Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997

i Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 S.R. No. 5/1997 TABLE OF PROVISIONS Regulation Page PART 1—PRELIMINARY 1 1. Objectives 1 2. Authorising provisions 1 3. Commencement 2 4. Revocation 2 5. Definitions 2 6. Application of Regulations 7 7. Application for exemptions 7 PART 2—GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 9 8. Duties of Network Operator 9 9. Incidents to be reported 9 10. Audit 12 11. Obligations on Network Operators concerning underground line 12 12. Obligations on distribution companies concerning underground lines 14 PART 3—STANDARDISATION OF SUPPLY NETWORKS 15 13. Standard Networks 15 PART 4—NETWORK ASSETS (OBLIGATIONS OF NETWORK OPERATORS) 16 14. Design, construction, operation and maintenance 16 15. Earthing and electrical protection 17 16. Earthing of low voltage electrical systems of supply 18 17. Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Code 1996 18 PART 5—NETWORK ASSETS (PUBLIC SAFETY) 19 18. Sporting activities 19 19. Aircraft 19 20. Entangled objects 19 -- 1 of 35 -- Regulation Page ii 21. Blasting and fires 20 22. Protection of underground assets from damage 20 23. Excavating and altering levels 21 24. Clearances from structures and equipment 22 25. Placing materials 28 26. Transportation 28 27. Tree clearing 30 28. Damage and interference 30 29. Permits, conditions, revocation 31 ═══════════════ NOTES 33 -- 2 of 35 -- 1 STATUTORY RULES 1997 S.R. No. 5/1997 State Electricity Commission Act 1958 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 The Governor in Council makes the following Regulations: Dated: 21 January 1997 Responsible Minister: ALAN STOCKDALE Treasurer A. WILTSHIRE Acting Clerk of the Executive Council PART 1—PRELIMINARY 1. Objectives The objectives of these Regulations are— (a) to establish the minimum safety criteria for the generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity; and (b) to generally protect people and property from risk and damage associated with the assets of the supply network. 2. Authorising provisions These Regulations are made under sections 110 and 111 of the State Electricity Commission Act 1958. -- 3 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 2 3. Commencement These Regulations come into operation on 29 January 1997. 4. Revocation (1) The Electricity Supply and Construction Regulations 1988 1 are revoked. (2) The Electrical Works Protection Regulations 19882 are revoked. 5. Definitions (1) In these Regulations— "the Act" means the State Electricity Commission Act 1958; "active", in relation to conductors, means— (a) a conductor of a supply network which is maintained at a difference of potential from— (i) a neutral conductor; or (ii) an earthed conductor; or (b) if a supply network does not include a neutral or earthed conductor—all of the conductors of the network; "aerial line" means any bare, covered or insulated electric line placed above the ground and in the open air but does not include bus bars or any direct current conductors used in a system of electric traction; "AS" means an Australian Standard, as published and amended by Standards Australia on the date these Regulations come into operation; r. 3 -- 4 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 3 "assets" includes buildings (other than buildings mainly used for administrative purposes), machinery, and electric lines or any other matter or thing required to generate, transmit, distribute or supply electricity of the electricity corporation or Network Operator; "chief electrical inspector" means the chief electrical inspector appointed under Part 4 of the Electricity Industry Act 1993; "circuit" means a number of conductors connected together for the purpose of carrying electric current; "the Code" means the Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Code 1996; "conductor" means a wire, cable or form of metal designed for carrying electric current, other than wires, cables or other forms of metal directly used in converting electrical energy into another form of energy; "corporation" includes an incorporated association; "distribution company" has the same meaning as in the Electricity Industry Act 1993; "electric line" means a conductor used for the purpose of transmitting, distributing or supplying electricity and includes any casing, coating, covering, tube, pipe, pole, post, frame, bracket or insulator enclosing, surrounding or supporting the conductor or any part of the conductor or any apparatus connected in conjunction with the conductor for the purpose of transmitting, distributing or supplying electricity; r. 5 -- 5 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 4 "electrical installation" has the same meaning as in section 46 of the Act; "electricity corporation" has the same meaning as in the Electricity Industry Act 1993; "high voltage", in relation to an electric line or electrical equipment, means the use of the electric line or electrical equipment in connection with electricity at voltages exceeding 1000 Volts alternating current or 1500 Volts direct current; "HV" means high voltage; "insulated" means contained within a material or medium (including air) in order to limit the flow of electric current between conductors at different potentials; "insulated conductor" means a conductor which is wholly covered with insulating material in accordance with the Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Code 1996; "live" means the condition of having a difference of electrical potential to earth and includes all metal connected to the neutral conductor of the supply network except earthing conductors; "low voltage" means voltage exceeding 32 Volts alternating current or 115 Volts direct current but not exceeding 1000 Volts alternating current or 1500 Volts direct current; "LV" means low voltage; "maximum design temperature" means the maximum temperature which a specific conductor may reach under the influence of load current (excluding fault current), the r. 5 -- 6 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 5 ambient temperature of the air and solar radiation; "multiple earthed neutral system" means a system of earthing in which the parts of an electrical installation required by the State Electricity Commission Wiring Regulations 1992 to be earthed— (a) are connected to the general mass of earth; and (b) are connected within the installation to the neutral conductor of the system of supply; "Network Operator" means any person who owns, constructs or operates any electric line, plant or equipment for the purposes of the generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electricity; "neutral conductor" means a conductor in a circuit of a system of supply which is maintained at an intermediate and approximate uniform electrical potential in respect of the other conductors of the circuit, or the conductor of a two-wire system which is earthed at its origin; "premises" means any house, building or structure including any associated land; "protective equipment" means equipment which is intended to isolate the active conductors of a circuit if an electrical fault occurs; "road" means any way ordinarily used by vehicular traffic; "service line" means the part of a Network Operator’s supply network that forms the terminating span of an electric line— r. 5 -- 7 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 6 (a) constructed or designed or ordinarily used for the supply of electricity at low voltage; and (b) through which electricity is, or is intended to be, supplied by a Network Operator to a consumer either from a main or directly from the premises or structure of the Network Operator; "substation" means any premises or place in which high voltage supply is converted, controlled or transformed; "supply" means supply of electricity; "supply network" means a network comprised in whole or part of electric lines, generators, substations and any other matter or thing required for the purposes of the generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electricity; "system of supply" means a system of mains for receiving electricity from a generating station, substation or transformer and conveying it for distribution to consumers at the same nominal voltage throughout between active and neutral conductors; "U" means the nominal voltage of an electric line; "underground line" means an electric line which is placed under the ground, and includes any part of the line that is above the ground. (2) A reference to "its" in these Regulations is to be read as including a reference to "his or hers", unless the context otherwise requires. r. 5 -- 8 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 7 6. Application of Regulations (1) These Regulations apply to all electric lines, plant and equipment of a Network Operator, except electric lines, plant and equipment— (a) that are contained within a mine and for use within the mine; or (b) that form part of an electrical installation which is located on land, other than public land (as defined in section 58 of the Act), where the person responsible for the electrical installation owns or leases the land, or has rights over the land pursuant to an easement under section 12(2) of the Subdivision Act 1988, for the purposes of the supply of electricity to a subdivision. (2) Sub-regulation (1) is not intended to restrict the application of regulation 9. (3) In this regulation— "mine" means any part of the land on which mining is being carried out under a mining licence issued under the Mineral Resources Development Act 1990. 7. Application for exemptions 3 (1) The chief electrical inspector may, on application made to him or her in writing, exempt a Network Operator from any provision of these Regulations, with or without conditions. (2) Every application must be accompanied by— (a) a detailed statement of the reasons the exemption is sought; and (b) a statement from the Network Operator that granting the exemption would not lead to a significant decrease in electrical safety. r. 6 -- 9 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 8 (3) A Network Operator must comply with any conditions of an exemption granted under sub- regulation (1). Penalty: 10 penalty units. _______________ r. 7 -- 10 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 9 PART 2—GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 8. Duties of Network Operator A Network Operator must— (a) take reasonable care to ensure that every part of its circuits function in a manner that avoids injury to any person or damage to any property; and (b) ensure that each active conductor of any of its— (i) high voltage electric lines; or (ii) other high voltage equipment— is protected by an automatic disconnecting device; and (c) ensure that all its supply networks are earthed; and (d) ensure that the point at which each of its supply networks is earthed is located so as to permit the connection of devices for protecting the network against earth faults; and (e) maintain all its electrical equipment in a condition that is not likely to cause death or injury to any person or damage to any property. Penalty: 75 penalty units. 9. Incidents to be reported (1) If as a result of any incident of an electrical nature— (a) any person— r. 8 -- 11 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 10 (i) is killed; or (ii) is injured; or (iii) receives medical attention; or (iv) appears likely to require the immediate attention of a medical practitioner; or (v) receives an electric shock as a result of contact with any live high voltage line, equipment or apparatus used for the generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electricity; or (b) serious property damage or a serious reduction in the level of public safety has occurred or is likely to occur— a person to whom this sub-regulation applies must immediately report all of the details within their knowledge regarding the incident to the chief electrical inspector. Penalty: 50 penalty units. (2) Sub-regulation (1) applies to— (a) the Network Operator within whose area of generation, transmission, distribution or supply the incident occurs; and (b) the Network Operator who owns the assets involved in the incident; and (c) any fire control authority attending the incident. (3) If any person— (a) makes accidental contact with any live high voltage line, equipment or apparatus used for the generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electricity; or r. 9 -- 12 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 11 (b) receives an electric shock as a result of direct or indirect contact with any of the assets of a Network Operator or an electrical installation— a person to whom this sub-regulation applies must report all of the details within their knowledge regarding the incident to the chief electrical inspector within one month of the incident. Penalty: 50 penalty units. (4) Sub-regulation (3) applies to— (a) the Network Operator within whose area of generation, transmission, distribution or supply the incident occurs; and (b) the Network Operator who owns the assets involved in the incident. (5) A fire control authority investigating any fire of an electrical nature must report all of the details within the knowledge of the fire control authority to the chief electrical inspector within one month of the end of the investigation. Penalty: 50 penalty units. (6) In this regulation— "fire control authority" means— (a) the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board, if within a metropolitan fire district; (b) the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, if within a national park, state forest or protected public land; r. 9 -- 13 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 12 (c) the Country Fire Authority if the area is within the country area of Victoria within the meaning of the Country Fire Authority Act 1958. 10. Audit (1) A Network Operator must have a plan which incorporates a requirement to test, inspect and maintain the Network Operator's assets to ensure that the requirements of these Regulations are met. Penalty: 75 penalty units. (2) A Network Operator must give to the chief electrical inspector any information that the chief electrical inspector requests in writing concerning the Network Operator's testing, inspection and maintenance procedures and the results of those procedures and must comply with the request within 14 business days of the request. Penalty: 75 penalty units. (3) The chief electrical inspector may undertake independent audits of the procedures used and information provided to monitor compliance with these Regulations and to assess electrical safety performance. 11. Obligations on Network Operators concerning underground line (1) A Network Operator must maintain a record of all underground lines under the control of the Network Operator. Penalty: 75 penalty units. (2) A Network Operator (other than the Public Transport Corporation) who owns an underground line within a distribution area must, before energising the line or within 2 business days of r. 10 -- 14 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 13 relocating the line, give the responsible person sufficient information to enable every cable of the line to be located and identified. Penalty: 75 penalty units. (3) The responsible person must issue to the Network Operator, on receipt of information under sub- regulation (2), confirmation of the receipt of the information. (4) In the case of an underground line that is energised at the time that these Regulations come into operation, the Network Operator who owns the line must give the responsible person the records required under sub-regulation (1) within 6 months of the date on which these Regulations come into operation. Penalty: 75 penalty units. (5) Sub-regulation (4) does not apply to the Public Transport Corporation. (6) The Public Transport Corporation must keep a register containing details sufficient to enable every cable of all underground lines that are under the control of the Corporation to be located and identified. (7) The Public Transport Corporation must ensure that the information recorded under sub-regulation (6) is available to the public during normal business hours. (8) In this regulation and in regulation 12— "distribution area" means the area defined under a distribution company's distribution licence issued under the Electricity Industry Act 1993; r. 11 -- 15 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 14 "responsible person" means— (a) the asset recording service specified in relation to a distribution area, or part of a distribution area, by the chief electrical inspector; or (b) if no service has been specified, the distribution company in whose area the line is situated. 12. Obligations on distribution companies concerning underground lines (1) A distribution company must keep a register containing details sufficient to enable every cable of all underground lines that are under its control within its distribution area to be located and identified. Penalty: 75 penalty units. (2) The distribution company must also record in the register any information that is given to it under regulation 11(2) within 7 business days of receiving that information. Penalty: 50 penalty units. (3) The distribution company must ensure that the information received under regulation 11(2) and recorded under sub-regulation (1) is available to the public during normal business hours. Penalty: 50 penalty units. _______________ r. 12 r. 12 -- 16 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 15 PART 3—STANDARDISATION OF SUPPLY NETWORKS 13. Standard Networks (1) A Network Operator (other than the Public Transport Corporation) must ensure that all supply networks coming into operation after the date of the commencement of these Regulations are designed and constructed to provide electricity consumers with a standard network for the supply of electricity. Penalty: 50 penalty units. (2) In this regulation— "standard network" means a network that complies with AS 2926-1987 with regard to the operating characteristics of that network. _______________ r. 13 -- 17 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 16 PART 4—NETWORK ASSETS (OBLIGATIONS OF NETWORK OPERATORS) 14. Design, construction, operation and maintenance (1) A Network Operator of any supply network comprised of— (a) aerial lines; or (b) service lines; or (c) underground lines; or (d) underground service lines; or (e) substations (including generators); or (f) equipment and metering— must design, construct, operate and maintain the supply network with reasonable care to avoid injury to any person or damage to any property. Penalty: 75 penalty units. (2) Without intending to limit sub-regulation (1), the Network Operator must ensure that— (a) the safety clearances set out for— (i) aerial lines and service lines in section 1.2.9(1), (2), (3), (4) and (7) of the Code; and (ii) underground lines and service lines in sections 2.3.2 and 2.3.3 of the Code; and (iii) substations in sections 3.2.5(3), 3.2.6(3) and 3.2.7(c) and (d) of the Code— are maintained at all times with respect to the supply network; and r. 14 -- 18 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 17 (b) that all precautions necessary are taken to prevent unauthorised access to the network; and (c) that warning notices prohibiting the entry of unauthorised people are located at all entrances to substation buildings and compounds of the network; and (d) that the assets of the network do not cause fire. Penalty: 75 penalty units. 15. Earthing and electrical protection (1) A Network Operator of any supply network must ensure that the earthing and protection systems of the network, including the network's conductors, fittings and equipment are designed, installed, operated and maintained with reasonable care to avoid injury to any person or damage to any property. (2) Without intending to limit sub-regulation (1), the Network Operator must have adequate measures in place for— (a) the isolation of abnormal electrical conditions likely to cause damage or risk to people, property or assets; and (b) the management of step and touch voltages near assets associated with the circuit in accordance with section 4.2.7 of the Code; and (c) the isolation of abnormal electrical conditions likely to cause damage to low voltage overhead and underground services in accordance with sections 4.2.6 (1), (2) and (3) of the Code. Penalty: 75 penalty units. r. 15 -- 19 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 18 16. Earthing of low voltage electrical systems of supply A Network Operator of any low voltage system of supply must ensure that the system is earthed by means of— (a) a multiple earthed neutral system installed and maintained in accordance with section 4.2.4(2) of the Code; or (b) a method approved by the chief electrical inspector. Penalty: 75 penalty units. 17. Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Code 1996 The Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Code 1996 may be used as a guide by a court in determining whether a person is in breach of a provision of these Regulations. _______________ r. 16 -- 20 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 19 PART 5—NETWORK ASSETS (PUBLIC SAFETY) 18. Sporting activities A person must not throw, hit, kick, launch, discharge, fire or project, or cause to be thrown, hit, kicked, launched, discharged, fired or projected, any object— (a) with intent to strike; or (b) if there is significant risk that the object will strike— any exposed equipment which is necessary or incidental to the generation, transmission or distribution of electricity or any electric light or electric line. Penalty: 10 penalty units. 19. Aircraft A person must not, without the written permission of the Network Operator, fly, launch or release any kite, aeroplane, glider, balloon, parachute, model aeroplane or model glider, so that it will, in the course of its intended flight, or in any circumstances which could reasonably be predicted or anticipated, come within 45 metres of any overhead electric line or other exposed electrical equipment of a Network Operator. Penalty: 10 penalty units. 20. Entangled objects A person must not, without the written permission of the Network Operator, pull or interfere with any kite, string, appendage, wire or similar object resting on or entangled in any electric line or electrical equipment unless the action is reasonably necessary to prevent or reduce injury to a person or damage to property. r. 18 -- 21 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 20 Penalty: 10 penalty units. 21. Blasting and fires A person must not, without the written permission of the Network Operator— (a) blast or cause blasting to be done; or (b) light or cause to be lit or allow to remain alight any fire; or (c) install equipment or operate processes likely to create an explosive atmosphere— in the vicinity of any assets of the Network Operator in such a manner that the assets are likely to be damaged or an explosion is likely to occur. Penalty: 50 penalty units. 22. Protection of underground assets from damage A person must not, without the written permission of the Network Operator— (a) place or maintain, or cause to be placed or maintained, any corrosive, abrasive, heavy or deleterious material or substance above any underground line of a Network Operator so as to cause damage or be likely to cause damage to the underground line; or (b) make any opening in the ground, road, footpath or other such surface so as to endanger any underground line of the Network Operator. Penalty: if the person is a corporation, 100 penalty units; in any other case, 50 penalty units. r. 21 -- 22 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 21 23. Excavating and altering levels A person must not, without the written permission of the Network Operator— (a) cut away, excavate or remove or cause to be cut away, excavated or removed, any earth or material supporting assets of a Network Operator so as to endanger the stability of the assets; or (b) make any excavation deeper than 900mm within 15000mm of, or deeper than 300mm within 1500mm of, any tower or tower structure supporting any electric line or equipment of a Network Operator; or (c) make an excavation deeper than 1800mm within 3000mm of, or deeper than 900mm within 1500mm of— (i) any other pole, structure or standard supporting any electric line or equipment of a Network Operator; or (ii) any pole or bed log to which is affixed a staywire used for the support of the electric line or equipment; or (d) make an excavation deeper than 300mm within 600mm of any wall, fence or foundation of a substation; or (e) place any soil, stone, rock or filling or construct any artificial surface above ground level below a Network Operator's electric line or within the vertical projection of any points to which any conductor of the line may sway, in a manner to alter the level of the ground at any place so as to infringe any permissible clearance in these Regulations for that line; or r. 23 -- 23 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 22 (f) place any soil, stone, rock or filling or construct any artificial surface above ground level adjacent to a Network Operator's assets in a manner to alter the level of the ground at any place so as to infringe any permissible clearance in these Regulations. Penalty: 50 penalty units. 24. Clearances from structures and equipment (1) In this regulation— "other cable systems" means— (a) telecommunication and control cables; or (b) aerial earthed cables; or (c) electrolysis drainage cables— attached to Network Operators' structures carrying a supply network, or, that are in the vicinity of a Network Operator's supply network. (2) A person must not, without the written permission of the Network Operator— (a) build, erect or maintain any structure (including any scaffolding, building or post) closer than the relevant distances in Table A from any point to which an electric line, service line or other cable system may swing or sag; or r. 24 -- 24 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 23 TABLE A Buildings and structures Other cable systems service lines and U < 1kV U>1kV U <33kV U >33kV U < 132kV U >132kV U < 220kV U > 220kV U < 330kV U > 330kV U < 500kV mm mm mm mm mm mm (i) Vertically above those parts of a structure normally accessible to pedestrians 3700 4600 4600 6800 8000 9800 (ii) Vertically above those parts of a structure not normally accessible but on which a person can stand 2700 3700 4600 6000 7000 8000 (iii) In any direction from those parts of a structure not normally accessible to pedestrians 600 2700 3000 3700 4700 6400 (iv) In any direction from those parts of a structure normally accessible to pedestrians, windows openings and balconies 1500 2700 3000 4600 5500 6400 (v) In any direction from a footbridge 4600 4600 4600 6800 8000 9800 (b) place or maintain — (i) any material within the relevant distances in Table B of any point to r. 24 -- 25 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 24 which a part of an electric line, service line or other cable system may swing or sag; or (ii) any timber or inflammable material within the relevant distances in Table B of any point to which a part of an electric line, service line or other cable system may swing or sag; or TABLE B Other cable systems, service lines and U < 1kV U >1kV U < 33kV U >33kV U < 132kV U > 132kV U < 220kV U > 220kV U < 330kV U > 330kV U < 500kV mm mm mm mm mm mm (i) Any material— Horizontal distances 1500 2100 3000 4600 5500 6400 Vertical distances 3700 4600 4600 6800 8000 9800 (ii) Inflammable materials— Horizontal Distances 3000 3000 3000 4600 5500 6400 (c) operate a crane, backhoe, post hole digger, excavator or other machine or vehicle equipped with an elevating component or shear legs or water borne vessel so that any part of the vehicle or vessel or its load comes within the distances in Table C of any point to which a part of an electric line, service line or other cable system may swing or sag; or TABLE C Other cable systems, service lines and U < 66 000 volts U > 66 000 volts mm mm Vertical distances 2000 6000 r. 24 -- 26 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 25 Horizontal distances 2000 6000 (d) erect or maintain conductors of circuits, or other cable systems, attached to the structure of a Network Operator; or (e) erect or maintain conductors of circuits, or other cable system, which cross the circuit of an electric line, or other cable systems, belonging to a Network Operator unless clearances in excess of those contained in Table D can be maintained; or TABLE D Between structures Upper circuit Lower circuit Attached to a common structure No wind condition Wind condition mm mm mm (i) LV aerial line Private electric line (LV) and other cable systems 900 Not permitted Not permitted (ii) LV aerial line LV aerial line 380 600 380 (iii) Aerial lines U > 1kV U < 11kV Private electric line (LV) and other cable systems 1800 Not permitted Not permitted (iv) Aerial lines U > 1kV U < 11kV LV aerial line or aerial lines < 11kV 1200 1200 600 (v) Aerial lines U > 11kV U < 33kV Private electric line (LV) and other cable systems 1800 Not permitted Not permitted (vi) Aerial lines U > 11kV U < 33kV LV Aerial line or aerial lines < 33kV 1200 1200 750 (vii) Aerial lines U > 33kV U < 66kV Private electric line (LV) and other cable systems 2400 Not permitted Not permitted r. 24 -- 27 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 26 (viii) Aerial lines U > 33kV U < 66kV LV aerial line or aerial lines < 66kV 1800 1800 1200 Notes relating to Table D— (1) Any combination of circuits not shown in Table D is not permitted. (2) For the purpose of Table D— (a) no wind condition refers to— (i) undercrossing conductors at 15 oC with no wind blowing; or (ii) overcrossing conductors at maximum design temperature with no wind blowing; and (b) wind condition refers to— (i) undercrossing conductors at 15 oC, and displaced by a 500Pa horizontal wind at right angles to the undercrossing conductors; or (ii) overcrossing conductors at maximum design temperature and not displaced by wind. (f) erect a circuit or other cable system unless the clearance in any direction from such circuit or other cable system to a structure of a Network Operator, not supporting the circuit or other cables system is greater than that shown in Table E. Penalty: 50 penalty units TABLE E— Clearance any direction Other cable system and U < 1kV insulated conductor U < 1kV bare conductor U > 1kV U < 33kV insulated conductor U > 1kV U < 33kV bare conductor U>3kV U<132kV U>132kV U<220kV U>220kV U<330kV U>330kV U<500kV r. 24 -- 28 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 27 mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm 100 1500 1500 2100 3000 4500 5000 6000 -- 29 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 28 25. Placing materials A person must not, without the written permission of the Network Operator— (a) place or maintain any timber or inflammable material within 3000mm in any direction of a wall or fence of any substation, switch yard or other assets of the Network Operator; (b) place or maintain any material that will impede access to any door, gate or entrance of any substation or switch yard of the Network Operator or interfere in any way with the free flow of air through any openings or fittings used for ventilation in the walls of such substations or switch yards; (c) place or maintain any material adjacent to a wall or fence of any substation, switchyard or other assets of the Network Operator so as to enable unauthorised access to that substation, switchyard or other assets. Penalty: 50 penalty units. 26. Transportation (1) A person who transports anything in the vicinity of a Network Operator's electric line or overhead assets must ensure that— (a) at all times during the transportation the distance between the load transported and the Network Operator's electric lines and overhead assets exceeds the minimum distances prescribed in Table F; r. 25 -- 30 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 29 TABLE F Other cable system and U < 1kV insulated conductor U <132kV except for U < 1kV insulated conductors U > 132kV U < 220kV U > 220kV U < 330kV U > 330kV U < 500kV mm mm mm mm mm (i) vertical distances 300 1500 3700 4700 6400 (ii) horizontal distances 300 1500 4600 5500 6400 (b) arrangements satisfactory to the Network Operator including, where necessary, the provision of an escort, the de-energising of electric lines and overhead assets and any other action to ensure the safety of people, property and assets have been made before, and are observed during, the transportation. 4 Penalty: 50 penalty units. (2) A person intending to rely on sub-regulation (1)(b) must give to the Network Operator at least 7 days before the commencement of the transportation a written notice of intention to undertake the transportation that states— (a) the nature of the vehicle and the load; and (b) the height of the load; and (c) the date and the time of the proposed movement; and (d) the starting point and finishing point of the transportation; and (e) the proposed route; and (f) the name and contact address of the transport operator; and (g) any other particulars which the Network Operator may in the circumstances require. Penalty: 50 penalty units. r. 26 -- 31 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 30 27. Tree clearing (1) A person, other than an authorised person, must not, without written permission from the Network Operator, cut or clear any tree or part of a tree or any vegetation unless— (a) the tree or part of the tree or the vegetation, in falling, will be too short to encroach on the clearances stated in regulation 24(2)(c); or (b) effective precautions have been taken to prevent the tree or the part of the tree or the vegetation from encroaching on the clearances stated in regulation 24(2)(c). Penalty: 10 penalty units. (2) In this regulation— "authorised person" means a person who holds a current certificate certifying satisfactory completion of a training course, approved by the chief electrical inspector, relating to tree clearing by non-electrical personnel. 28. Damage and interference (1) A person must not, without the written permission of the Network Operator, damage, deface or interfere with— (a) any assets of the Network Operator; or (b) a seal or lock protecting or affixed to apparatus or any other equipment of the Network Operator; or (c) a notice or sign erected by the Network Operator— so as to, or be likely to, result in injury to any person or damage to any property. Penalty: 50 penalty units. r. 27 -- 32 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 31 (2) A person must not, without the written permission of the Network Operator, place or cause to be placed on any part of any assets of a Network Operator any board or sign in a manner which results in injury to any person or damage to any property or is likely to result in injury to any person or damage to any property. Penalty: 10 penalty units. 29. Permits, conditions, revocation (1) In granting a person permission under this Part, a Network Operator may impose any conditions the Network Operator thinks fit which are consistent with the protection of people and property and the protection of or prevention of any interference with any operations, assets, stores or electric lines of the Network Operator. (2) A Network Operator may at any time revoke any permission granted by it under this Part, but the revocation does not affect the previous lawful exercise of the permission. Table of applied, incorporated or adopted matter Statutory Rule provision Title of applied, adopted or incorporated document Matter in applied, adopted or incorporated document Regulation 13(2) Australian Standard AS 2926 1987 whole document Regulation 14(2)(a)(i) Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Code 1996 Sections 1.2.9(1), (2), (3), (4), (6) Regulation 14(2)(a)(ii) Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Code 1996 Australian Standard AS 3600 1994 Australian Standard AS 1012.9 1986 Sections 2.3.2 & 2.3.3 section 6.1.1.1 whole document r. 29 -- 33 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 32 Statutory Rule provision Title of applied, adopted or incorporated document Matter in applied, adopted or incorporated document Regulation 14(2)(a)(iii) Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Code 1996 Building Code of Australia Sections 3.2.5(3); 3.2.6(3); 3.2.7(c) & (d) Section C Regulation 15(2)(b) Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Code 1996 ESAA Guidelines for the Design and Maintenance of Overhead Distribution and Transmission Lines C(b)1 1991 Section 4.2.7 Clause 12 Regulation 15(2)(c) Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Code 1996 Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2053 (series) 1995 Australian Standard AS 1074 1989 Australian Standard AS 3116 1996 Australian Standard AS 3147 1992 Australian Standard AS 3198 1996 Section 4.2.6(1), (2) & (3) whole document whole document whole document whole document whole document Regulation 16(1) Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Code 1996 Australian Standard AS 3000 1991 Section 4.2.4(2) section 5 Regulation 17 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Code 1996 whole document ═══════════════ r. 29 -- 34 of 35 -- S.R. No. 5/1997 Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1997 33 NOTES 1 S.R. No. 260/1988. 2 S.R. No. 242/1988. 3 Application for Exemption Any such exemption granted applies only to the particular case for which application is made unless indicated otherwise and it is not an indication that any future application will be granted. 4 Transportation costs The person undertaking the transportation may be liable for all costs incurred by the Network Operator as a result of transportation. Notes -- 35 of 35 --