PRIVATELYOWNED POWER POLES AND POWERLINES

Transcription

1 PRIVATELYOWNED POWER POLES AND POWERLINES

2 Privately-owned power poles and powerlines Privately-owned power poles and overhead powerlines must be properly maintained to ensure that they do not pose a serious bushfire hazard or a significant electrical safety hazard to your property, the broader community and Essential Energy s employees. What are Essential Energy s responsibilities? Provisions under the Electricity Supply Act 1995 and Electricity Supply (Safety and Network Management) Regulation 2014 allow Essential Energy s asset inspectors to access your property to undertake regular ground-based patrols of your privately-owned power poles and overhead powerlines. The inspectors also complete a visual above-ground inspection of private poles and overhead powerlines. Essential Energy generally does not inspect privatelyowned sub-mains the low voltage overhead powerlines that extend beyond your main switchboard or metering unit. We may inspect some sub-mains beyond the main switchboard or metering unit that are in a continuous overhead line from Essential Energy service mains, or aerial consumer mains that are visually obvious to the inspector. If a defect is identified, Essential Energy will send you notification of the work required to rectify this and the timeframe in which it must be done. Essential Energy can disconnect part or all of the installation if an unsafe situation is detected and not rectified in a timely manner. Essential Energy can also complete defects within a Bushfire Prone area and recover costs. What are your responsibilities? As the property owner, you are responsible for inspection, safe maintenance and operation of all power poles and powerlines between the first point of connection on your property to the switchboard or meter and those that extend into your property. The inspections you arrange should also include any sub-mains on the property that may provide power supply to a pump or a shed. The following six diagrams show typical privately-owned powerline configurations.

3 A Example 1 Dedicated low voltage (LV) overhead (OH) supply from street mains Customer A - Dedicated OH line supplied from the street mains. Essential Energy will inspect and maintain the service from the distribution mains located on the street to the first lead in pole inside the boundary (green line). We will inspect the line to the (MSB) and Customer A will maintain the first lead in pole and the aerial consumer mains beyond (purple line). The demarcation point is the first lead in pole as per the NSW Service and Installation Rules. Example 2 A B Dedicated LV OH supply from street mains with shared assets on private land Customer A and B - Dedicated LV OH line supplied from street mains but has a pole on private land that supplies a neighbouring property. Essential Energy will inspect and maintain the shared assets (green line). We will also inspect the poles to the MSB but it is the customer s responsibility to maintain the first pole after the shared assets and thereafter (purple line).

4 Example 3 A Consumer Distribution Consumer Distribution B Essential Energy Network Substation Pole LV OH lines and poles supplied from high voltage (HV) assets on private land - OH LV poles and lines beyond a MSB Customer A - There is a centralised MSB with sub-main protection to the house and shed. Essential Energy will inspect and maintain the line from the transformer to the centralised MSB (blue line). We will inspect the aerial sub-mains from the MSB to the Consumer Distribution as the LV network beyond the MSB is continuously connected to our network but, it is the customer s responsibility for maintenance on this line (yellow line). The aerial sub-mains that are supplied from the shed down to the dam pump will not be inspected by us and it is the responsibility of the customer to inspect and maintain these assets, as they are not continuously connected (red line). Customer B - This line, which does not cross public land, is supplied from a transformer on private land. The line that is on the neighbouring property and crosses the boundary is the Essential Energy distribution or service mains and is inspected and maintained by us. The first dedicated pole inside the property will also be inspected and maintained by us up until the MSB.

5 Example 4 A Essential Energy Network Substation Pole Central Metering Point LV OH lines and poles supplied from HV assets on private land - OH LV poles and lines before a MSB including Central Metering Point LV OH line is supplied from an Essential Energy network substation pole located on the customer s property. Customer A - In this case there is a central metering point without any sub-main protection. There is a MSB with sub-- main protection on the house and shed. Essential Energy will inspect and maintain the line from the transformer to the MSB including the centralised metering point (blue line). The aerial sub-mains that are supplied from the shed down to the dam pump will not be inspected by us and it is the responsibility of the customer to inspect and maintain these assets (red line).

6 Example 5 Central Metering Point A B Network Substation Pole C LV OH lines and poles supplied from HV assets on private land - OH LV poles and lines before a MSB including Central Metering Point and OH LV lines that cross public land LV OH line is supplied from an Essential Energy network substation pole located on the customer s property. Customer A - In this case there is a central metering point without any sub-main protection. There is a MSB with submain protection on the house and shed. Essential Energy will inspect and maintain the line from the transformer to the MSBs including the centralised metering point (blue line). The aerial sub-mains that are supplied from the shed down to the dam pump will not be inspected by us and it is the responsibility of the customer to inspect and maintain these assets (red line). Customer B - This line, which does not cross public land, is supplied from a transformer on private land. The line that is on the neighbouring property and crosses the boundary is the Essential Energy distribution or service mains and is inspected and maintained by us. The first dedicated pole inside the property will also be inspected and maintained by us up until the MSB. Customer C - The line is supplied from a transformer that is on private land but, in this case, it crosses public boundary and becomes a dedicated line supplying this customer. We will inspect all poles on this property, including the aerial consumer mains (purple line) and continuously connected aerial sub-main (yellow line). The customer is responsible for maintenance on the first pole within the boundary, including the aerial consumer main to the MSB (purple line). The customer is also responsible for maintenance on the aerial sub-mains that are continuously connected (yellow line).

7 Example 6 Network Substation Pole Consumer Distribution Network Substation Pole Low voltage lines (public amenity areas) Showground - The network substation pole supplying the customer is on private land. Essential Energy will inspect and maintain the assets up to the MSB (blue line). The aerial sub-mains that are beneath the Essential Energy mains are inspected and maintained by us (blue line). The aerial sub-mains that are stand-alone but continuously connect to our assets are inspected by us and maintained by the customer (yellow line). The underground mains that supply the aerial sub-main for the lights around the jockey track are not continuously connected (red line). Therefore, these poles will not be inspected by us and it is the responsibility of the customer to inspect and maintain these assets. Caravan park - The transformer supplying the caravan park is not on private land. It is a dedicated OH LV line supplied from the street mains. Essential Energy will maintain the service from the distribution mains located on the street to the first lead in pole inside the boundary (green line). The caravan park will maintain the first lead in pole, the aerial consumer mains (purple line) to the MSB and the continuously connected aerial sub-mains (yellow line). We will inspect the aerial consumer mains and the continuously connected aerial sub-mains.

8 Legend for private poles example diagrams High voltage Essential Energy distribution mains. Essential Energy inspected and labelled as an Essential Energy pole with a NP prefix. Essential Energy maintained. Low voltage Essential Energy distribution/service mains. Essential Energy inspected and labelled as an Essential Energy pole with a NP prefix. Essential Energy maintained. Low voltage Essential Energy distribution/service mains. Essential Energy inspected and labelled as an Essential Energy pole with a NP prefix. Essential Energy maintained. Low voltage customer consumer mains upstream of the (MSB). Essential Energy inspected, private asset (in rural area the poles are labelled with a PP prefix and in an urban area the poles are typically unlabelled). Customer maintained via electrical contractor. Low voltage customer sub-mains (mains beyond the MSB) that are continuously connected to overhead consumers mains or service mains. Essential Energy inspected and labelled as a private pole with a PP prefix. Customer maintained via electrical contractor. Low voltage customer sub-mains (mains beyond the MSB) that are not continuously connected to overhead consumers mains or service mains (typically supplied from underground cable or go through building). Customer inspected, no label and customer maintained via electrical contractor. You must ensure that the network components you own are safe and properly maintained. Essential Energy expects you to organise your own regular inspections: > annually, before each bushfire season > after major storms, or > if you suspect any damage. This may include: > organising a licenced electrician to regularly inspect, maintain and, where necessary, promptly repair electricity equipment including power poles, wires and pole-top fittings on your property, and/or > engaging a qualified tree trimming contractor to maintain safe clearances between trees and power poles or powerlines. How will I know if there are defects on my network assets? The qualified professionals you engage will advise you of any issues and appropriate rectification procedures.

9 Additionally, if our asset inspectors or field staff identify any hazards or defects associated with your private power poles or overhead powerlines, we will send you notification of the work required to rectify this and the timeframe in which it must be done. What typically results in a defect notice? Defect notices for overhead consumers mains often relate to trees or branches growing too close to your privately-owned power poles and powerlines, frayed wires or other faults on your installation, or alterations or additions to existing connections which do not meet the necessary safety standards. Power poles in poor condition and at risk of collapse may also be identified in a defect notice. You must notify us in writing when all identified defects have been rectified. What are a property tenant s or manager s responsibilities? If you are a tenant or manager, you should notify the property owner or rental agency immediately if you think that a power pole or powerline on the property requires maintenance or repair. You should also forward any defect notices to the property owner or the rental agency as soon as possible, and follow up until the matter is resolved. Please contact Essential Energy on if you are unable to contact the property owner or rental agency, or if the property owner or rental agency does not take prompt action to ensure the pole or powerline is restored to safe, serviceable condition. For more information contact Essential Energy at Website: essentialenergy.com.au/privateassets Phone: privateassets@essentialenergy.com.au

10 CHECK FOR HAZARDS Private poles and overhead powerlines should be regularly inspected and properly maintained by qualified contractors. If you notice any of these common defects you will need to organise repairs or tree trimming as soon as possible. For full details on planting guidelines and clearance distances, visit our website at essentialenergy.com.au/trees Trees near powerlines Vegetation growing inside the minimum safe clearance is more likely to come into contact with live powerlines and interrupt supply or start a bushfire. Clashing powerlines Powerlines that clash in high winds can spark and produce molten fragments, which may cause bushfires. Slack wires Powerlines or wires hanging too low can clash and lead to bushfires. Low wires may also breach the minimum height safety requirements. Rotting poles All poles should be inspected above and below the ground for deterioration. Rotting or rusting below ground can cause poles to lean or fall down. Split poles Split or damaged poles can fail and break in storm conditions or over time.

11 Rusting poles Metal poles should be checked for rust above and below the ground. Any unsafe poles must be replaced by a licensed electrical contractor. Damaged wires If insulation is missing or damaged, the wire may be live and contact could be fatal. Damaged wires must be replaced. Damaged crossarms Over time, crossarms may deteriorate, split or become loose, leaving powerlines at risk of sagging, clashing or falling down. Damaged fittings Pole fittings and attachments that are loose, frayed or deteriorating are a serious safety and bushfire risk. Leaning poles Poles which lean excessively can cause wires to clash and powerlines to fall. Termite damage Termite damage can severely degrade the structural integrity of a pole. All termite-infested poles need to be treated by a registered pest controller. Damaged poles Damaged poles can fail and break in storm conditions or over time. A qualified contractor should check whether the pole should be replaced.

12 A list of Accredited Service Providers is available by searching contestable works at resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au or by contacting Service NSW by phone on or via IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: Always stay at least eight metres away from a fallen powerline, objects in contact with wires, or a low hanging powerline. Do not touch the line or object in contact with it. Always assume it is live and report any immediate safety hazards on the electricity network or privatelyowned poles and powerlines on as soon as possible. Also stay away from anything that may be in contact with the line, such as fences or trees, as they are conductors of electricity. Be aware that electricity can arc to surrounding objects and you if you are too close. You can be seriously injured without touching the powerline. For more safety information visit essentialenergy.com.au/safety General enquiries Power outages essentialenergy.com.au EssentialEnergyAU essentialenergy