Starting this week, Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) has the power to issue fines to Victorian electricity companies and councils that do not keep trees safely clear of powerlines.

Contact between trees and powerlines can result in fires, electrocutions and power outages, which can result in serious property damage, network outages and in serious cases injury and even loss of life.

To avoid risk, electricity companies (responsible for powerlines on private land and regional public land) and councils (urban public land) are responsible for maintaining trees within safe distances under the Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Regulations 2020.

ESV’s previous powers to take enforcement action against electricity companies and councils for line clearance breaches were limited to issuing warnings or notices to take corrective action or prosecution through the court system.

As of Friday, 1 July, ESV has the power to issue a fine worth 25 penalty units or $4,623 for each line clearance breach. In applying this new enforcement tool, ESV’s focus will be risk-based with fines being issued in situations where a line clearance breach is seriously impacting the safety of people or property.

For situations of widespread non-compliance or where serious harm or property damage has occurred ESV may still seek to prosecute in accordance with its Compliance and Enforcement Policy and Prosecution Guidelines.

More than 1,100 power outages are caused by trees touching powerlines occur in Victoria each year, affecting 400,000 residences and businesses.