Page 11 - ETU Journal Autumn 2017

CAMPAIGNS > VICTORIA'S ELECTRICITY NETWORK
BREAKTHROUGH REVIEW OF
VICTORIA’S FAILED ELECTRICITY
NETWORK REGULATIONS
The Victorian Government has finally recognised the gravity of the dangers from the weak regulation of safety
Tin our electricity networks.
his follows years of declining asset condition and performance, as well as fault-related fires, all while
Victorian consumers are paying for maintenance they’re not getting.
MANY OF YOU Next steps
PARTICIPATED IN SURVEYS, CONSULTATION AND PRODUCTION OF MATERIALS FOR COMMUNICATING THE STATE
OF CRISIS OF VICTORIA’S ELECTRICITY NETWORK
The next step is to ensure this review does in fact recommend and deliver the reforms the sector and Victorians desperately need.
Please take note of the following scope and timeline of the review. We will stay in communication with you and look forward to your participation throughout 2017.
Review of Victoria’s Electricity Network Safety Framework
TIME LINE
March 2017 March–May 2017 Early April 2017 Mid–late 2017 Late 2017
Release of the review’s ‘issues paper’
Submissions to the review on views of ‘issues paper’ open Community and Industry Consultation Forum
Interim report released for public comment
Final report and recommendations to the minister
The evidence for these trends has been largely buried by the regulators, especially Energy Safe Victoria,
who are largely responsible for the dangerous state of the network.
Victorian consumers are paying for maintenance they’re not getting
ETU members having their say
The ETU spent 2016 undertaking extensive research and consultation with members to summarise and present to government and stakeholders the true gravity of the situation.
The ETU and its members have decades of experience across many jurisdictions of different regulatory models that are more effective than the current substandard Victorian regulations. As such we expect to take a leading role in providing expertise and evidence to the review.
Many of you participated in surveys, consultation and production of materials for communicating the
state of crisis of Victoria’s electricity network. This information was critical in substantiating the need for this review.
Scope of the review
The review is intended to examine the safety framework applicable to the electricity network in Victoria. The review will consider:
• the objectives of the safety framework in Victoria and an assessment of its effectiveness in achieving electricity network safety outcomes
• the design and adequacy of the safety regulatory obligations (including safety cases and the Electricity Safety Management Scheme), incentives and other arrangements governing energy network businesses and any opportunities for improvement
• the extent to which the regulatory framework governing network safety ensures effective risk management by energy network businesses
• the effectiveness of the regulator and governance arrangements
in place to monitor and enforce compliance with safety obligations by energy network businesses
• any other matters that the chair considers relevant.
In undertaking the review, the chair will have regard to:
• best practice electricity safety and risk management frameworks
in other jurisdictions, including nationally and internationally
• the relationship between the safety regime and the economic regulatory regime to ensure a balance between safety objectives and economic impacts including the cost impost on consumers.
Review governance
The review will be chaired by an independent chair, Mr Paul Grimes, whose speciality is public sector industry policies and procedures.
The review is being undertaken within the Victorian Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning.
The responsible minister is the Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio MP, the Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. n
We expect to take a leading role in providing expertise and evidence to the review
www.etuvic.com.au
THE ETU > AUTUMN 2017
11