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Report of the Technical Regulator

This is the annual report of the Technical Regulator under the Electricity Act 1996 and the Energy Products

(Safety and Efficiency) Act 2000 (the Acts). It describes the operations of the Technical Regulator for the

financial year 2015/16 as required by sections 14 and 25 of the Acts respectively. These sections require

the Minister to cause a copy of the report to be laid before both houses of Parliament within 12 sitting days

after the receipt of the report.

The Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Act 2000, in section 3 defines an “energy product” to include

“an appliance powered by an energy source other than electricity or gas (such as solar, wind or water) or a

component of such an appliance”. This was inserted into this act as an efficiency measure and not for

safety reasons, and is not regulated by the Technical Regulator.

The Technical Regulator is a statutory office established by Section 7 of the Electricity Act 1996. Robert

Faunt has held this office since he was appointed as the Technical Regulator under the Electricity Act 1996

on 28 February 2003.

Technical Regulator: Robert Faunt

Address: Level 8, ANZ Building

11 Waymouth Street

Adelaide 5000

Postal Address: GPO Box 320

Adelaide SA 5001

Telephone: (08) 8226 5500

Facsimile: (08) 8226 5529

Office Hours: 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday

(except public holidays)

Website: www.sa.gov.au/otr

Email: [email protected]

ISSN: 1832-8687

Front Cover Photos: Top: OTR engineer measures powerline clearances

Middle: ElectraNet High Voltage Electricity transmission tower

Bottom: New Solar PV installation audited by the OTR

Inside Photos: Quarantine Power Station (page 6), courtesy of Origin Energy

Asset maintenance (page 10), courtesy of SA Power Networks

Damaged infrastructure (page 12), courtesy of SA Power Networks

Note: All photographs in this report have been used with the permission of the relevant provider.

iii

Preface

This report covers the Technical Regulator’s operations under the Electricity Act 1996 and the Technical

Regulator’s administration of the Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Act 2000 for the financial year

ending 30 June 2016.

Electricity Act 1996

Section 3 of the Electricity Act 1996 states that:

“The objects of this Act are—

(a) to promote efficiency and competition in the electricity supply industry; and

(b) to promote the establishment and maintenance of a safe and efficient system of electricity generation, transmission, distribution and supply; and

(c) to establish and enforce proper standards of safety, reliability and quality in the electricity supply industry; and

(d) to establish and enforce proper safety and technical standards for electrical installations; and

(e) to protect the interests of consumers of electricity.”

Section 8 of the Act states that:

“The Technical Regulator has the following functions:

(a) the monitoring and regulation of safety and technical standards in the electricity supply industry; and

(b) the monitoring and regulation of safety and technical standards with respect to electrical installations; and

(c) the administration of the provisions of this Act relating to the clearance of vegetation from powerlines; and

(ca) the monitoring and investigation of major interruptions to the electricity supply in the State and the provision of reports relating to such interruptions in accordance with any requirements prescribed by the regulations; and

(d) any other functions prescribed by regulation or assigned to the Technical Regulator by or under this or any other Act.”

Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Act 2000

The Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Act 2000 makes provisions relating to the safety,

performance, energy efficiency and labelling of products powered by electricity, gas or some other energy

source.

Content

i

Report of the Technical Regulator ii

Preface iii

Content iv

Technical Regulator’s Commentary 1

The Office of the Technical Regulator 2

Section 1: Electrical Infrastructure 3

1.1. Electricity Supply 3 1.1.1. Purpose of the SRMTMP 3 1.1.2. Audits of Compliance 3

1.2. Audits by the Technical Regulator 4

1.2.1. SA Power Networks 4 1.2.2. Generator Audits 4

1.3. Ensuring Safety within the Electricity Supply Industry 5

1.4. Major Generators 6

1.5. Wind Generation 6

1.6. Transmission 6

1.6.1. ElectraNet’s Key Performance Indicators 7 1.6.2. Murraylink Transmission Company 8

1.7. Distribution 8

1.7.1. SA Power Networks Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) 10

1.8. Emergency Management 11

Section 2: Safety Clearances to Powerlines 12

2.1. Vegetation Clearance 12

2.1.1. Risks associated with Vegetation near Powerlines 12 2.1.2. Vegetation Clearance Objections 13 2.1.3. Vegetation Clearance Agreements 13 2.1.4. Exemption to Planting Restrictions 13

2.2. Building and Working Clearances 14 2.2.1. Risks associated with Buildings near Powerlines 14 2.2.2. Building Clearance Approvals 14 2.2.3. Equipment contacting overhead powerlines 15

Section 3: Electrical Installations 16

3.1. Targeted Audits 16

3.2. Major Events 18

3.3. Major Incidents/Investigations 18

3.3.1. Electrical accidents 19 3.3.2. Electrical fires 19

3.4. Shock Reports 19

3.5. Disciplinary action 20

3.5.1. Prosecutions 20 3.5.2. Expiations 20 3.5.3. Referral to the Office of Consumer and Business Services (CBS) 20

3.6. Communication and Education 20

3.6.1. ‘Roadshows’ and other Presentations 20 3.6.2. Displays and Trade Functions 21 3.6.3. Regulation Roundup 21 3.6.4. Technical Standards Committees 22

3.7. Electrical Installation Work Indicators 22

3.8. Electronic Certificates of Compliance (eCoC) Project 23

Section 4: Electrical Products 25

4.1. Role of the Technical Regulator 25

4.2. Product Safety 26

4.2.1. Product Approval 26 4.2.2. Product Approval Safety Process 26 4.2.3. Risks due to faulty or misused Products 28 4.2.4. Product Failures and Corrective Actions 30 4.2.5. Recall Notices 30 4.2.6. Stop Sales 31 4.2.7. Mutual Recognition 31

4.3. Product Energy Efficiency 32

4.4. Performance Indicators 32

4.4.1. Product Enquiries 32 4.4.2. Approval Figures for 2015/16 33 4.4.3. Actions on Products for 2015/16 33 4.4.4. Industry Communication 35

Section 5: Consumer Safety Awareness 36

5.1. Consumer Education 36

5.1.1. Increasing Consumer Awareness 36 5.1.2. Continuous Safety Promotion 36 5.1.3. Technical Regulator Website 36

5.2. Electrical Safety Survey 38

5.2.1. Objectives 38 5.2.2. Sample 38 5.2.3. Key Outcomes 38

Section 6: Regulatory Coordination 40

6.1. Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) 40

6.2. Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC) 41

6.3. Energy Industry Ombudsman 42

Operating Statement 43 Appendix 1:

6.4. Operating Statement for the year ended 30 June 2016 43

Personal Injury 44 Appendix 2:

Legislative Framework 45 Appendix 3:

Appendix 4: Risks associated with the electricity industry and the activities of the Technical Regulator 51

Products 52 Appendix 5:

Generators 54 Appendix 6:

Transmission 57 Appendix 7:

Distribution 59 Appendix 8:

Glossary and Abbreviations 61 Appendix 9:

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Technical Regulator’s Commentary

The major issues that arose from the Technical Regulator’s operations and administration in 2015/16 were:

Electrical Safety Performance and Fatalities

The primary objective of the Technical Regulator is to monitor and regulate the safety and technical

Standards across the whole energy supply chain. Minimising electricity related shocks, fatalities and

incidents remain the priority of the office.

It was therefore very pleasing to see that there were no electrical fatalities recorded in South Australia in

2015/16. This marks the first time in seven years that South Australia has achieved this excellent result. It

is a great reward for the efforts of our staff throughout the year in ensuring the safe supply and use of

electricity throughout the supply chain.

Electrical Installation Safety and Poor and Dangerous Work Practices

The above mentioned result is in no small part due to the ongoing work of the Office of the Technical Regulator

auditors who confirm, through sample audits and enforcement action, that electrical wiring has been properly

installed and is safe to operate. In the first instance, the OTR takes a collaborative approach with industry

providing education through presentations and advice on technical and regulatory changes.

In South Australia the electrical installation industry is largely self-regulated. A Certificate of Compliance

(COC) provided by an electrical worker and contractor provides assurance to the owner of the installation and

the network operator, as to the safety and compliance of the installation. In 2015/16 the Office of the Technical

Regulator commenced work on instituting an online system for lodgement of electronic versions of Certificates

of Compliance. Great progress has been made and I expect see the transition to electronic certificates take

shape in 2016/17.

Emergency Management and System Security

Due to the ongoing changes in the electricity generation market there are technical challenges that need to

be addressed by AEMO to ensure secure operation of the electricity system in South Australia. The Office

of the Technical Regulator and AEMO work together on many of these matters to protect the interests of

South Australian consumers.

Summary

The Office of the Technical Regulator continued to perform its functions well during the financial year

2015/16, making efficient use of limited resources.

All requirements of the legislation assigned to the Technical Regulator have been addressed throughout

the year within the resources allocated for this purpose.

Rob Faunt, Technical Regulator

September 2016

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The Office of the Technical Regulator

The roles and functions of the Technical Regulator within the electricity industry are established by the

Electricity Act 1996 and the Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Act 2000, (the Acts) together with the

associated Regulations.

The Technical Regulator is responsible to the South Australian Government for the safety and technical

performance of the electrical industry, to maximise the safety of the community. To fulfil this responsibility,

the Technical Regulator carries out an extensive range of activities, including monitoring electrical safety

and performance standards and enforcing the electrical industry’s compliance with these standards.

The staff of the Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) assist the Technical Regulator in carrying out the

Technical Regulator’s function under the Acts. In 2015/16 the OTR was budgeted 47.2 full time equivalent

(FTE) positions within the Energy Markets and Programs Division of the Department of State Development

(DSD). 30.8 FTE positions are assigned to the Electrical and Gas Branches of the Technical Regulator.

Administration and legal support are shared between the Electrical, Gas and Water branches.

The activities undertaken by the electrical infrastructure, electrical installations and electrical products

sections of the OTR are discussed in detail in this report.

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Section 1: Electrical Infrastructure

The Technical Regulator is responsible for the monitoring and regulation of safety and technical Standards

in the electricity supply industry to promote the establishment and maintenance of safe and efficient

electricity generation, transmission, distribution and supply systems, as stated in the Electricity Act 1996.

1.1. Electricity Supply A key licence requirement for electricity infrastructure entities (generators of electricity and operators of a

transmission or distribution network) under the Electricity Act 1996 is to prepare and periodically revise a

safety, reliability, maintenance and technical management plan (SRMTMP). The details to be included in

the SRMTMP are listed in Regulation 72(2) of the Electricity (General) Regulations 2012.

The Technical Regulator reviews an electrical entity’s SRMTMP and, where appropriate, makes

recommendations and comments to assist in refining it before recommending it for approval to the licensing

authority for the electricity supply industry, the Essential Services Commission of South Australia

(ESCOSA).

1.1.1. Purpose of the SRMTMP

The Technical Regulator aims to ensure the safety of electricity infrastructure. Section 60 of the Electricity

Act 1996 requires a person who owns or operates electricity infrastructure to take reasonable steps to

ensure that:

the infrastructure complies with and is operated in accordance with the technical and safety

requirements imposed under the regulations, and

the infrastructure is safe and safely operated

A SRMTMP is a high level document relating to the operational standards, which define key performance

indicators to measure actual performance of an entity. It provides an auditable quality approach to industry

safety and technical performance, encouraging the continuous improvement of safety systems and

technical compliance.

The SRMTMP addresses issues relating to the technical standards, operating and maintenance

procedures and management practices, including electrical and safety requirements, applicable to an

entity. The SRMTMP demonstrates the means by which the entity will comply with the direct requirements

of the legislation as well as the Standards and Codes called up by the legislation.

There were 43 SRMTMPs in operation, as of 30 June 2016. Fourteen of these plans relate to the

operations of wind farms in South Australia. SRMTMPs may cover operations under multiple licences in a

single SRMTMP where one entity is responsible for all of the operations and each are managed similarly.

The SRMTMP for the Port Augusta Power Stations ceased this year, along with their operations. Other

SRMTMPs also ceased due to a change in responsibility for some remote area electricity supply

operations; these operations are now incorporated in the expanded SRMTMP of an existing entity.

1.1.2. Audits of Compliance

Entities with a SRMTMP in operation longer than 12 months are required to complete an audit of their

compliance with the plan. The regulatory process encourages electricity industry participants to take a

continuous improvement approach through this audit.

Once the Technical Regulator has reviewed the audit report and is satisfied that the entity has addressed

all identified issues and complied with its SRMTMP, the entity then updates the SRMTMP to include

required changes identified in the audit and any recommendations from the Technical Regulator. This

process forms the basis of the annual update of the SRMTMPs. The Technical Regulator may also make

recommendations for the format of future audit reports.

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1.2. Audits by the Technical Regulator In addition to relying on the self-audits of the electricity industry, each year the Technical Regulator

conducts safety and technical audits of electricity entities, covering selected aspects of their operations

under regulation 72(3) of the Electricity (General) Regulations 2012.

The purpose of the audits is to verify that electricity entities are complying with their SRMTMP on matters

within the scope of the audit.

The audits ensure that safety and technical standards are maintained in the electricity supply industry by

confirming that:

appropriate systems and processes have been developed;

compliance with these systems and processes is maintained; and

the systems and processes comply with the entity’s current approved SRMTMP.

The Technical Regulator conducts both field audits and desktop audits in order to confirm that appropriate

policies and procedures are in place and adopted by staff to ensure the safe and reliable operations of an

electricity entity. The desktop audits for each entity cover a range of topics with some core questions being

common for all audits, whereas the field audits by their nature are limited to sample operations.

Both types of audit often include an element to be audited where a particular failure of an entity may, in the

past, have come to the attention of the Technical Regulator. Samples and topics audited are therefore not

necessarily chosen at random. The findings generally allow the Technical Regulator to develop an

understanding of the entities’ operations and asset maintenance.

The Technical Regulator envisages auditing all South Australian electricity entities over a regular cycle, but

has to take into account operational and staffing issues of the office and a large increase in the number of

small entities over recent years.

As an exception to the above mentioned cycle, SA Power Networks is audited on an annual basis due to

the large number of the SA Power Networks’ assets, which results in a comparatively higher risk for the

general public.

1.2.1. SA Power Networks

The Technical Regulator conducted a vegetation audit on SA Power Networks to ensure that vegetation

management obligations as required by part 5 of the Electricity Act 1996 are satisfactorily covered. The Act

states that a network operator has a general duty to take reasonable steps to keep public powerlines and

some private powerlines clear of vegetation.

Evidence was gathered in a field audit, in which the Technical Regulator and representatives of SA Power

Networks inspected a number of electricity feeders together over two days to ensure vegetation was

maintained to the required clearances to powerlines. The Technical Regulator also performed a desktop

audit on the relevant SA Power Networks’ vegetation management documentation.

Overall, the Technical Regulator could not find any evidence which would indicate that SA Power Networks

does not generally comply with the processes as listed in its SRMTMP.

1.2.2. Generator Audits

Two generator sites were audited this year; Energy Developments Limited (EDL) Wingfield 1 and

EnerNOC. EDL operates landfill gas powered electricity generator sites across metropolitan Adelaide that

feed into the distribution network. OTR officers visited the Wingfield 1 site. EnerNOC had a licence to

connect the Orora Glass Factory site near Gawler to the transmission network to enable them to participate

in the National Energy Market. EnerNOC has since surrendered this licence.

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The areas audited at both sites were:

Training Systems

Contractor Management

Isolation Practices

HV Switchyard

Control Systems, Security and Interdependencies with other infrastructure

Accident Investigation

Hazard management

Overall, no evidence was found that would indicate that EDL or EnerNOC do not comply with the

processes as listed in their respective SRMTMPs.

1.3. Ensuring Safety within the Electricity Supply Industry

Public Safety

Public safety is achieved under the Electricity Act 1996 through:

The prescription of safe distances between powerlines and structures or vegetation;

The prescription of safe working distances in proximity to powerlines, which vary depending on the

voltage of the powerlines, the type of activity being performed and the risk assessment being

considered by the worker; and

The prescription of technical safety.

Safe Work Practices

The safety of electrical workers is regulated by the Work Health and Safety Act 2012. Accidents are

required to be reported in accordance with Regulation 70 of the Electricity (General) Regulations 2012.

The Electricity Act 1996 and the Electricity (General) Regulations 2012 set out requirements related to the

safety of electricity infrastructure, including monitoring through SRMTMPs and also of electrical

installations. Safety performance is measured against nationally accepted benchmarks and expressed as:

Lost Time Injuries – the number of injuries resulting in more than one working day lost

Medical Treatment Injuries – the number of injuries requiring medical treatment

Electricity entities provide these indicators as part of their annual reporting to the Technical Regulator.

Live Powerline Work Safety

The Electricity (General) Regulations 2012 prescribe safety procedures and processes to be employed

while working on or near live powerlines. A person who wants to perform high voltage live line work must

complete an appropriate training course. The content of that course and the training provider must be

approved by the Technical Regulator.

Currently, seven training providers have obtained Technical Regulator approval:

SA Power Networks Skill Enhancement Centre

Omaka Training (New Zealand)

TransGrid

SERECT—a subsidiary of Electrité de France (EDF)

Aeropower Pty Ltd

Powerline Training Pty Ltd

Enersafe

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Substation Work Safety

Substations are considered high risk areas. Prior to working in a substation, a worker must have the

appropriate level of accreditation for access to the required areas and functions in the substations,

complete an induction and follow safe access processes including compliance with work permit systems.

1.4. Major Generators In South Australia, the major entities responsible for scheduled generation supply a total installed capacity

of 2853 MW. Please refer to Appendix 6 for a list of major generators in South Australia.

Natural gas is the source of fuel for the majority of the generators. The gas is piped from two independent

sources: the Moomba-Adelaide Pipeline (MAP) and the SEAGas Pipeline.

Figure 1-3: Origin Energy’s Quarantine Power Station

1.5. Wind Generation South Australia has the highest installed capacity and contribution from wind energy in the country.

Currently, there are 17 wind generation licenses with a total output capacity of 1577.4 MW.

Large wind farms include AGL Hydro Partnership’s three generating licences at Bluff Wind Farm (52.5

MW), North Brown Hill Wind Farm (132.3 MW) and Hallett Hill Wind Farm (71.4 MW), AGL Power

Generation’s Brown Hill Wind Farm (94.5 MW), Energy Australia’s Waterloo Wind Farm (111 MW),

Snowtown Pty Ltd Wind Farm (98.7 MW), Hornsdale Wind Farm (102.4 MW) and the three stages of Lake

Bonney Wind Power Pty Ltd having a total generating capacity of 278.5 MW.

Reference: AEMO: SA existing wind generation information (15 April 2016) and ESCOSA Licences

1.6. Transmission In South Australia, the major entity responsible for electricity transmission is ElectraNet Pty Limited trading

as ElectraNet. At 30 June 2016, there were approximately 5,617 circuit kilometres of transmission lines

operating at voltages of 275 kV, 132 kV and 66 kV as shown in Table 1.6.1:

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The South Australian electricity transmission network is connected to Victoria through the Heywood and

Murraylink interconnectors.

Table 1.6.1: ElectraNet transmission network length

Voltage (kV) Overhead (km) Underground (km)

275 2,571 26

132 2,997 0

66 20 3

Total 5,588 29

ElectraNet operates 90 substations. Substations included in the transmission network are primarily of

outdoor construction and air insulated. The network includes some gas insulated metal clad switchgear.

ElectraNet does not own all of the assets or land at a number of substations; these sites are shared with

other electricity entities, primarily SA Power Networks, the operator of the distribution network.

Figure 1-4: ElectraNet’s 275kV underground cable marker

A system monitoring and switching centre for the transmission network is located in Adelaide and includes

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) facilities to monitor system conditions at substations

and to control equipment in the network.

The transmission system is the backbone of electricity supply in South Australia and is being maintained at

a high level of reliability and availability. A number of thermal generators and wind farms are connected to

this transmission network at various locations throughout the state.

Transmission Line Availability

Transmission line availability for the ElectraNet transmission network was 99.17% for 2015/16.

1.6.1. ElectraNet’s Key Performance Indicators

ElectraNet’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) from its SRMTMP are listed in Appendix 7. These cover

safety and technical Standards against which ElectraNet reports its performance.

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1.6.2. Murraylink Transmission Company

The Murraylink Transmission Company Pty Ltd runs an inter-regional transmission service comprising two

high voltage direct current cables 176 kilometres in length between Berri in South Australia and Red Cliffs

in Victoria. At both ends of the cable is a DC-AC converter station to connect Murraylink to the existing

transmission systems in South Australia (at 132 kV) and Victoria (at 220 kV).

Murraylink is a bi-directional facility with a steady state transfer capability of 220 MW at the receiving end. It

provides South Australian consumers with access to generation from Victoria and New South Wales at

times of local peak loads or generation shortfall. During off-peak periods, Murraylink is able to export

excess South Australian generation to Victoria and New South Wales consumers.

Interconnector Performance Indicators

The Technical Regulator requires Murraylink to include performance indicators in its annual SRMTMP

report to the Technical Regulator as required under the Electricity (General) Regulations 2012.

Table 1.6.2 Murraylink Interconnector Availability

Outage Type Availability %

Planned Outage 98.37%

Peak Period Forced Outage 99.92%

Off Peak Period Forced Outage 99.98%

Total Availability 98.28%

1.7. Distribution In South Australia, the entity primarily responsible for electricity distribution is SA Power Networks which

serves approximately 853,726 customers. There are a number of smaller distribution entities covering

remote areas. Some of these areas were managed by SA Power Networks under contract for the reporting

period. The SA Power Networks’ distribution system consists of 88,496 kilometres of overhead lines and

underground cables and 405 substations. Some distribution substations are within sites shared with

ElectraNet.

Table 1.7.1: Distribution network length at June 2016

Operating Voltage Overhead (km) Underground (km)

Low Voltage (<1000 Volts) 18,939 12,958

11 kV (includes 7.6 kV) 17,899 3,920

19 kV (SWER) 29,140 59

33 kV 3,962 122

66 kV 1,433 53

132 kV¹ 11 0

Total 71,384 17,112

Note 1: Licence modified to allow for 132 kV distribution assets

Reliability

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) advised of numerous severe weather events in 2015/16 of which many

were categorised as Significant Weather Events (SWE), and with one day being classified under the more

severe category of Major Event Days (MEDs). Such events pose a major challenge for the reliability and

management of the electricity distribution network.

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The reliability indicator “Unplanned System Average Interruption Duration Index” (USAIDI) for the SA

Power Networks’ distribution system in 2015/16 was an average of 161 minutes per customer excluding

MEDs and excluding the impact of the Force Majeure events associated with the Pinery bushfire. This has

increased from 154 minutes per customer in the previous year.

The calculations for SA Power Networks’ normalised USAIDI1 performance, (i.e. excluding significant

weather events) in accordance with a modified IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

Standard 13662 resulted in a state-wide USAIDI of 139 minutes.

The Technical Regulator is continuing to monitor SA Power Networks’ performance across all areas.

Figure 1-5: State-wide Unplanned SAIDI3 for SA (minutes per customer)

Note 1: From 1 July 2010 SA Power Networks reporting to the Regulator is based on Outage Management System

(OMS) data (available from 1 July 2005). This includes more accurate linking between the distribution system

and customers’ low voltage data and excludes planned interruptions. All years shown have been revised to

reflect this change and to allow like-for-like comparison.

Note 2: SA Power Networks has excluded the major impact of significant weather events by excluding Major Event

Day (MED) performance from the normalised performance. The MED is determined in accordance with the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) Service Target Performance Incentive Scheme Guideline which mirrors the IEEE Standard.

Note 3: Includes unplanned interruptions on the high voltage and low voltage distribution network. ** Excludes MEDs

SA Power Networks also provides quarterly reports to the Technical Regulator which detail all major outages in the previous quarter.

Outage Causes

The two major causes of unplanned interruptions across the state during the 2015/16 regulatory period

continued to be weather and equipment failure. Using the performance measure of SAIDI, these two

causes accounted for 20% and 22% respectively of the interruptions in 2015/16.

184 197

130 136

181 172

136 143

174

124 139

200 197

136 164

199

318

171

233

290

154 161

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

USAIDI in South Australia

USAIDI (Normalised) USAIDI (Overall)

SAID

I Min

ute

s

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SA Power Networks performance is generally relatively consistent with the previous years’ performance

(i.e. causes fall within the normally expected range), with the exception of weather, which is lower than the

average (due to fewer MEDs), equipment failure, which is also lower than the average and planned, which

is higher than the average performance, mainly due to increased system upgrade works on the network.

Figure 1-6: SAPN USAIDI Performance by Cause

Note 4: SA Power Networks is required to use its best endeavours to provide each customer affected by a planned

outage (if > 15 minutes) with at least 4 business days’ notice

Figure 1-7: SA Power Network’s asset maintenance

1.7.1. SA Power Networks Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

SA Power Networks KPIs are provided above and in Appendix 8. These KPIs cover service and technical

standards and include supply interruptions, power surges and low and high voltage complaints. SA Power

Networks reports its performance against these KPIs, with reliability and outage indicators on a quarterly

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 Average

SAPN USAIDI Causes

Average Weather

Third Party

Operational

Planned

Equipment Failure

Other

Unknown

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basis and all other indicators on an annual basis. The Technical Regulator receives and reviews these

reports and follows up on any technical issues, where deemed appropriate, to ensure that corrective action

has been taken or is planned. This reporting process ensures that the Technical Regulator is kept informed

of major outages and provides assurance that the reliability of electricity supply is being maintained or

improved.

1.8. Emergency Management The Technical Regulator works closely with all relevant emergency management stakeholders to assist in

ensuring the resilience of the state in case of an energy emergency. Stakeholders include the SA

Engineering Functional Service, SA Police, Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and personnel of

all major energy entities in South Australia. The OTR has several staff members who are regularly engaged

with the Engineering Functional Service, which provides engineering services and advice in response to a

state emergency.

The Technical Regulator also manages the electricity load shedding list in cooperation with SA Power

Networks, ElectraNet and AEMO. The list sets out the electrical circuits which should be tripped by the

power system’s automatic protection mechanisms or if AEMO instructs South Australia to reduce load to

maintain the power system’s security and integrity. The preparation of a rotational load shedding list is an

obligation on the Technical Regulator under the National Electricity Rules in his role as the Jurisdictional

System Security Coordinator for South Australia.

The Technical Regulator reviews the load shedding list on an annual basis in cooperation with SA Power

Networks and ElectraNet to ensure all available electrical circuits are included and that the relevant

systems and procedures are accurate and appropriate. The Technical Regulator also cooperates with

AEMO throughout the year to guarantee an optimal response to any electricity emergency that may arise in

South Australia.

On Sunday 1 November 2015, a power system operating incident affected the South Australian region,

involving a separation of South Australia from the remainder of the National Electricity Market (NEM) and

the loss of 160MW of customer load and 11MW of generation. The incident occurred approx. at 10:20pm,

and the system was reconnected to the NEM at 22:56pm. By 00:10am most of the load had been restored.

The Technical Regulator was involved in discussions with AEMO in the immediate aftermath of the incident

to assess options of maintaining the system in a secure operating state and in the best interest of the South

Australian public. The Technical Regulator sought information from all parties involved and was satisfied

that the fault will be unlikely to reoccur in the future.

In May 2016, the coal-fired power stations at Port Augusta were permanently closed by Alinta, resulting in a

step change to the supply characteristics in South Australia. With an increased ratio of intermittent

renewable supply to traditional thermal generation there are technical challenges for AEMO to operate the

electricity system in South Australia, and the Technical Regulator is working collaboratively with AEMO,

ElectraNet and SA Power Networks to identify solutions and ensure that the system can be securely

operated at the lowest possible cost in a carbon constrained environment.

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Section 2: Safety Clearances to Powerlines

The Technical Regulator is responsible for the administration of the provisions of the Electricity Act 1996

relating to the safe clearance of buildings and structures, workers and equipment, and vegetation from

powerlines.

Where there is a dispute relating to either vegetation or building clearances, the Technical Regulator strives

to facilitate a sensible, safe and agreeable resolution that complies with the requirements of the legislation.

2.1. Vegetation Clearance The Technical Regulator administers the Electricity (Principles of Vegetation Clearance) Regulations 2010

which include:

the required clearance distances and the normal clearance cycle of vegetation.

the list of species of vegetation which may be planted or nurtured near powerlines and

providing the occupiers of land an opportunity to lodge an objection in relation to vegetation

clearance issues.

2.1.1. Risks associated with Vegetation near Powerlines

The risks directly associated with vegetation contacting powerlines include electric shocks, fire, damage to

infrastructure and interruptions of supply.

To protect people and property from these risks, clearance zones and buffer zones (which limit the amount

of pruning of vegetation) and planting restrictions have been established under the Electricity (Principles of

Vegetation Clearance) Regulations 2010.

Figure 2-1: Damage to the electricity infrastructure due to a severe storm

In South Australia, a special case for concern is the risk of bushfires being started by overhead powerlines.

This risk is principally managed through vegetation clearance; keeping flammable material well away from

powerlines.

No major fires in South Australia due to vegetation contacting the electricity transmission or distribution

system were reported during 2015/16. SA Power Networks reported 0.57 fire starts per 1000 km of mains

(see Appendix 8).

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Figure 2-2: Vegetation clearance around powerlines

2.1.2. Vegetation Clearance Objections

Electrical entities conduct a periodic vegetation inspection at intervals of no longer than three years. In

bushfire risk areas, annual inspections are conducted prior to the bushfire season.

When an electricity entity identifies vegetation on private property as requiring trimming or removal, the

entity is required to provide the owner or occupier with a 30 day notice of intention to enter the property to

cut vegetation. The owner or occupier then has 21 days after receiving the notice to lodge a written notice

of objection with the Technical Regulator.

During the year, the Technical Regulator assisted with 14 objections and numerous complaints regarding

vegetation clearance issues. In all cases a mutually acceptable outcome was achieved.

The Technical Regulator held regular meetings with SA Power Networks and Active Tree Services’

management throughout the year, to discuss any disputes or other matters regarding vegetation near

powerlines, which had come to the attention of the Technical Regulator.

2.1.3. Vegetation Clearance Agreements

The Electricity Act 1996 makes provision for electricity transmission and distribution entities and councils to

enter into agreed vegetation clearance schemes under which vegetation clearance responsibilities may be

conferred on a council. A council also may agree to pay for the cost of more frequent clearance in order to

reduce the scale of a three yearly pruning by the entity.

There are currently no such agreements in place between any council and SA Power Networks.

2.1.4. Exemption to Planting Restrictions

The Electricity (Principles of Vegetation Clearance) Regulations 2010 list species of vegetation that may be

planted under or in proximity to powerlines. The selected species are not expected to exceed a certain

height or encroach into the buffer or clearance zone.

In some instances, the Technical Regulator may allow non-listed vegetation to be planted in proximity to

powerlines. This is done through a conditional exemption from planting restrictions. The conditions

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generally specify the minimum safety clearance between vegetation and powerlines and put an obligation

on the exemption recipient to maintain these clearances at all times.

The Technical Regulator has noticed an increase in instances where owners of private properties wish to

have such exemptions removed, which often happens upon change of ownership of the land.

Table 2.1.1: Planting Restriction Exemptions for 2015/16

Exemptions submitted through SA Power Networks 4

Exemptions submitted through ElectraNet 2

Transfer of existing exemptions to new land owners 1

Exemptions removed 57

2.2. Building and Working Clearances The Electricity (General) Regulations 2012, under the Electricity Act 1996 define the minimum clearances

between buildings or structures and powerlines. Section 86 of the Electricity Act 1996 also gives the

Technical Regulator power to grant an approval (subject to limitations as specified in the Electricity

(General) Regulations 2012) for a building or structure to be erected within the prescribed clearance

distances.

2.2.1. Risks associated with Buildings near Powerlines

Minimum building clearances are defined in legislation to prevent electric shocks, damage to infrastructure

or property, and to ensure reliability of supply.

The Technical Regulator actively promotes awareness of these legislated distances within the construction

industry by providing verbal and written advice and presentations, undertaking site assessments, and

through distributing information via brochures and the internet.

The Electricity Act 1996 makes provisions for an electricity entity to rectify identified breaches of minimum

safety clearances and recover the costs by means of a court order.

2.2.2. Building Clearance Approvals

The Technical Regulator is responsible for granting approvals under Section 86 of the Electricity Act 1996

for the erection of buildings in proximity to powerlines.

Any requests for approval to build within the prescribed safety clearance area are assessed individually, by

means of a risk assessment which takes into consideration the safety of building construction and

maintenance as well as the finished building.

Table 2.2.1: Building Clearance Approvals for 2015/16

Number of approvals granted 20

Number of requests for approval rejected 0

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Figure 2-3: Tiger tails being installed on power lines

2.2.3. Equipment contacting overhead powerlines

Fourteen incidents involving contact of equipment with powerlines were reported to the Technical Regulator

in 2015/16. This compares with 23 in the previous year.

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Section 3: Electrical Installations

The Technical Regulator’s safety presentations to the industry continue to play a vital role in maintaining a

good safety record within the industry. Utilising Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), presentations are

delivered to pre-vocational and first and third year apprentices. Developing a relationship with apprentices and

pre-vocational students is viewed as an investment in the future safety of the industry. Building a positive

relationship with electricians early on in their training ensures that they have access to current and relevant

information.

This period has again shown a growing acknowledgement of the role of the Technical Regulator within the

electrical industry. This, along with the Technical Regulator’s continued close interaction with SA Police

(SAPOL), Consumer and Business Services (CBS), National Electrical and Communications Association

(NECA), Master Electricians Australia, SA Power Networks, the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS), SafeWork SA

and Housing SA helps to ensure a high level of compliance with safety requirements by the electrical industry.

3.1. Targeted Audits In 2015/16, the Technical Regulator continued its program of auditing electrical workers, contractors and

electrical installations to ensure compliance with legislative requirements. Audits were carried out on targeted

areas of the electrical industry where specific issues had been identified in relation to non-compliance with

electrical Standards.

The Technical Regulator currently has four classifications of electrical audits:

1. Incidents/Complaints. The investigation of electrical work that is allegedly non-compliant, as well as electrical incidents that have been reported.

2. Stage 2 (Random) audits. Audits of work performed by electrical workers/contractors who are selected at random from the data base. The majority of the random audits are based on areas of concern.

3. Stage 3 Audits. Audits of electrical workers/contractors targeted for specific reasons (e.g. maintenance of certificates of compliance, calibration of testing equipment.)

4. Stage 4 Audits. Audits of in-house electrical workers, who perform electrical work directly for their employer, and do not work for an electrical contractor.

As part of the Technical Regulator’s continuing auditing program, 126 Solar PV (photovoltaic) installations

were audited across the state during 2015/16. This is in addition to those carried out under the Federal

Government Solar PV inspection programs in South Australia.

Figure 3-1: Example of PV array on commercial premises

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Figure 3-2: Audits and Investigations 2011/12 to 2015/16

The Technical Regulator has a policy of disconnecting installations, or parts of installations, that are found

to have immediately dangerous electrical breaches. This approach has proved to be the most effective way

of ensuring that the risks of fire and electric shock are minimised, and that the breaches are rectified by the

owner/occupier of the property. An Electrical Certificate of Compliance signed by a licensed electrical

contractor, and test result sheet verifying the electrical integrity of the installation, must be supplied to the

Technical Regulator before the electricity supply is re-connected.

Figure 3-3: Compliance of Audited Work for 2015-16

The number of compliant installations has increased by 6% on the previous year. The percentage of

immediately dangerous electrical breaches during 2015/16 has decreased by 6% on the previous year, and

potentially dangerous breaches have increased by 1%. Immediately dangerous breaches reduced by 7%.

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

11/1212/13

13/1414/15

15/16

702

566

463 449 484

514

468 588

533

732

Audits and Investigations since 2011

Audits

Investigations

22%

24%

2%

52%

Percentage of Substandard Work for 2015/16

Immediately dangerous

Potentially dangerous

Technical breaches

No breaches

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A significant number of these defects were due to the number of Technical Regulator audits conducted with

SA Police on premises at which cannabis crops were being cultivated. Often the electrical work in those

installations was found to have been unsafe, and performed by unlicensed persons. A risk assessment of

the electrical installation at each property is typically conducted prior to police entry.

While the number of issues identified is of concern, the results indicate the OTR’s resources are being

applied effectively to have the greatest impact on improving safety.

3.2. Major Events The Technical Regulator has again been directly involved in assisting organisers of various major events

throughout South Australia to achieve compliance for temporary wiring installations. Through active

involvement from the planning stage to the event, the Technical Regulator ensures that the organisers

have designed and constructed temporary electrical installations in compliance with the relevant technical

standard AS/NZS 3002 – Electrical Installations – Shows and Carnivals.

As well as the Clipsal 500 Motor Race, there has been involvement in other large outdoor events such as

the Adelaide Fringe, Womadelaide, Schutzenfest, and the Royal Show. Site visits were conducted to

ensure that the electrical installations were compliant and contribute to a safe environment for the public to

enjoy the event. The Technical Regulator’s authorised officers were able to assist event organisers in

advising concession stand holders about the minimum requirements for their electrical installations,

avoiding last minute disputes and disconnections.

3.3. Major Incidents/Investigations

Figure 3-4: Typical unsafe and non-compliant wiring associated with illegal cannabis crops

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3.3.1. Electrical accidents

No electrical fatalities were recorded in 2015/16.

3.3.2. Electrical fires

The Technical Regulator assisted the MFS with the investigation of fires at various electrical installations

throughout the year. Fires were related to the non-compliant and unsafe installation of electrical equipment

associated with drug crops, defective electrical equipment or non-compliant and unsafe electrical

installation work.

Figure 3-5: Fire damage caused by unsafe wiring

3.4. Shock Reports In 2015/16, a total of 918 electric shock reports were made to the Technical Regulator. The following table

illustrates the groups of people who received the electric shocks.

Table 3.4.1: Breakdown of electric shocks

Shock Victim 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

Electrical

workers

49 52 52 54 77

Other trades 29 32 19 18 41

Employees (in

workforce)

212 205 186 164 158

General Public 538 558 595 663 642

Total 828 847 852 899 918

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Figure 3-6: Major causes of electric shock for 2015/16

3.5. Disciplinary action

3.5.1. Prosecutions

There were no prosecutions in 2015/16. However there are cases which may result in future prosecutions

pending further investigation.

3.5.2. Expiations

During 2015/16, the Technical Regulator issued 12 expiation notices for non-compliant electrical work.

Most of them related to the failure to issue an Electrical Certificate of Compliance and electrical workers not

correctly completing the mandatory electrical safety tests on an electrical installation.

3.5.3. Referral to the Office of Consumer and Business Services (CBS)

During 2015/16, the Technical Regulator referred several cases to CBS for enforcement action under the

Plumbers Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995. These referrals resulted from electrical audits which

identified repeated non-compliant work being carried out and/or unlicensed workers performing electrical

work.

3.6. Communication and Education

3.6.1. ‘Roadshows’ and other Presentations

The issues promoted to the electrical industry in South Australia at the annual NECA Roadshows included

updates for the industry relating to changes to the legislation and Wiring Rules, information about the

upcoming introduction of electronic certificates of compliance, changes to Solar PV installation Standards,

and reports on accidents and fatalities. SA Power Networks also discussed changes to their Service and

Installation Rules.

The Roadshows offered to electrical contractors and workers, were held at Maitland, Port Pirie, Adelaide,

Noarlunga, Nuriootpa, Elizabeth, Mt Barker, Murray Bridge, Naracoorte, Mt Gambier, Berri, Port Lincoln,

and Port Augusta. Additional presentations were also given in conjunction with Master Electricians

Australia in Adelaide, Nuriootpa, Mt Barker, Victor Harbor, Naracoorte, Keith, Mt Gambier, Wallaroo, Clare,

Pt Pirie, Whyalla, Pt Augusta, and Pt Lincoln. Office of the Technical Regulator presentations were also

conducted at Leigh Creek.

11%

23%

1%

2%

54%

2%

1% 1%

5%

Major Causes of Electric Shocks 2015-16

Defective insulation

Direct contact with live parts

Electrical faults

Electrostatic phenomena

SAPN MEN

Inadequate circuit design

Lack of earthing

Loss of earthing

Other

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Table 3.6.1: Presentations

Audience Group

Focus of Topics Number of Presentations

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16

First year

apprentices and

Pre-vocation

Electrical safety, testing and

certificates of compliance 36 31 10 19 29

Third year

apprentices

Electrical safety, testing,

legislative compliance and

electrical fatalities

32 28 24 17 30

NECA/MEA/OTR

Road Shows

Changes to industry

practices/procedures, Wiring

Rule updates, safety updates

19 23 18 27 35

Electrical

Contracting

Companies

Electrical safety, testing,

legislative compliance and

certificates of compliance

10 9 7 4 2

Electrical

Wholesaler Trade

Functions

Electrical Safety and

compliance displays 5 5 0 1 0

Other groups or

Government

Departments

Electrical safety, testing and

certificates of compliance 5 14 15 8 18

Total Number of Presentations 107 110 74 76 114

The Technical Regulator also regularly provides safety and technical presentations upon request to

industry and other government departments. Electrical contractors utilise these presentations as a part of

their in-house training programs to assist with the on-going education of their employees. These

presentations are valued by the Technical Regulator as an opportunity to build relationships with workers

and contractors and respond to enquiries arising from their workplaces.

Presentations are also given to first and third year apprentices at TAFE and other Registered Training

Organisation facilities in metropolitan and country areas.

3.6.2. Displays and Trade Functions

The Technical Regulator has retained a prominent profile throughout the electrical industry, with a

continued demand for a presence at industry functions such as industry breakfasts. At these events the

auditors are present to discuss electrical safety and compliance issues with the electrical contractors. The

Technical Regulator has also been present at the Master Builders Association, Sunday Mail home building

expos and the Caravan and Camping Show. Such events create an ideal opportunity to further promote

electrical safety, and answer queries from the general public in a relaxed and friendly environment.

3.6.3. Regulation Roundup

Editions 36 and 37 of Regulation Roundup were published in 2015/16 and were posted to electrical

workers and contractors registered in South Australia. The publication is also made available to

consultants, designers and other interested parties in both hard copy and electronic form. The two editions

provided technical information relating to specific sections of the Wiring Rules and other electrical

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Standards, information on Solar PV installations, safe working practices, and also promoted attendance at

the NECA Roadshows.

After each mail out, the response from industry members who contact the Technical Regulator to discuss

items addressed in the particular edition demonstrates that Regulation Roundup has become a valued

source of information to the electrical industry.

3.6.4. Technical Standards Committees

The Technical Regulator is represented on several Australian Standards Committees which set the

minimum safety requirements for electrical installations ranging from construction and demolition sites to

caravans and recreational boats and solar installations. The committees which were responsible for the

revision and publication of various Standards during 2015/16 are outlined in Appendix 3.4.

3.7. Electrical Installation Work Indicators Table 3.7.1: OTR Installation work indicators

Indicator 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16

Electrical

fatalities

Public 0 1 0 2 0

Industries 1 1 1 0 0

Educational and information

presentations

106 110 72 76 114

Random audits of contractors

and workers

514 468 588 533 732

Audits/investigations arising

from complaints

702 566 463 449 484

Expiation notices issued 21 24 10 1 12

Prosecutions launched 0 0 0 0 0

Prosecutions completed 0 0 0 0 0

Shock reports and minor

incidents

883 891 896 914 931

Shocks due to voltage/current

displacement

329 369 426 512 497

Major incidents 3 4 5 8 6

Phone calls processed 19,354 19,764 20,400 20,700 20,200

Table 3.7.2: Installations connected or reconnected to the SA Power Networks distribution system

SA Power Networks

Connections Installation 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16

Total connections 78,402 49,059 43,073 29723 27477

New supply connections Domestic 9,732 7,917 9,316 10436 9750

Non-domestic 1,644 1,397 1,370 1634 1612

Reconnections to SA Power Networks after alterations to supply

Other Domestic 4,631 4,226 3,926 3422 3283

Import/Export Domestic 57,911 31,321 23,491 9582 8026

Other Non-domestic 969 976 1,007 1007 837

Import/Export Non-domestic 756 388 644 453 373

The Technical Regulator conducts random audits of SA Power Networks’ new connections, and also

responds to requests for advice on sites where supply has not been connected due to unsafe/non-

compliant work by electrical contractors or workers.

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3.8. Electronic Certificates of Compliance (eCoC) Project Certificates of Compliance (CoCs) have been in use in the electrical industry for some time. They are an

excellent way for a home owner, business owner or operator of an electrical installation to demonstrate

they have met their duty to ensure their property is safe. The forms serve to encourage workers to perform

their work in compliance with Standards which leads to a safer industry as a whole.

The Technical Regulator has undertaken a significant project to bring about a key change to the way the

gas; plumbing and electrical industries meet compliance regulations. The Electronic Certificate of

Compliance (eCoC) project will introduce a new, electronic method of issuing Certificates of Compliance

through the eCoC System. This will eventually replace the paper forms currently in use.

This is an exciting change for the plumbing, gas and electrical industries, which will lead to improved

business efficiency and better customer service. It is also hoped that this will increase compliance in the

industry.

In the last year the eCoC project team have worked to develop an online tool called the eCoC System

which will be used by workers and contractors to create, submit, and access eCoCs. The system will also

facilitate communication between the Technical Regulator and industry, providing a channel for updates to

Standards, alerts, and other information to reach workers and contractors.

The eCoC System will be released in a staged approach. In August 2016, registration was opened allowing

workers and contractors to register using their licence numbers and personal details. In the second stage,

registered users will be able to complete eCoC forms online, and send them electronically to the Technical

Regulator and other recipients, such as customers and industry entities.

The existence of an electronic form requires changes to the Electricity (General) Regulations 2012.

Changes to this legislation are in the process of being prepared by the Technical Regulator and are

expected to be completed later in 2016. The Technical Regulator will launch eCoC creation through the

system shortly after that. Once the eCoC system is available it will enable the Technical Regulator to

communicate with workers and contractors directly by email and to notify license holders of when the

second stage will go live.

The eCoC System will store a full record of all eCoCs completed so they can be easily accessed and

referred to in the future. These can be created and saved in draft and accessed at a later stage to submit.

The system will streamline business processes, and make it easier to communicate regulatory

improvements, changes to Standards, product and installation safety issues and safety reminders.

The eCoC system has been built with mobile compatibility in mind and should be fully functional on devices

as small as smartphones, and easy to use on larger tablet devices. The Technical Regulator anticipates

that many eCoCs will be completed on-site and so mobile compatibility has been a key focus during

development.

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Figure 3-6 eCoC Portal as displayed on mobile and PC screens

Paper certificates will be phased out gradually, with the transition period from paper to electronic beginning

when the eCoC system is made available. The transition period will extend to the end of the financial year

2018, although the Technical Regulator encourages workers and contractors to make the change as soon

as it becomes available. Once the transition period has passed, the existing paper certificates will no longer

be able to be issued.

The next phase of the eCoC project revolves around changes within the Office of the Technical Regulator

as it works to streamline its own business processes. A new case management system is in development

that will provide the Office of the Technical Regulator with a single interface for operations relating to the

electrical, gas and plumbing industries.

This will provide a range of different functions including audits, complaints, shock reports, dangerous wiring

notifications and many more. This system will provide access to eCoCs issued through the new eCoC

system – providing access to a larger volume of information about the industry than the Technical

Regulator has had access to in the past. This is intended to lead to increased compliance and safety

across the whole industry.

For more information and updates on the eCoC project, refer to the Office of the Technical Regulator eCoC

website: www.sa.gov.au/otr/ecoc

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Section 4: Electrical Products

The Energy Products (Safety & Efficiency) Act 2000 is administered by the Technical Regulator and

requires that proclaimed classes of electrical products must comply with specified safety and performance

Standards and be labelled to show compliance before sale (see Appendix 5.1).

Other Australasian jurisdictions have similar legislation. The Technical Regulator works with other

Australasian Regulators and Standards Committees to ensure a nationally consistent electrical product

safety regulatory regime.

Figure 4-1: Boundary of installations from products

An electrical product is any device that needs to be connected to the household electricity supply. This

includes such items as white goods, power tools, portable household products, power boards, air

conditioners and hot water services. Electrical products are manufactured locally or interstate or imported

from overseas. It is estimated that the typical household has up to 50 electrical products.

The Technical Regulator investigates reports of breaches of the Energy Products (Safety & Efficiency) Act

2000. This can result in the issue of stop sale notices, public warning statements, product recalls, expiation

notices or prosecution.

4.1. Role of the Technical Regulator The Technical Regulator, in accordance with the Energy Products (Safety & Efficiency) Act 2000 grants

electrical products safety labelling certificates and electrical product suitability certificates to applicants. The

certificates are required to label electrical products to indicate their compliance with applicable Standards

or certify their suitability to connect to an electricity transmission or distribution network before sale. The

Technical Regulator also follows up these products after sale, through field audits and product

investigations, based on reported failures.

The Technical Regulator is represented on national regulatory and Standards committees, the aim of which

is to ensure that regulators act in a coordinated manner throughout Australia and that the safety Standards

impose a common, acceptable level of safety. These committees are listed in Appendix 3.4.

The Technical Regulator also provides technical advice to manufacturers and importers, the electrical

industry, government agencies and emergency services.

The Technical Regulator also has power under the Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Act 2000 to

prohibit the sale or use of unsafe energy products (including recall or repair) and issue public warning

statements about unsafe energy products.

Switchboard

Consumer wiring to socket

outlets

Socket

outlets

Typical Household

Electrical Products

Toasters & Kettles

Refrigerators

Clothes Drier

Washing Machine

TV & Video

Power boards

Consumers Electrical Installation

Consumers

mains

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4.2. Product Safety

4.2.1. Product Approval

There are 56 classes of products proclaimed under the Energy Products (Safety & Efficiency) Act 2000,

which must comply with specified safety and performance standards. This list has evolved over time, and

typically includes the household products that, in the past, have been involved in numerous fire and/or

electric shock incidents and therefore represent a ‘high risk’ category. These products, which are covered

by similar legislation in all Australian States, require pre-market approval and must carry an approval label

to indicate their compliance with safety and performance Standards before they can be sold. Appendix 5.1

lists these proclaimed products.

4.2.2. Product Approval Safety Process

In South Australia, the current approvals process requires manufacturers or importers to submit samples of

proclaimed products for testing at accredited laboratories to ensure their compliance with the applicable

Australian/New Zealand safety and technical Standards. These Standards set down the basic requirements

that the products must meet to be considered electrically safe. Typically, these requirements include levels

of protection to guard against such things as unsafe construction, access to live parts, overheating from

normal or abnormal operation and fire propagation.

Testing must be carried out in accordance with the relevant Standards by appropriate test laboratory

facilities in Australia or overseas. In Australia, this means a testing facility that has National Association of

Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation. Evidence of compliance can then be submitted to the Technical

Regulator or a private certifier, who will verify compliance and then issue a certificate. This certificate is

generally valid for five years. When offered for sale, the product must carry the allocated approval marking.

If issued by a state regulator or private certifier, the marking contains a letter identifying the state or certifier

who approved it, followed by its allocated number (e.g. Victoria – ESVxxxxx, South Australia – S/xxx or

OTRxxxxxx), private certifier marking (alpha numeral), or if AS/NZS 4417 (marking of electrical products to

indicate compliance with regulations) is complied with, the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) symbol as

defined in that Standard as shown in Fig 4.2.

Figure 4-2: Regulatory Compliance Mark

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Figure 4-3: Example of approval labelling for an OTR (S marking) approved product – wall switch

Figure 4-4: Example of the RCM approval labelling symbol for an approved product – desk lamp

Figure 4-5: Example of approval labelling for regulatory authority NSW Fair Trading – laptop power supply

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Each state in Australia recognises approvals issued by the other state authorities and product certifiers.

There are also alternative private certifying bodies which have been recognised interstate, resulting in

approval labelling other than that issued by a state regulator, with a consequent reduction in the number of

products being approved by state authorities. The nature of the retail products industry is such that

competitors quickly identify any unapproved items on sale and report them to the Technical Regulator, who

is able to take immediate action for breaches of the Energy Products (Safety & Efficiency) Act 2000.

Figure 4-10 at the end of this section provides detailed statistics on the number of products submitted to

the Technical Regulator for approval since 2008/09.

4.2.3. Risks due to faulty or misused Products

The risks associated with electrical products that have failed because of their design, or manufacture, or

misuse by the consumer include:

personal injury (shocks)

electrocution (fatalities)

property damage (fires)

Manufacturers, importers and retailers also assume liability through the sale of electrical products for:

costs of recalls, replacement or repair of products

costs of compensation claims

loss of, or damage to, the organisation’s reputation

Hazardous Products

Typical hazards found in faulty electrical products include:

a breakdown of insulation due to overheating or mechanical damage, which may expose the

consumer to the risk of electrical shock

overheating of the product, which may result in fire or ignition of its surroundings, exposing

consumers to the risk of injury or property damage

mechanical failure, which may cause personal injury to the user

Figure 4-6: Example of an electrical product failure. This photo illustrates the consequences of a faulty electrical connection in a washing machine that overheated and caught fire

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Figure 4-7: Example of an electrical product failure. This photo illustrates the consequences of a bathroom heater glass diffuser shattering whilst in use, resulting in the user receiving burns and cuts

Consumer Misuse

Products may also fail because of misuse by the consumer. Typical examples of this are:

incorrect securing of electric blankets resulting in folds that lead to overheating and fire

unsafe placement of radiators and fan heaters adjacent to furniture and materials, resulting in fires

continued use of electrical products with damaged bodies and cords, resulting in electrical shocks

not having products checked after being subjected to an impact or falling from a height

Figure 4-8: An example of brand new decorative LED rope lights that started to emit smoke and deform within minutes of use, as a result of the user not observing the warning instructions to remove the

packaging

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In many cases, products are either incorrectly installed or operated by consumers who do not follow the

manufacturer’s recommendations and instructions. A typical example of inappropriate usage is illustrated in

Figure 4-8 above. A consumer nearly started a fire with LED rope lights as a result of not adhering to the

manufacturer’s instructions.

The Technical Regulator alerts consumers and electricians to such risks through public warnings, the

continuous development of information brochures, Regulation Roundup and education programs.

4.2.4. Product Failures and Corrective Actions

The Technical Regulator monitors failures of electrical products. If necessary, action can be taken under

the Energy Products (Safety & Efficiency) Act 2000 to remove any hazardous products from the market

place. Depending on the severity of the failure, there are a number of options available to the Technical

Regulator when assessing what action should be taken for specific situations including:

Issuing an Incident Report – when the failure of a product has not directly resulted in a safety

hazard. The report is circulated to all regulatory authorities throughout Australia and New Zealand

for information and monitoring.

Issuing a Hazard Alert – when the failure of a product has resulted in an immediate safety problem

such as a reported electric shock. The notice is immediately circulated to all regulatory authorities

including both state and federal consumer affairs authorities for information, and followed up by

action with the trader as considered necessary.

Issuing a Stop Sale – generally issued in conjunction with a Hazard Alert. The notice is circulated

to all regulatory authorities including both state and federal consumer affairs authorities for

information and is followed up by action with the trader.

Issuing a Recall – when a product already on the market has been identified as a safety hazard.

This may warrant the issue of a recall notice and result in a national public product recall

conducted in accordance with ACCC guidelines.

4.2.5. Recall Notices

In 2015/16, 73 unsafe electrical products were recalled throughout Australia mainly as a result of electric

shock, fire, mechanical and burn hazards. Various consumer products such as hover boards, power

supplies/chargers and travel adaptors were recalled. A range of electrical products commonly used in the

electrical contracting industry were also recalled, including electrical building cable, various fixed luminaires

and DC isolator switches.

The Technical Regulator facilitated numerous product recalls in 2015/16, which were the result of

investigations of consumer or industry complaints.

One such investigation by the Technical Regulator originated from an anonymous consumer complaint,

where the consumer observed that a trader in a shopping centre complex was selling various cooking

appliances and portable luminaires with foreign plugs and non-English instructions. Officers attended onsite

to confirm and examine the electrical goods being sold. The investigation involved examining various

products, taking photographic evidence, interviewing various staff, and identifying how many products had

been sold. Various electrical products were found not to bear the required Australian approval marks; staff

onsite were directed to immediately remove the products from display.

The Technical Regulator has then proceeded to contact the owner of the business and issue a prohibition

of sale and use order. It was found during the investigation that unknown quantities of non-approved

electrical product had been sold to the public; the Technical Regulator also issued a product recall order to

the trader, requiring them to conduct a product recall in accordance with ACCC guidelines.

A full list of electrical products recalled in Australia is available at www.recalls.gov.au.

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4.2.6. Stop Sales

The Technical Regulator can issue stop sale notices to traders in South Australia as the situation warrants.

An example of a situation requiring the seller to “Stop Sale” is when the product is proclaimed under the

Energy Products (Safety & Efficiency) Act 2000, but is not marked with any approval labelling indicating

that it is formally approved for electrical safety.

4.2.7. Mutual Recognition

Under a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) between two or more jurisdictions, one jurisdiction is able to

recognise a product approval by another.

Apart from the ‘corresponding laws’ recognised under the Energy Products (Safety & Efficiency) Act 2000,

several mutual recognition schemes affect the Technical Regulator’s operations and those of other State

Regulators.

Australian Mutual Recognition

The Mutual Recognition (SA) Act 1993 and the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Commonwealth) provide that,

in principle, a product made in or imported into a state that can be lawfully sold in that state, may be

lawfully sold in any other state. A label is required showing the place of manufacture or importation to

enable a defence of mutual recognition to be established.

Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA)

The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (SA) Act 1999 and the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997

(Commonwealth) provide that, in principle, products made in or imported into New Zealand that may be

lawfully sold in New Zealand, may also be lawfully sold in Australia. A label on the product is required

showing the place of manufacture or importation to enable a defence of mutual recognition to be

established.

The TTMRA has resulted in some products either manufactured in or imported into New Zealand being

offered for sale in Australia without any identifiable approval marking as New Zealand law does not require

such labelling.

European Economic Union Mutual Recognition Arrangement (EUMRA)

There is a mutual recognition agreement between Australia and the European Economic Union stating that

a product that has been tested in a recognised laboratory with mutual accreditation in one jurisdiction will

be accepted as having been tested in a recognised laboratory with mutual accreditation in the other

jurisdiction.

Singapore Mutual Recognition Arrangement

The Singapore MRA, signed in 2001, is based on conformity assessment by relevant government bodies in

the two countries. Essentially, the importing country accepts the assessment of product conformity to its

requirements undertaken by conformity assessment bodies in the exporting country.

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4.3. Product Energy Efficiency Energy Labelling and Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) registrations are now regulated by

the Australian Government’s Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012 (GEMS legislation).

The energy efficiency requirements of the Energy Products (Safety & Efficiency) Act 2000 are still

applicable but in general terms have become redundant.

4.4. Performance Indicators

4.4.1. Product Enquiries

In 2015/16, the Technical Regulator received enquiries about products from a total of 825 people; 28

visited in person and 797 made contact by telephone, fax, or email. Electrical product safety accounted for

the majority of these enquiries.

It is noted that with the introduction of private certifiers, enquiries relating to safety approval of electrical

products initially decreased, but has stabilised since 2008-09. Since the introduction of the GEMS

legislation, there has been a significant fall in the number of enquiries relating to product energy efficiency.

Figure 4-9: Product Enquiries since 2009-10

0

500

1000

1500

09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 15/16

Enquiries

Phone Enq

Person Enq

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4.4.2. Approval Figures for 2015/16

In this reporting period, a total of 151 products were submitted to the Technical Regulator for safety and

performance approval. Energy Labelling and MEPS registrations are now regulated by the Australian

Government’s GEMS legislation. The Technical Regulator has continued to provide South Australian

industry with an efficient and timely service, supporting its endeavours in both local and overseas markets.

Figure 4-10: Products submitted for approval/registration since 2008-09

4.4.3. Actions on Products for 2015/16

An investigation is required when a product safety concern is reported. Thirty seven investigations into the

safety of products were carried out during this financial year.

During the year, the Technical Regulator recorded 131 incident reports, 9 hazard alerts, and acted on 73

recall notices. A recall notice that appeared in the local press this year is shown below as Figure 4-11.

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 15/16

Approvals Processed

Cert Approval

Cert Suitability

Energy Labels

MEPS

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Figure 4-11: Example of an Electrical Safety Recall Notice issued by a distributor

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Figure 4-12 illustrates how over the last eight years a significant number of reports of failures of electrical

products have been recorded. As a consequence, there has been a continuing rise in the number of

electrical product recalls throughout Australia. During this reporting period there has been a significant

increase in the number of electrical products that have required recall action. Regulators remain concerned

about the lack of suitable quality control procedures by some overseas manufacturers together with the

probability of misuse by consumers.

Figure 4-12: Recorded actions on products since 2008/09

The Technical Regulator continues to distribute brochures and media releases aimed to promote the safe

use of electrical products and to monitor quality control through check testing programs.

4.4.4. Industry Communication

There are about 140 South Australian businesses (including manufacturers, importers and retailers) that

submit electrical products to the Technical Regulator for approval. The Technical Regulator distributes

newsletters and circulars to these businesses to keep them informed of changes to the Energy Products

(Safety & Efficiency) Act 2000 and Australian Standards as necessary.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 15/16

Product Failures

Recalls

Stop Sales

Hazard Alerts

Incidents

Investigations

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Section 5: Consumer Safety Awareness

5.1. Consumer Education Keeping consumers well informed about electrical safety ensures that electricity is afforded appropriate

respect, thereby minimising the occurrence of electrocution and property damage.

5.1.1. Increasing Consumer Awareness

The Technical Regulator maintains and continually updates electrical safety literature, which is made

available to the public. This information is also readily accessible through the Technical Regulator’s website

located in the energy section of www.sa.gov.au/otr. The same information in brochure format has been

distributed directly to all South Australian councils, as well as via SA Power Networks and by direct mail to

people seeking advice by telephone. The Technical Regulator aims to reach a wider audience through

communications with councils, builders and developers. In 2015/16, more than 100 printed brochures were

requested by local councils, and hundreds more were given out to electrical entities, other local councils

and members of the general public.

The following brochures are available from the Technical Regulator website or in print:

Building Safely near Powerlines

Working Safely near Overhead Powerlines

Working Safely near Underground Assets

Trees and Powerlines

The Technical Regulator also provides presentations that address the requirements for building structures

and working safely near powerlines. Seven presentations were given to building industry companies and

local councils during 2015/16. Engineers from the OTR frequently attend site visits to discuss technical and

legal requirements with all relevant parties in order to achieve safety and regulatory compliance.

5.1.2. Continuous Safety Promotion

The Technical Regulator’s ongoing promotion of electricity safety continued in 2015/16, through the “Be

Energy Safe” campaign. The promotion comprised advertisements in print and other media. The promotion

was designed to run in support of specific campaigns, warnings and recalls issued by the Technical

Regulator.

The objectives of the continuous safety promotion are:

to raise the public’s awareness of electrical safety issues

to influence the general public to take positive action in relation to electrical safety

to promote knowledge of the Technical Regulator as a service provider on electrical safety matters

5.1.3. Technical Regulator Website

Online content for the OTR has two main addresses: www.sa.gov.au/otr for technical information and

www.sa.gov.au/energysafe for consumer safety information. The OTR web content is regularly updated as

technical regulation and safety issues change or occur.

In 2015/16, there were 163,370 visitors to the OTR web content, of which 70% were new visitors. The

number of page views reached 314,102. On average, users of OTR content looked at 1.92 pages per visit

and spent just under two minutes engaging with the content. 74% of visitors were from Australia and, of

those, 36% of visitors were from Adelaide.

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Figure 5-1: Google statistics for the OTR website

Table 5.1.1: Legend

Name Definition

Sessions Total number of visits to the OTR site

Unique Visitors Total number of first time visitors

Pageviews Total number of pages viewed

Pages / Session Average number of pages viewed per visit

Avg. Session Duration Average visit length of all visitors

Bounce Rate Percent of single-page visits

% New Sessions Percent of total visitors who visited the site for the first time

The top three OTR – Electricity pages visited for 2015/16 were:

Acts, regulations and Standards (8,187 unique views)

Safety switches (8,969 unique views)

Power board and extension cord safety (6,760 unique views)

The ongoing Be Energy Safe campaign promotes safe and responsible use of electrical and gas

equipment. The key electrical safety communication objectives include:

When to test a safety switch

How to check if an electrician is licensed

Remembering to get a certificate of compliance for electrical work

Being safe around power lines.

Across the three digital delivery methods (Google Display Network, Google Search and Facebook display)

the campaign delivered fairly consistent results across the campaign period.

The campaign delivered over 12,472,753 impressions with over 21,221 clicks generated at a 0.18% click

through rate (CTR). This performance was considered to have achieved the campaign performance

objectives.

Statistically the best performing platform was google display with an average CTR of 0.24% – providing

slightly better efficiency and response than Facebook. End of campaign figures for Facebook came in at

9.3m impressions served, 10.1k clicks and 243k unique users reached. The click through rate from the

campaign finished up at 0.11% which is a good result.

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The best responses to campaign messages were recorded against:

Use of licenced electrical/ gas fitters

Powerline safety – farming

Safety switches

Carbon monoxide

Gas leak reporting

Site analytics for sa.gov.au/energysafe supported this with a noted increase in visits aligned to the

campaign schedule and increased time on site during these periods.

5.2. Electrical Safety Survey Since 1999, an annual consumer safety survey on household electrical safety issues has been conducted

by the Technical Regulator. The aim of the survey is to determine South Australian consumers’ knowledge

of electrical safety and the effectiveness of the Technical Regulator’s electrical education campaigns and

legislative functions. The results of the survey assist in identifying areas in which the Technical Regulator’s

resources can be most effectively focussed. For 2015/16, newfocus was commissioned to conduct the

consumer energy safety survey for the Technical Regulator.

5.2.1. Objectives

The general objectives of the survey were:

Regulatory objectives:

Measure adherence to requirements and any changes over time for

o Provision of certificates of compliance on work completed

o Engagement of licenced operators

Community education objectives:

Measure community awareness of regulatory requirements

Monitor community knowledge of risks and the behaviours adopted

Identify new or emerging gaps in community understanding and behaviours

Help to identify areas which may require future interventions and/or communications

5.2.2. Sample

A random sample of 400 households were interviewed by a Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI)

process. This comprised of 300 households in metropolitan Adelaide and 100 households in regional South

Australia.

5.2.3. Key Outcomes

Only 18% of respondents had engaged tradespeople to undertake maintenance or repairs on their

home, this is reduced from 32% in 2014/15

65% of respondents who had electrical installation or repair work done received a certificate of

compliance, which has decreased from 76% in 2014/15

Almost all respondents (96%) were aware that the law requires electricians to have an appropriate

licence

80% were also aware that legally they should be provided with a certificate of compliance on

completion of the work

Of the 12% who reported buying electrical appliances online, 67% reported that these came with a

safety certification

61% were aware to some extent of the potential fire risks of halogen downlights

56% regularly checked the condition of their electrical appliances

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An outcome of concern was that 11% reported use of an electrical appliance they knew to be

unsafe (eg. frayed electrical cords)

24% test their electricity safety switch more than once a year and an additional 34% test their

safety switch every 1-2 years. 30% reported that they never test their safety switch.

Only a very small 2% service their solar electricity system more than once a year, but 30% service

their system every 3-5 years and 25% more than every five years. 38% reported that they never

service their solar electricity system

When asked if they could recall any of the following messages, the results were:

o Requirement for tradespersons to be licensed (46%)

o Testing electrical safety switches (30%)

o Be Energy Safe website (14%)

Those who were able to recall the safety campaign were:

o More likely to have been provided with proof of licence

o More likely to test their electrical safety switch at least every 2 years

The results obtained were consistent with the last two years surveys with a high awareness of the need for

tradespersons to be licensed, a small percentage of appliances being bought online and a satisfying

percentage of people recalling the safety messages. It was also apparent that more people are changing

their behaviour towards energy safety after seeing safety promotions.

This study continues to help the Technical Regulator reinforce the advertising campaigns, website and

other useful tools to inform the public about the key safety information with regard to electricity and its use.

The Technical Regulator may make relevant sections of the survey report available to electricity industry

entities, upon request.

The results of the consumer survey emphasise a need to continue to remind the public about the following

key safety requirements:

ensure you are provided with a certificate of compliance from their licenced gas fitter, electrician or

plumber upon the completion of any installation or maintenance work;

regular maintenance of your appliances should not be overlooked; and

the need to regularly test your electrical safety switch

The survey also pointed out that safety attitudes and behaviours may be influenced by life-stage and

demographic factors. For instance, older consumers living with a partner may have more time available to

consider safety matters, whereas young families might be time poor and younger people may have a lack

of knowledge. People in regional areas have also a tendency to be more conscious of risks (particularly

those related to fire). The Technical Regulator will take this feedback into the next safety campaign.

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Section 6: Regulatory Coordination

The Technical Regulator is responsible for the administration of the safety and technical provisions of the

Electricity Act 1996 (the Act) and Regulations. The Electricity Act 1996 also establishes the functions of the

Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) with respect to the electricity industry.

6.1. Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) In accordance with Section 14B of the Act, the Technical Regulator has established the Technical Advisory

Committee (TAC). The Committee includes representatives from the energy entities, contractor and

employee associations and local government. The committee members for the year were:

Rob Faunt Technical Regulator (Chair)

James Corbett Office of the Technical Regulator

Reinhard Struve Office of the Technical Regulator

Grant Cox SA Power Networks

Bill Jackson ElectraNet SA

Tri Tran AGL Torrens Island

Larry Moore National Electrical and Communications Association

Robert Donnelly Communications Electrical Plumbing Union

Adam Baehnisch Consumer and Business Services

Shane O’Loughlin Australian Services Union

Jennifer Gater Electrical Energy Society of Australia

Trevor Tucker Office of the Technical Regulator

Andrew Szacinski Office of the Technical Regulator

Thomas Sika Office of the Technical Regulator

Douglas Buchanan Communications Electrical Plumbing Union

Andrew Clarke Master Plumbers Association

Ralph Mignone Australian Gas Networks

Dino Santinon APA Group

George Michael LPGA

The role of this Committee is to provide advice to the Technical Regulator, either on its own initiative or at

the request of the Technical Regulator, on any matters relating to the functions of the Technical Regulator.

The Technical Regulator keeps the committee abreast of the activities and the strategic direction of the

Technical Regulator to assist the committee with its deliberations.

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6.2. Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC) National uniformity and consistency is extremely important to electricity utility operators, manufacturers,

electrical workers, contractors and consumers. ERAC has representatives from all Australian States and

Territories and New Zealand. It formally meets twice per year to address regulatory matters related to key

technical and worker licensing issues facing the electrical industry and to develop national strategies to

address these issues in a consistent manner.

Meetings are divided into five sessions, each with their own chairperson, covering general matters,

electrical installations and inspection, electrical equipment safety, electrical licensing and electricity supply

(network infrastructure).

The South Australian Technical Regulator is presently chairing the electrical installations and inspection

session. There has been a focus placed on the regulation of new technologies such as solar panel

installations. More recently there has also been work associated with the further development of the solar

PV inverter standard and the development of a new standard addressing battery storage devices.

ERAC works closely with Standards Australia with a view to maintaining and developing national Standards

which in turn become state-based requirements when they are called up by legislation. The Technical

Regulator, as a member of ERAC, actively participates in Standards development issues arising from

ERAC meetings. The Technical Regulator also participates in a number of ERAC working groups to ensure

that national developments take account of South Australian issues.

Uniform Standards are beneficial in that they provide for movement of workers between regions and enable

the development of Standards based on the experience of a wider group. The national Standards

development process also supports the ongoing review and improvement of safety Standards in a

transparent manner. ERAC has been active in setting the agenda for the progressive review and

implementation of network safety Standards. This has included a standard dedicated to safety issues

associated with “smart” meters.

ERAC has been particularly keen to support the timely development of Standards which deal with matters

that have a direct impact on the interface between the network industry and the general public, such as

powerline clearances.

Following its review of the regime for regulating electrical equipment safety in Australia, ERAC has

recommended an updated system aimed at eliminating shock, injury and property damage resulting from

the sale, supply and use of unsafe electrical equipment. ERAC has proposed that the new system should

be underpinned by nationally consistent performance-based legislation in each jurisdiction and

comprehensive scheme rules. It contains a mixture of pre-market registration based on third party safety

assessment and post-market enforcement.

The system will be designed to take into account the changing character of the electrical appliance supply

industry in Australia. The recommendations formed the basis of the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS),

released for public comment by ERAC. Following consideration of public submissions on the RIS and

further industry consultation, a final RIS was endorsed by ERAC members. In order that a national scheme

is agreed and implemented, ERAC is in the process of developing an intergovernmental agreement (IGA)

between all states and territories to gain Ministerial agreement to progress the scheme.

The Ministerial Council on Energy (MCE) has established the Energy Technical and Safety Leaders Group

(Leaders Group). The Leaders Group was tasked with the development of a plan to achieve further

harmonisation of state and territory safety regulation for the electricity and gas supply industry. The plan

presented by the Leaders Group contains recommendations for achieving a harmonised national

framework within which state and territory energy supply industry safety and technical regulations could

operate. The plan proposes an IGA as the central mechanism by which jurisdictions would commit to a

series of overarching principles and objectives supporting harmonisation. The MCE has given in principle

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agreement to the recommendations contained in the plan as they apply to MCE Ministers’ portfolio

responsibilities. MCE Ministers also agreed to work with related portfolio Ministers within their jurisdiction to

progress the proposed IGA. The objective of the IGA is to create a nationally harmonised energy supply

industry safety framework, to ensure enhanced public and industry safety, enhance worker mobility and

contribute to the efficient delivery of energy network services. In particular, the IGA will formalise

governments’ commitment to make necessary legislative or other changes to support the nationally

harmonised safety framework for the energy supply industry. The IGA does not commit to the development

of model or applied legislation.

As part of the harmonised safety framework, the IGA commits participating jurisdictions to an ongoing work

program in Standards development (such as the Australian Standard for Energy Network Safety Systems),

operating safety rules and skills and training. This work would be supported by the Energy Supply Industry

Safety Committee (ESISC), a non-statutory advisory body that provides advice, knowledge and expertise to

the MCE and its Senior Committee of Officials (SCO) on the development and implementation of the

nationally harmonised safety framework. In 2012, the Commonwealth, states and territories endorsed the

IGA on Energy Supply Industry Safety by signature of First Ministers. Under the IGA, Commonwealth, state

and territory governments agree to put in place a nationally harmonised safety framework for the energy

supply industry. The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the ESISC came into effect with the signing of the IGA.

The TOR tasked ESISC to develop and implement a nationally harmonised safety framework for the

energy supply industry.

The TOR requires that ESISC submit to the MCE’s Senior Committee of Officials (SCO) for approval the

ESISC implementation plan for five years. This plan requires a progress update every 12 months on:

Energy Network Safety Systems;

Consistency with National Occupational Health and Safety;

Consistency with National Occupational Licensing System initiatives;

Legislative and regulatory issues;

Expanded National Refresher Training Recognition Protocol for the Electricity Supply Industry;

Generation harmonisation, and

Harmonised Operating Safety Rules.

A key outcome of this work was the development and publication on 18 April 2013 of the Australian

Standard AS 5577:2013 Electricity Networks Safety Management Systems.

The new standard provides a national framework for the harmonisation of energy network safety systems.

It is anticipated that the new standard will be called up in legislation during 2016/17.

6.3. Energy Industry Ombudsman There is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in place between the Technical Regulator and the

Energy Industry Ombudsman (EIO). The MOU defines how the two bodies will interact to deal with

customer complaints

The EIO sought the Technical Regulator’s advice on some occasions during 2015/16. In all cases, advice

was sought on customer complaints received by the EIO that had resulted from the customer not being

satisfied with the responses from the electricity entities. The technical input provided by the Technical

Regulator has assisted the EIO in assessing a range of complex issues.

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Operating Statement Appendix 1:

6.4. Operating Statement for the year ended 30 June 2016 In the 2015/16 financial year, pursuant to Section 20 of the Electricity Act 1996, licence revenue received

for electricity amounted to $3,023 million which includes funding for the National Electricity Emergency

Management function. This was used to recoup the recurrent costs of the Office of the Technical

Regulator. Total recurrent costs for the year amounted to $3,019 million. After allowing for other income

there was an operating net surplus of $38,107.

Operating Revenues $

Licence Fees 3 023 000

Expiation Fees 510

Approval Fees 32 954

Others 27

TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES 3 056 491

Operating Expenses $

Salaries and Wages 2 025 047

Goods and Services 993 337

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES 3 018 384

NET SURPLUS FOR THE PERIOD 38 107

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Personal Injury Appendix 2:

The Technical Regulator is responsible for the investigation of all electric shocks and burns the reports

about them under the Electricity (General) Regulations 2012. This enables the Technical Regulator to

maintain records so that trends can be identified and remedial action taken. All electrical fatalities are

investigated by the Technical Regulator, as are incidents on the electricity transmission and distribution

network. The Technical Regulator prepares reports for the Coroner on all electrical fatalities.

Table A2.1: Comparison of Electrical Fatalities in Australia and New Zealand

Population

’000s

08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16

SA 1,702.8 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 0

NSW 7,670.7 2 5 2 5 3 5 2 7

NT 244.0 0 2 1 0 0 1 1 0

QLD 4,808.8 3 5 7 4 3 1 3 2

TAS 517.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

VIC 5,996.4 1 9 4 1 1 2 1 5

ACT 393.0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0

WA 2,603.9 4 2 4 0 2 1 2 1

AUS 23,940.31

9 25 20 12 11 11 11 16

NZ 4,633.92 6 3 3 3 1 1 1 2

Note 1: Estimated Resident Population at 31 December 2016, Australian Bureau of Statistics

Note 2: Estimated Resident Population at 30 June 2016, Statistics New Zealand

There were no recorded electrocutions in 2015/16 in South Australia.

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Legislative Framework Appendix 3:

The Technical Regulator (Electricity) operates within the following legislative framework:

Electricity Act 1996

Electricity (General) Regulations 2012

Electricity (Principles of Vegetation Clearance) Regulations 2010

Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Act 2000

Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Regulations 2012

A3.1. Objectives of the Electricity Act 1996 The Electricity Act 1996 and associated Regulations were developed to provide the legislative framework to

ensure that South Australian consumers continue to have access to a safe, reliable and high quality

electricity supply and safe electrical installations in the competitive national electricity market.

Section 3 of the Electricity Act 1996 provides:

“The objects of the Electricity Act 1996 are –

(a) to promote efficiency and competition in the electricity supply industry; and

(b) to promote the establishment and maintenance of a safe and efficient system of electricity

generation, transmission, distribution and supply; and

(c) to establish and enforce proper standards of safety, reliability and quality in the electricity supply

industry; and

(d) to establish and enforce proper safety and technical Standards for electrical installations; and

(e) to protect the interest of consumers of electricity.”

A3.2. Functions of the Technical Regulator The Technical Regulator’s functions are outlined in the Electricity Act 1996.

Section 8 of the Act states that:

“The Technical Regulator has the following functions:

(a) the monitoring and regulation of safety and technical Standards in the electricity supply industry;

and

(b) the monitoring and regulation of safety and technical Standards with respect to electrical

installations; and

(c) the administration of the provisions of this Act relating to the clearance of vegetation from

powerlines; and

(ca) the monitoring and investigation of major interruptions to the electricity supply in the State and the

provision of reports relating to such interruptions in accordance with any requirements prescribed

by the regulations; and

(d) any other functions prescribed by regulation or assigned to the Technical Regulator by or under

this or any other Act.”

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A3.3. Energy Products (Safety & Efficiency) Act 2000 Energy Products (Safety & Efficiency) Act 2000

The Energy Products (Safety & Efficiency) Act 2000 outlines the requirements relating to the safety,

performance, energy efficiency and labelling of electrical products (including electrical appliances, wires,

cables, insulators, fittings and electrical measuring instruments).

The Technical Regulator appointed under the Electricity Act 1996 administers the Energy Products (Safety

& Efficiency) Act 2000. The Technical Regulator’s responsibilities include:

authorisation to label proclaimed products to certify their compliance with safety and performance

Standards (approvals)

authorisation to label proclaimed products so as to indicate their energy efficiency (energy

efficiency labelling)

the testing or certifying of products and the prohibition of the sale or use of, and public warning

statements about, products that are unsafe or likely to become unsafe in use

required traders to take specified action to recall unsafe product from use within the marketplace

The Electrical Products Act 2000 was amended and renamed as the Energy Products (Safety & Efficiency)

Act 2000. The amendments, together with the Regulations and the proclamation came into effect on 10

May 2012.

A3.4. Standards, Codes and Guidelines The Electricity Act 1996 and the Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Act 2000 enable regulations to

call up Standards. Standards that apply to particular products are detailed in the Energy Products (Safety

and Efficiency) Proclamation 2012. When called up by legislation, these Standards become part of the

legal framework.

Published Standards are the backbone of the industry. They outline the required safety and technical

requirements and provide for processes by which they can be improved. Aspects of electricity supply

addressed by Standards, Codes and Guidelines are set out in Table A3.4.1 below.

Safety and technical Standards are published documents which have been progressively developed in

consultation with the electricity supply industry, end users and manufacturers of equipment. They define

minimum requirements for the various components of electricity supply and ensure that the industry is

performing with high levels of safety and reliability. Technical Standards also include specified best practice

performance methods and tests (such as for safety or energy efficiency) and are designed to ensure the

safe and effective operation of electrical equipment.

Various Standards that are indicative of best practice in the Australian electricity supply industry have been

called up by the Electricity (General) Regulations 2012. Those Standards are binding on the electrical

entities licensed in this State to generate electricity or operate a transmission or distribution network, and

on other participants in the electricity supply industry that have been exempted from the requirement to

hold a licence for their infrastructure operations.

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Table A3.4.1: Electricity Supply Infrastructure addressed by Standards, Codes and Guidelines

Aerial Lines

Conductors Insulated Cables Insulators

Insulator and Conductor Fittings Thermal Limits Short Circuit Capacity

Mechanical Loading Conditions Conductor Tensions Structures and Footings

Clearances from Ground Clearances from Structures Spacing of Conductors

Maintenance

Substations

Electrical Design Circuit Breakers and Ancillary Equipment

Switchgear Assemblies and Ancillary Equipment

Control Equipment Insulating Panels Power Transformers

Bushings Surge Arrestors Batteries

Insulation Coordination Safety Clearances Buildings and Enclosures

Switchyard Structures, Footings and Foundations

Maintenance

Earthing and Electrical Protection Systems

Protection Earthing Maintenance

Testing

Published Standards include: Australian/New Zealand Standards; Standards of the International

Electrotechnical Commission (IEC); guidelines of the Environmental Protection Authority; Energy Networks

Australia codes – formerly Energy Supply Association of Australia (ESAA) codes; and the Institute of

Electrical and Electronic Engineers guidelines.

These Standards are prepared by national technical committees that represent a broad spectrum of

interests. These include regulators, other Government bodies, industry experts and consumer

representatives. To ensure they are kept up to date, Standards are regularly reviewed. The Technical

Regulator is represented on 13 relevant electrical Australian Standards committees and takes on an

important role in reviewing the Standards. The Technical Regulator, as part of compliance auditing, refers

to the Standards and reviews the operation of, and compliance with the Standards.

Various Australian Standards are called up by the Electricity (General) Regulations 2012, as are other

nationally and internationally recognised Standards. The Energy Networks Australia (ENA) codes –

formerly Energy Supply Association of Australia (ESAA) codes, are indicative of best industry practice in

the Australian electricity supply industry. Those called up by the Electricity (General) Regulations 2012 are

binding on electrical entities in South Australia.

In 2015/16, the Technical Regulator continued in the important role of reviewing Standards, within the

Standards Committees because of the need to both regulate in accordance with them and to review their

operation.

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Representation on Standards Committees by the Technical Regulator is limited to those committees that

may have an impact on safety within South Australian industry and on the Technical Regulator’s

responsibilities. These are:

EL-001 Wiring Rules

EL-001-09 Wiring Rules Drafting Subcommittee

EL-001-17 Construction Demolition Sites Installations

EL-001-21 Testing and Inspection of Electrical Installations

EL-001-24 Generator Sets

EL-002 Safety of Household Appliances

EL-004 Electrical Accessories

EL-42 Renewable Energy Power Supplies and Systems

EL-42-03 Grid connection of energy systems by inverters

EL-42-05 Safety of battery systems for use in inverter energy systems

EL-044 Safe Working on Low Voltage Electrical Installations

EL-052 Electrical Energy Networks, Construction and Operation

ET-007 Coordinating Committee on Power and Telecommunications

QR-012 Essential Safety and Regulatory Compliance Mark committee

Because of the large number of Australian and New Zealand Standards, representation is shared between

all Australian and New Zealand regulators and industry to minimise costs and to ensure that the Standards

are practical, commercially equitable and suitable for regulatory purposes.

Selected major achievements of some of the committees during 2015/16:

Standards Australia Committee EL-001- Wiring Rules

During 2015/16, the EL-001 Committee worked on:

review of AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules

review and amendments to AS/NZS 3003 Patient Areas

review of AS/NZS 3008 Selection of cables

review of AS/NZS 3010 Generator Sets

amendments to AS/NZS 3012 Construction and Demolition sites

Standards Australia Committee EL-002 – Safety of Household Appliances

Participation on this Standards committee over the last year has seen the review and implementation of

amendments to various appliance Standards, to help improve consumer safety. Some highlights of 2015-

16 include:

Amendment 3 for AS/NZS 60335.1 was published, which included a clarification that the

disconnection requirements of AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules applies to stationary appliances

permanently connected to fixed wiring. This was to address an issue where manufacturers of

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certain appliances were unnecessarily requiring switching of neutral conductors; this created a

burden and additional cost to the electrical contracting industry.

Various ongoing works in conjunction with ACCC to help reduce the incidents of children being

injured by ingestion of button/coin cell batteries. Various appliance Standards are being reviewed

and amended to address issues relating to battery compartment requirements and

information/instructions provided with equipment. AS/NZS 3100 General requirements for electrical

equipment is in the process of being reviewed to address this issue.

Standards Australia Committee EL-004 – Electrical Accessories

This year various new Standards were published with a strategic focus on alignment with IEC Standards

wherever practical. This includes the release of:

AS/NZS 5112:2015 Tunnel type terminal neutral bars for low voltage switchboards-requirements for

termination of copper conductors up to 50mm2; and

AS/NZS 3190:2016 Approval and test specification-Residual current devices (current-operated earth-

leakage devices).

Various Standards were also amended to enhance safety where deficiencies were identified; one highlight

was the amendment 3:2016 for AS/NZS 3112:2011 Approval and test specification-Plugs and socket-

outlets. An additional requirement for socket-outlets to have IP2X protection to cover access to live parts

and contact with screws for mounting brackets or wall boxes. The extent of the degree of protection IP2X is

intended to cover a situation where a socket-outlet may be mounted to a bracket or enclosure that is not

‘earthed’.

Standards Australia Committee EL-42 – Renewable Energy Power Supplies and Systems

The standard AS/NZS 5033:2014 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays is

currently under review to address issues with ongoing DC isolator failures/fires in the field. This includes

adoption of the latest IEC 60947.3 switch-disconnector standard with AS/NZS variations, increased IP

classification and installation requirements of equipment installed outdoors and review of the temperature

derating requirements of equipment exposed to the sun. An amendment is expected to be published by the

end of 2016.

The sub-committee EL-42-03 published AS/NZS 4777.2:2015 Grid Connection of energy systems via

inverters-Part 2: Inverter requirements. This standard includes various new requirements such as revised

set-points and limits to match electricity distributor requirements, inclusion of provisions for demand

response and power quality response modes and additional requirements for multiple mode inverter

operation (e.g. such as UPS) and associated energy storage. AS/NZS 4777.1 Grid connection of energy

systems via inverters-Part 1: Installation requirements is expected to be published in 2016. This standard

has new voltage rise limits, revised RCD protection requirements for inverter circuits and new phase

balance, central voltage and frequency protection requirements for larger systems.

The sub-committee EL-42-05 is currently developing a new battery energy system standard AS/NZS 5139,

in anticipation of an increased uptake of battery systems used particularly in residential grid-connected

power systems and to address concerns associated with new emerging battery technologies. The standard

will address various installation safety issues concerning battery storage, integration with existing powers

systems and electrical protection requirements. This standard is expected to be released in early 2017, and

will supersede current battery Standards which are outdated.

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Standards Australia Committee QR-012 – Essential Safety and Regulatory Compliance Mark

committee

Amendment 2 has been published for AS/NZS 4417.2:2012 Regulatory compliance mark for electrical and

electronic equipment Part 2: Specific requirements for particular regulatory applications. New Australian

equipment regulatory definitions have been introduced and include, air conditioner incorporating flammable

refrigerant, building wiring cable and double capped light emitting semiconductor lamp. The Energy

Products (Safety and Efficiency) Proclamation is currently being reviewed to incorporate these new

definitions as Proclaimed electrical products. Various other electrical products are currently being assessed

for equipment classification in AS/NZS 4417.2:2012. These products include heating pad – flexible, electric

hot water bottle, DC isolator, glue gun, nightlight and over blanket. If these products fall within high risk

classification of this standard, they will likely become proclaimed products under the Energy Products

(Safety & Efficiency) Act 2000 that require an Australian approval prior to sale. This assessment is

expected to be completed by the end of 2016.

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Appendix 4: Risks associated with the electricity industry and the activities of the Technical Regulator

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Products Appendix 5:

A5.1. Proclaimed Electrical Products Following are the 56 classes of products currently proclaimed under the Energy Products (Safety &

Efficiency) Act 2000 for safety purposes:

1 Appliance Connector

2 Arc Welding Machine (stick and gas shielded)

3 Bayonet Lampholder

4 Bayonet Lampholder Adaptor

5 Blanket

6 Bread Toaster

7 Clothes Dryer

8 Control or Conditioning Device

9 Cooking Appliance – Portable Type

10 Cord Extension Socket

11 Cord-Line Switch

12 Decorative Lighting Outfit (chains)

13 Dishwashing Machine

14 Edison Screw Lampholder

15 Fan

16 Fence Energiser

17 Flexible Heating Pad

18 Floor Polisher/Scrubber

19 Fluorescent Lamp Ballast, Electronic Lamp Ballast (including compact fluorescent)

20 Fluorescent Lamp Starter

21 Hair Care Appliance

22 Hedge Clipper

23 Immersion Heater Aquarium Heaters

24 Insect Electrocutor

25 Inspection Hand Lamp

26 Iron, Garment Steamers

27 Kitchen Machine

28 Lawn Care Appliance

29 Liquid Heating Appliance

30 Luminaire – Portable Type

31 Massage Appliance

32 Microwave Oven

33 Miniature Over-Current Circuit Breaker

34 Outlet Device

35 Plug

36 Power Supply or Charger

37 Projector

38 Range

39 Range Hood

40 Razor/Hair Clipper

41 Refrigerating Appliance

42 Residual Current Device

43 Room Heater and Room Heater, Thermal Storage

44 Sewing Machine

45 Socket-Outlet

46 Soldering Iron

47 Supply Flexible Cord

48 Swimming Pool/Spa Equipment

49 Television Receiver

50 Therapeutic Lamp

51 Tool, Portable type

52 Vacuum Cleaner

53 Wall Switch

54 Washing Machine

55 Water Bed Heater

56 Water Heater

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A5.2. Proclaimed Products requiring MEPS Registration

Air-conditioner – close control

Air conditioner – refrigerative

Distribution transformer

ELV Lighting converter

Electric motor three phase

Electric water Heater

External power supply

Fluorescent lamp ballast

Freezer

Gas water heater

Incandescent lamp

Linear fluorescent lamp

Liquid-chilling package

Refrigerated display cabinet

Refrigerator

Refrigerator/freezer

Self-ballasted compact fluorescent lamp

Set top box

Television set

Water heater

A5.3. Proclaimed Products requiring Energy Efficiency Labelling

Air conditioner – refrigerative

Clothes dryer

Dishwashing machine

Fluorescent lamp ballast

Freezer

Refrigerator

Refrigerator-freezer

Television set

Washing machine

The full descriptions of the proclaimed electrical products (A5.1, A5.2 and A5.3 as detailed above) can be

found in the Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Proclamation 2012, available in the Proclamations and

Notices section of www.legislation.sa.gov.au.

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Generators Appendix 6:

A6.1. Major Generators

The information for the major generator capacities below are sourced from the AEMO SA existing generation

information and ESCOSA Generation Licences website.

Table A6.1.1: Major Generators

Location Capacity (MW) Licensed Entity

Torrens Island (A and B) 1,280 AGL Energy Limited

Pelican Point 478 Pelican Point Power Limited

Dry Creek, Mintaro, Port

Lincoln and Snuggery

383 Synergen Power Pty Limited

Hallett 228 EnergyAustralia Hallett Pty Ltd

Quarantine 224 Origin Energy Power Ltd

Osborne 180 Flinders Osborne Trading Pty Ltd and

Flinders Operating Services Pty Ltd

(Joint Venture of ATCO

Power Australia Pty Ltd and Origin

Energy Power Ltd)

Ladbroke Grove 80 Origin Energy Power Ltd

Reference: AEMO: SA existing generation Information (August 2016) and ESCOSA Licenses

A6.2. Wind Farms

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The information for the wind farm capacities below are sourced from the AEMO SA existing wind generation

information and ESCOSA Wind Generation Licences website.

Table A6.2.1: Wind Farms

Location Capacity (MW)

Canunda Wind Farm 46

Cathedral Rocks Wind Farm 66

Brown Hill (Hallett Stage 1) 94.5

Hallett Hill (Hallett Stage 2) 71.4

North Brown Hill (Hallett Stage 4) 132.3

Bluff Wind Farm (Hallett Stage 5) 52.5

HWF 1 Pty Ltd (Hornsdale) 102.4

Lake Bonney Stage 1 80.5

Lake Bonney Stage 2 159

Lake Bonney Stage 3 39

Mt Millar Wind Farm 70

Pacific Hydro Clements Gap Pty Ltd 56.7

Starfish Hill Wind Farm 34.5

Snowtown Wind Farm 98.7

Snowtown S2 North 144

Snowtown S2 South 126

Trust Power Holdings Pty Ltd 2.1

Waterloo Wind Farm 111

Wattle Point Wind Farm 90.8

Total Capacity 1577.4 MW

Reference: AEMO: SA existing wind generation Information (15 May 2016) and ESCOSA Licenses

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A6.3 Small Operators

Table A6.3.1: Small generation, distribution and transmission operators with approved SRMTMPs

Location Licensed Entity Type

Yunta Dalfoam Pty Ltd Diesel (also distribution)

Whyalla OneSteel Manufacturing Pty Ltd Gas Turbines (also

distribution)

Coober Pedy Coober Pedy District Council Diesel and wind (also

distribution)

Iron Knob and Pimba and

other remote areas2

Cowell Electric Supply Pty Ltd Distribution and

Generation

Andamooka Jeril Enterprises Pty Ltd Gas and diesel (also

distribution)

Roxby Downs Municipal Council of Roxby Downs Distribution

Olympic Dam BHP Billiton Transmission

Various1

Energy Developments Limited

Group Operations Pty Ltd

Landfill Gas

Lonsdale, Angaston and

Port Stanvac

Infratil Energy Australia Pty Ltd Diesel

Wilpena Pound AGL Photovoltaic

Coopers Brewery

Regency Park

AGL Cogeneration

Oak Valley and Yatala Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and

Reconciliation

Diesel and photovoltaic

Moomba

Cooper Basin

Santos Limited Steam and Gas turbines

Diesel and Gas

(also distribution)

Moomba/ Adelaide

Pipeline

Epic Energy South Australia Pty

Limited

Diesel and gas (also

distribution)

Hope Valley Lofty Ranges Power Pty Ltd and

SA Water Corporation

Mini Hydro

Note 1: Wingfield, Tea Tree Gully, Highbury, Pedlar Creek

Note 2: Oodnadatta, Marree, Kingoonya, Parachilna, Nundroo, Mannahill, Marla, Glendambo, Blinman Umuwa, Amata,

Pipalyatjara, Watarru, Murputja,

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Transmission Appendix 7:

The electricity transmission system transports power from the power stations directly to a series of sub-

stations and switchyards, which in turn supply the distribution system and directly connected transmission

customers. The major transmission entity in the State, ElectraNet, owns and operates a network of

approximately 5,600 circuit kilometres of transmission lines. The network operates at nominal voltages of

primarily 275 kV and 132 kV with a smaller number of 66 kV lines. The transmission system also includes 88

substations and switchyards.

Table A7.1: ElectraNet Key Performance Indicators

Performance Indicator

Performance

Measured

Definition of Indicator 2015/16 2015/16

Substation

Routine Task

Rate

Volume of

planned

substation

maintenance

Number of Substation Routine

Tasks completed

4,104 5,300

Line Routine

Task Rate

Planned line

maintenance

during the period

Number of Line Routine Tasks

completed during the

reporting period

1,557 1,374

Substation

Corrective Task

Rate

Unplanned

Substation

maintenance

during the period

Number of Substation

Corrective Tasks completed

during the reporting period

5,046 7,164

Line Corrective

Task Rate

Unplanned Line

maintenance

during the period

Number of Line Corrective

Tasks completed during the

reporting period

4,069 4,226

Vegetation

Infringements

Vegetation

maintenance

Number of reported

vegetation infringements

unresolved within 7 days

during the fire season

0 0

Fire Starts

Line maintenance Number of fire starts caused

by ElectraNet transmission

assets.

1 0

Major Plant

Failure Events

Events reported

under 73(3)(a) of

the Electricity

(General)

Regulations 2012

Number of failures of major

plant requiring replacement

(eg. HV transformers, circuit

breakers, disconnectors,

instrument transformers

9 7

Electric Shock

Reports

Safety Number of shock reports

during the period

0 0

Switching

Incident Rate

Switching safety Number of switching incidents

per number of switching plans

issued

0.1% 0.08%

Lost Time

Injuries

Safety Number of injuries resulting in

more than one day lost

0 0

Lost Time Injury

Frequency Rate

Safety Number of injuries resulting in

more than one day lost per

0.0 0.0

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Performance Indicator

Performance

Measured

Definition of Indicator 2015/16 2015/16

million hours worked

Medical

Treatment

Injuries

Safety Number of medical treatment

injuries

3 1

Medical

Treatment Injury

Frequency Rate

Safety Number of medical treatment

injuries per million hours

worked

4.31 2.16

Contractor

Safety Incidents

involving Injury

ElectraNet’s

contractor safety

Number of reported

construction and maintenance

contractor safety incidents

involving injury

4 5

Emergency

Management

Plan Exercises

ElectraNet’s

emergency

response

preparedness

Number of completed

Emergency Management Plan

exercises

1 1

Table A7.2: Murraylink Circuit Availability Performance Indicators

2014/15 2015/16 Target

Outage

(Hrs)

Availability Outage

(Hrs)

Availability Outage

(Hrs)

Availability

Planned

Outage 117h 56min 97.95% 142h 25min 98.37% 72h 99.17%

Peak Period

Forced Outage 40h 16min 99.53% 6h 47min 99.92% 45h 99.48%

Off Peak

Period Forced

Outage

19h 36min 99.77% 1h 41min 99.98% 55.8h 99.34%

Lost Time

Injuries 0

0 0

Medical

Treatment

Injuries

0

0 0

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Distribution Appendix 8:

The distribution network delivers power to consumers. The major distribution network operator, SA Power

Networks (formerly ETSA Utilities), owns and maintains over 88,496 kilometres of overhead and underground

distribution lines. The lines operate at 132 kV, 66 kV, 33 kV, 19 kV (SWER), 11 kV, 7.6 kV and low voltage

(400/230 V). SA Power Networks also owns 404 substations and switchyards.

The South Australian distribution network serves 853,726 customers.

In 2014/15, the number of fire starts attributed to the distribution infrastructure decreased from the previous

year by 32.58% to 0.6 fire starts per 1,000 km of mains. This has again decreased in 2015/16 to 0.57 fire

starts per 1,000km of mains.

Table 8.1: Some of SA Power Networks Key Performance Indicators

Safety Management Indicators 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16

Annual cumulative numbers of lost time

accidents and near misses involving SA

Power Networks personnel (including

contractors)

4 Lost Time

705 Near Miss

4 Lost Time

1,236 Near Miss

6 Lost Time

1,479 Near Miss

Hazard logs greater than 30 days old 0 3 0

Number of in progress hazard logs 11 4 0

Actual workplace inspections carried out

per annual inspections planned

1,050 1,055 1,0551

Number of shock reports per 1000 km

of mains

4.4 5.8 72

Number of damage claims per 1000 km

of mains

8.1 4.4 4.53

Number of fire starts per 1000 km of

mains

0.89 0.6 0.57

Number of switching incidents 24 30 22

Number of completed emergency plan

exercises

2 3 3

Technical Management Indicators

% meters within tolerance (per planned

sample)

97.2 98.2 92.2%

General Information

Number of requests for underground

locations provided per year

59,946 78,460 88,673

Number of revenue metering

investigations carried out per year

5,160 5,072 4,534

Audited compliance against internal

vegetation clearance procedures and

agreements

Completed by

GHD in December

2013

Completed by

GHD in December

2014

Completed by

GHD in December

2015

Number of network access permits

requested and number of network

access permits issued4

1,684 requested

1,539 issued

1,657 requested

1,524 issued5

1,922 requested

1,692 issued

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Note 1: Estimated only by SA Power Networks

Note 2: 7 = (623/88,819)x1000 where 623 is the number of Shock Reports; 88,819 is the total circuit length of SA Power Networks network used in the calculation

Note 3: 4.5 = (404/88,819)x1000) x 1,000 where 404 is the number of damage claims (one incident can result in multiple claims)

Note 4: Access Permits are issued for all Requests for Network Access (RNA) & for vegetation clearance work not received via a RNA

Note 5: Associated with the RNA’s, or with ad-hoc requests to cut trees by SA Power Networks engaged tree cutters or to dig near SA Power Networks cables

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Glossary and Abbreviations Appendix 9:

A9.1. Definitions

Availability Percentage of time over a year when generating plant was available (after megawatt losses due to outages are taken into account); based on megawatt hours

Cogeneration Production of useful heat and electricity from the same quantity of fuel

Distribution Licence An industry code administered by ESCOSA (adherence to the Code is a condition of a distribution licence)

Meshed Part of a ring main where failure at one point can be isolated and supply system backfed from elsewhere in the system as opposed to radial system, which has only one point of supply

Network Outage Time A measurement of the time that the network cannot supply energy

Reliability Indication of capability of electricity supply system to meet demand; measured by the number of hours when plant was out of service

SAIDI The total of the duration of each customer interruption (in minutes) divided by the total number of customers averaged over the year

SAIFI The total number of customer interruptions divided by the average total number of customers over the year

Generation Production of electricity in power stations, solar arrays and wind farms

Transmission Transport of electricity to the distribution network by high voltage transmission lines

Distribution Delivery of electricity to consumers through the network

Reliability of supply Ability to maintain sufficient generation or flow of electricity to meet the demand of end users

Security of supply Ability to provide responses to the failure of plant and equipment so as to continue the supply of electricity

Distribution reliability Duration of customer supply interruptions (minutes off supply) per customer per annum, averaged over the year Measured by the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI)

Transmission circuit availability Measured by the hours all circuits are available expressed as a percentage of the total possible hours they could be available

Distribution reliability Total duration of customer supply interruptions (minutes off supply) per customer per annum, averaged over the year Measured by the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI)

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A9.2. Performance Indicator Definitions Planned outages

Planned outages generally involve overhaul work, either on a unit or components, planned well in advance,

usually by more than a year.

Maintenance outages

Maintenance outages require the removal of a unit or component from service for work which can be

deferred beyond the next weekend but must be carried out before the next planned outage.

Forced outages

Forced outages involve the removal of a unit or component from service for work that cannot be deferred

beyond the next weekend. The term “equivalent” refers to the conversion of partial outages to equivalent

full outages.

Starting reliability

Starting reliability is the percentage of time the plant actually starts when called upon.

This is only reported for power stations classed as peaking plants. For base load plants, starting reliability

is not applicable as the plant is run continuously.

A9.3. Performance Indicator Formulae

Planned Outage Factor

MWh out of service due to planned outage x 100%

Installed plant capacity (MW) x 8,760 hours

Maintenance Outage Factor

MWh out of service due to maintenance outages x 100%


Equivalent Forced Outage Factor

MWh out of service due to forced outage x 100%


Equivalent Availability Factor

Installed plant capacity ( MW) x 8,760 – MWh losses due to outages) x 100%


Medical Injury Frequency Rate

Number of occurrences in the period x 1,000,000

Number of hours worked in the period

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A9.4. Units J Joule – unit of energy

W watt (1W = 1 joule/second) – unit of power

Wh watt-hour (1Wh = 3,600J) – unit of electrical energy

V Volt – unit of Voltage

VAR Volt Amp Reactive – unit of reactive power

A9.5. Prefixes m (milli) 10

-3

k (kilo) 103

(thousand)

M (mega) 106

(million)

G (giga) 109

(billion)

T (tera) 1012

(trillion)

A9.6. Acronyms and Abbreviations ABC Arial Bundled Cable

AC Alternating Current

ACCC Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

AEMO Australian Energy Market Operator

AER Australian Energy Regulator

APS Augusta Power Stations (Northern Power Station and Playford Power Station)

BBQ Barbecue

CATI Computer Assisted Telephone Interview

CBS Consumer and Business Services

CEC Clean Energy Council

CEPU Communications Electrical Plumbing Union

CTR Click Through Rate

DC Direct Current

DMITRE Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy

DSD Department of State Development

ECC Electrical Certificate of Compliance

EIO Energy Industry Ombudsman

ElectraNet Short form of ElectraNet SA, the trading name of ElectraNet Pty Limited

ELV Extra Low Voltage

ENA Energy Networks Australia

EPARCG Energy Planning and Regulators Coordination Group – formerly the Electricity PARCG.

Merged with the Gas Regulators Coordinators Group in November 2005

ERAC Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council

ESAA Energy Supply Association of Australia

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ESCOSA Essential Services Commission of South Australia. Independent economic regulator,

established by an Act of Parliament. Responsible for licensing, quality of supply and

customer service issues in the South Australian electricity market

ESISC Energy Supply Industry Safety Committee

ETAC Electrical Technical Advisory Committee

ETSA Short form of ETSA Utilities (Now known as SA Power Networks), a

partnership of:

CKI Utilities Development Limited

HEI Utilities Development Limited

CKI Utilities Holdings Limited

HEI Utilities Holdings Limited

CKI/HEI Utilities Distribution Limited

FTE Full Time Equivalent

GDN Google Display Network

HV High voltage

IEC International Electrotechnical Commission (responsible for developing international safety

and technical Standards)

IEEE The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

IGA Inter Government Agreement

KPI Key Performance Indicator

LED Light Emitting Diode

LGA Local Government Association

LV Low voltage (less than 1000 volts; nominally 400/230 volts)

MAP Moomba-Adelaide Pipeline – Gas pipeline that supplies natural gas to Adelaide from the

Moomba processing plant

MCE Ministerial Council on Energy

MED Major Event Day

MEPS Minimum Energy Performance Standards

MEN Multiple Earthed Neutral

MFS Metropolitan Fire Service

MOV Metal Oxide Varistors

MRA Mutual Recognition Agreement or Act allowing legal recognition in one jurisdiction of

product approval or testing procedures in another jurisdiction

NATA National Association of Testing Authorities

NECA National Electrical and Communications Association

NEM National Electricity Market

OCBA Office of Consumer and Business Affairs

OTR Office of the Technical Regulator

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PCB Printed Circuit Board

PDF Portable Document Format

RCBO Residual-current Circuit Breaker with overcurrent protection

RCCB Residual-current Circuit Breaker

RCD Residual Current Device (also known as an earth leakage circuit breaker); commonly

referred to as a ‘Safety Switch’

RCM Regulatory Compliance Mark

RIS Regulatory Impact Statement

SA South Australia

SAIDI System Average Interruption Duration Index

SAIFI System Average Interruption Frequency Index

SAPN SA Power Networks

SAPOL South Australian Police

SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

SCO Senior Committee of Officials

SEAGas South East Australia Gas Pipeline – Gas pipeline that supplies natural gas from Victoria to

Adelaide

SRMTMP Safety, Reliability, Maintenance and Technical Management Plan

SWE Significant Weather Event

SWER Single Wire Earth Return (19kV rural distribution feeder)

TAFE Training and Further Education

TIPS Torrens Island Power Station

TOR Terms of Reference

USAIDI Unplanned System Average Interruption Duration Index

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