❓ Hon Kate Doust asks about mechanisms to ensure landowners check power poles and penalties for non-compliance. The Minister outlines awareness campaigns and planned legislative changes to mandate safe maintenance with future penalties.
AnsweredQoN 1005Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
POWER POLES —
SAFETY INSPECTIONS
1005. Hon KATE DOUST to the
Minister for Commerce:
I refer to the minister's answers to questions
without notice 972 and 973.
(1) What mechanisms will the
government put in place to ensure —
(a) that
landowners know what they should check to ensure a satisfactory assessment of
power poles; and
(b) the
government is informed that landowners have undertaken satisfactory checks of
power poles?
(2) Are there any penalties for
noncompliance with the checking policy; and, if so, what are they?
SAFETY INSPECTIONS
1005. Hon KATE DOUST to the
Minister for Commerce:
I refer to the minister's answers to questions
without notice 972 and 973.
(1) What mechanisms will the
government put in place to ensure —
(a) that
landowners know what they should check to ensure a satisfactory assessment of
power poles; and
(b) the
government is informed that landowners have undertaken satisfactory checks of
power poles?
(2) Are there any penalties for
noncompliance with the checking policy; and, if so, what are they?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of this question.
(1) (a) EnergySafety
has produced a pamphlet that will go to all electricity consumers, providing
guidance on visual inspections and the need to involve electrical contractors
and other professionals as appropriate. The brochure will be sent to all
consumers by Horizon Power and Synergy. This pamphlet is currently available on
the EnergySafety website. The government is urging property owners to arrange
for further inspections by licensed electrical contractors. These contractors
are trained professionals and should be in a better position to make an
informed assessment and advise the consumers on what further actions, if any,
should be undertaken. EnergySafety has also produced a guidance publication for
electrical contractors on assessments.
(b) Whenever
electrical contractors carry out electrical work, they are required under
existing electrical safety legislation to send a notice to the network
operators, such as Western Power or Horizon Power, detailing the work they have
undertaken. The voluntary response to the awareness campaign will be gauged by
the number of notices electrical contractors send in to network operators after
completing upgrading work on private overhead power lines. Network operators'
inspectors will also inspect a sample of the work for which they have received
notices.
(2) The current
legislative framework does not contain any civil or criminal penalties for
landowners who fail to inspect and maintain privately owned power poles.
However, the government is proposing to change the legislation to make this a
legal requirement. The drafting instructions have already been seen by cabinet
and will be included in the energy safety bill 2015. Under the revised
legislation, the owners of private electricity assets will have an obligation
to maintain them in a safe condition throughout their service life. The
penalties for not complying with these requirements have not been determined.
The legislative changes are expected in 2015.
of this question.
(1) (a) EnergySafety
has produced a pamphlet that will go to all electricity consumers, providing
guidance on visual inspections and the need to involve electrical contractors
and other professionals as appropriate. The brochure will be sent to all
consumers by Horizon Power and Synergy. This pamphlet is currently available on
the EnergySafety website. The government is urging property owners to arrange
for further inspections by licensed electrical contractors. These contractors
are trained professionals and should be in a better position to make an
informed assessment and advise the consumers on what further actions, if any,
should be undertaken. EnergySafety has also produced a guidance publication for
electrical contractors on assessments.
(b) Whenever
electrical contractors carry out electrical work, they are required under
existing electrical safety legislation to send a notice to the network
operators, such as Western Power or Horizon Power, detailing the work they have
undertaken. The voluntary response to the awareness campaign will be gauged by
the number of notices electrical contractors send in to network operators after
completing upgrading work on private overhead power lines. Network operators'
inspectors will also inspect a sample of the work for which they have received
notices.
(2) The current
legislative framework does not contain any civil or criminal penalties for
landowners who fail to inspect and maintain privately owned power poles.
However, the government is proposing to change the legislation to make this a
legal requirement. The drafting instructions have already been seen by cabinet
and will be included in the energy safety bill 2015. Under the revised
legislation, the owners of private electricity assets will have an obligation
to maintain them in a safe condition throughout their service life. The
penalties for not complying with these requirements have not been determined.
The legislative changes are expected in 2015.
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