Accreditation scheme for underground electrical works authorised

Victorian electricity distributors have been authorised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to maintain an accreditation scheme for civil contractors. The accreditation scheme will relate specifically to underground civil works on electrical infrastructure.

The ACCC has granted authorisation to the distributors Powercor, Citipower, Jemena, SPI Electricity and United Energy Distribution for 10 years. This confirms the draft determination the ACCC issued last month.

“This single joint accreditation scheme is likely to continue to reduce contractors’ compliance costs, compared with complying with potentially varying standards across each distribution business,” ACCC Commissioner Dr Jill Walker said.

These arrangements were previously authorised by the ACCC in 2009 for five years.

Without authorisation, each Victorian electricity distribution business would be likely to maintain its own separate civil contractor accreditation scheme and registers, resulting in civil contractors being required to meet multiple standards and requirements.

Civil contractors that are not accredited can still perform works for the electricity distribution businesses as long as additional quality and safety checks are performed.

Authorisation provides statutory protection from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment