conductors 66 kV < U ≤ 220 kV | 4000 mm | | High voltage conductors 220 kV < U ≤ 500 kV | 6000 mm |

615 Compliance with Blue Book and Orange Book when working on or near high voltage electrical equipment or on or near a railway or tramway supply network

A person referred to in regulation 614(2) must—

(a) comply with the Blue Book when working on or near high voltage electrical equipment; and

(b) comply with the Orange Book when working on or near a railway or tramway supply network.

616 Protected infrastructure—vegetation management work

(1) A person (other than a qualified person) must not carry out vegetation management work if the vegetation is closer to a protected aerial line set out in column 1 of Table 616 than the relevant minimum distance specified in column 2 or 3 of that Table that corresponds to that aerial line.

See also regulations 614(1) and 617(1).

(2) A qualified person carrying out vegetation management work in the vicinity of a protected aerial line must comply with—

(a) the vegetation management rules; and

(b) the Blue Book when working on or near high voltage electrical equipment; and

(c) the Orange Book when working on or near a railway or tramway supply network.

A qualified person carrying out vegetation management work must comply with the safe approach distances set out in the vegetation management rules.

(3) In this regulation, qualified person means a person who holds a current certificate that is approved by Energy Safe Victoria specifying satisfactory completion of a training course in tree clearing.

Table 616—Minimum distances of vegetation from protected aerial lines for persons (other than qualified persons) carrying out vegetation management work

| Column 1<br>Type of aerial line Nominal voltage ("U") | Column 2<br>Minimum distance of vegetation vertically below the protected aerial line | Column 3<br>Minimum distance of vegetation from the protected aerial line (other than vertically below) | | Insulated low voltage conductors | 100 mm | 300 mm | | Bare or covered low voltage conductors | 1000 mm | 3000 mm | | High voltage conductors U ≤ 66 kV | 2000 mm | 4000 mm | | High voltage conductors 66 kV < U ≤ 500 kV | 6000 mm | 8000 mm |

617 Protected aerial line—pruning, cutting and felling vegetation

(1) A person (other than a qualified person) must not prune, cut or fell the whole or any part of a tree if the tree or any part of the tree that is pruned, cut or felled may fall closer to a protected aerial line than—

(a) in the case of a protected aerial line operating at low voltage, 2 metres in all directions; or

(b) in the case of protected aerial line operating at a voltage set out in Row A of Table 617, the relevant minimum distance specified in Row B of that Table that corresponds to that voltage.

In section 3 of the Act, the definition of tree includes vegetation.

(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply to an insulated protected aerial line operating at low voltage if the tree or any part of the tree that is pruned, cut or felled—

(a) falls within 2 metres of the protected aerial line; and

(b) does not make contact with the protected aerial line.

(3) A qualified person must, before pruning, cutting or felling the whole or any part of a tree to which subregulation (1) applies, notify the owner of the protected aerial line.

(4) In this regulation, qualified person means a person who holds a current certificate that is approved by Energy Safe Victoria specifying satisfactory completion of a training course in tree clearing.

Table 617—Minimum distances from high voltage and direct current protected aerial lines—falling trees or parts of trees

• Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
• Row A Nominal voltage("U") U ≤ 66 kV alternating current or U ≤1500V direct current U > 66 kV alternating current or U > 1500V direct current
• Row B Minimum distance in all directions 2000 mm 6000 mm

618 Protected infrastructure—damage and interference

(1) A person must not attach aerial lines or other cable systems to protected infrastructure located on public land.

(2) A person must not—

(a) damage or interfere with protected infrastructure; or

(b) damage or interfere with a seal or lock that prevents entry or access to protected infrastructure; or

(c) damage or interfere with metering equipment; or

(d) deface a sign relating to electrical safety that is on or near protected infrastructure—

if that damage, interference or defacement causes a risk to any person or damage to any property.

619 Placing of materials

(1) A person must not place any material, or allow any material to remain, that prevents access to any switchboard or door, gate or entrance to a substation, switchroom or switchyard of protected infrastructure or an electrical installation.

(2) A person must not place any material, or allow any material to remain, that restricts the free flow of air through any opening or fitting used for ventilation in the walls of a substation, switchroom or switchyard of protected infrastructure or an electrical installation.

Part 7—Exemptions

701 Exemptions—Electrical installation work

(1) Energy Safe Victoria may, on the application of an electrical contractor or electrical installation worker, exempt any electrical work to be carried out by the electrical contractor or electrical installation worker from any of the requirements of Part 2 subject to any conditions specified by Energy Safe Victoria.

(3) An application must be accompanied by—

(a) any relevant technical information, including information that shows that the granting of an exemption will not reduce the level of safety from physical injury, fire and electric shock from the level of safety that would have been provided under Part 2 if the requirements of Part 2 had been complied with; and

(b) if the exemption relates to electrical work, a written agreement to the proposed exemption signed by the owner, occupier or controlling body of the land on which the electrical work is to be carried out; and

(c) the application fee.

(b) in the opinion of Energy Safe Victoria, the payment of the application fee is not warranted because of the nature of the application; or

(c) in the opinion of Energy Safe Victoria, dealing with the application imposes on Energy Safe Victoria no appreciable burden or a lesser burden than usual.

(6) Energy Safe Victoria may grant an exemption if satisfied that the applicant has demonstrated that the granting of the exemption will not reduce the level of safety from physical injury, fire and electric shock from the level of safety that would have been provided under Part 2 if the requirements of Part 2 had been complied with.

(7) A person to whom an exemption applies must comply with any conditions of the exemption specified by Energy Safe Victoria.

702 Exemptions—Electricity suppliers

(1) Energy Safe Victoria may, on the application of an electricity supplier, exempt the electricity supplier from any of the requirements of Part 3 subject to any conditions specified by Energy Safe Victoria.

(3) An application must be accompanied by—

(a) any relevant technical information, including information that shows that the granting of an exemption will not reduce the level of safety from physical injury, fire and electric shock from the level of safety that would have been provided under Part 3 if the requirements of Part 3 had been complied with; and

(b) the application fee.

(b) in the opinion of Energy Safe Victoria, the payment of the application fee is not warranted because of the nature of the application; or

(c) in the opinion of Energy Safe Victoria, dealing with the application imposes on Energy Safe Victoria no appreciable burden or a lesser burden than usual.

(6) Energy Safe Victoria may grant an exemption if satisfied that—

(a) the applicant has demonstrated that the granting of the exemption will not reduce the level of safety from physical injury, fire and electric shock from the level of safety that would have been provided under Part 3 if the requirements of Part 3 had been complied with; or

(b) in the particular circumstances compliance with the requirements of Part 3 is not practicable.

(7) A person to whom an exemption applies must comply with any conditions of the exemption specified by Energy Safe Victoria.

703 Exemptions—Duties of the public

(1) Energy Safe Victoria may, on the application of any person who has been refused permission to do a thing that is otherwise prohibited by Part 6, exempt that person from any of the requirements of Part 6 that are prohibiting the person from doing that thing subject to any conditions specified by Energy Safe Victoria.

(3) An application must be accompanied by the application fee.

(b) in the opinion of Energy Safe Victoria, the payment of the application fee is not warranted because of the nature of the application; or

(c) in the opinion of Energy Safe Victoria, dealing with the application imposes on Energy Safe Victoria no appreciable burden or a lesser burden than usual.

(6) Energy Safe Victoria may grant an exemption if satisfied that the applicant has demonstrated that—

(a) the applicant can carry out the proposed activity safely; and

(b) the applicant can carry out the proposed activity without damaging or interfering with any protected infrastructure; and

(c) when the activity is completed, there will not be an unsafe electrical situation or the potential for any unsafe electrical situation to arise.

(7) A person to whom an exemption applies must comply with any conditions of the exemption specified by Energy Safe Victoria.

Part 8—Infringement offences

801 Offences for which infringement notices may be served

For the purposes of paragraph (b) in the definition of prescribed offence in section 140A of the Act, an offence specified in Column 2 of Schedule 2 is a prescribed offence.

802 Infringement penalties

For the purposes of section 140D of the Act, the prescribed infringement penalty for an offence specified in Column 2 of Schedule 2 is the amount specified in Column 3 of that Schedule in respect of that offence.

Schedule 1—Revocations

Regulation 104

Table

| S.R. No. | Title | | 164/2009 | Electricity Safety (Installations) Regulations 2009 | | 85/2011 | Electricity Safety (Installations) Amendment (Fee) Regulations 2011 | | 36/2014 | Electricity Safety (Installations) Amendment (Fees) Regulations 2014 |