Victoria's Power Assets in a State of Crisis

After years of neglect, a lack of maintenance and widespread job losses, Victoria’s power industry is in crisis.

In the 20 years since privatisation, Victoria’s power distribution companies have let the state’s power assets run down to a dangerous level. Investment in maintenance has been inadequate, with a reactive maintenance regime having replaced the more prudent preventative approach to maintenance. Priorities are regularly being downgraded, planned maintenance is being held back, short-term band aid fixes are becoming the norm and poor quality equipment is being installed across the network.

As a result, the number of fires caused by distribution assets is up, faults and failures have increased, the condition of assets has been assessed as poor and declining and the level of customer satisfaction is low and falling.

A ticking time-bomb: distribution businesses nonetheless making maintenance workers redundant

With the sector sliding into crisis, it is extraordinary to consider that Victoria’s distribution companies have made up to 900 maintenance workers redundant over the last year.

Highly qualified members are being tossed out of work as the network crumbles. This is a personal tragedy for the workers involved and a critical issue for their union, but it is also a ticking time-bomb for the Victorian community, few of whom are aware of the parlous state of our power assets.

The ETU has established a campaign team to analyse the issues behind the disgraceful neglect of the network. We’ve undertaken a detailed examination of the condition and state of Victoria’s electrical assets and their potential risk to the Victorian community.

We’ve also produced a video documentary exposing the crisis in the industry and a suite of materials for a high profile public campaign.

Watch this space.

Results of ETU survey of Linesmen and Asset Inspectors

The Electrical Trades Union, Victorian Branch mailed a survey with the following questions to members who are registered Linesmen or Asset Inspectors currently employed in Victoria in the final quarter of 2015.

In the last 5 years have you noticed a reduction in overall maintenance spending?

Yes - 83% No - 17%

In the past 5 years have you noticed a reduction in preventative maintenance spending?

Yes - 86% No - 14%

In the past 5 years have public response times increased?

Yes - 74% No - 26%

In the past 3 years have customer disconnections increased?

Yes - 76% No - 24%

In the last 3 years have field-based staff numbers increased?

Yes - 27% No 73%

In the last 3 years have apprentice numbers increased?

Yes - 33% No - 67%

Is your job safer now than it was 5 years ago?

Yes - 23% No - 77%

Would your industry be more secure and safer with licensing regulations?

Yes - 92% No - 8%

Has the power industry carried out the maintenance required to prevent another ‘Black Saturday’?

Yes - 28% No - 72%

Are you concerned by attacks on your trade? (for example, attempts to reduce skills standards and fewer apprentices)

Yes - 87% No - 13%