Electricity network safety review planned

The Victorian Government has announced a review of the state’s electricity network safety framework, to be headed by Dr Paul Grimes.

The main objective of the review is to enhance the safety of the electricity supply and reduce the risk of fires created by electrical assets.

It has been more than a decade since the current safety framework was put in place. This review will ensure the existing arrangements adequately reflect the needs of the community in an increasingly complex environment.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio says the initiative complements existing programs.

“This review will complement the sweeping set of regulatory reforms already introduced by our government to reduce the risk of fire.

“These reforms build upon the important work already underway by the Powerline Bushfire Safety Program in response to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires,” D’Ambrosio said. 

The chair of the review, Dr Grimes, has held positions as secretary for the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture and the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.

Dr Grimes will be supported by a dedicated secretariat established from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

The review will be informed by extensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders and will include public consultation.

Once complete, an interim report will be produced, followed by a final report and recommendations to be presented to the Minister by December 2017.

For more information, visit the website here.