WP1323 - Working Near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines

Electricity Entity Requirements:
Working Near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines

9.2. Contact Electricity Entity when planning construction work near electric lines
When planning and before commencement (regardless of whether or not local council approval
is required), it is essential to confirm that the proposed construction work (e.g. building,
structure, sign, crane, scaffold) does not breach the minimum statutory clearance distances that
must be maintained from nearby Electricity Entity overhead or underground electric lines. Refer
Electrical Safety Regulation 2013, Schedule 4 and 5 for information on statutory clearance
distances that must be complied with.
It is extremely dangerous and potentially life threatening to allow anything to come in close
proximity to the conductors of an electric line.
Where it is necessary for an Electricity Entity to relocate electric lines due to statutory clearance
breach caused by construction work performed nearby, the Electricity Entity is entitled to
recover costs from the PCBU, property owner or occupier who caused the breach. Refer
Electrical Safety Regulation 2013, Section 209 Building or adding to structure near electric
lines.
Although it is preferred that the area around Electricity Entity electrical assets (including within
an Easement area) is free of development, the following examples provide property owners and
occupiers with an indication of what type of development is acceptable and what is not.
NOTE:           Do not assume that your local council approval is sufficient approval for you
                to proceed with your work. The local council may not check whether or not
                your proposed construction work will comply with the Electricity Entity’s
                statutory clearance requirements from nearby overhead electric lines.


9.3. What clearances must be
     maintained once construction work
     is completed?
Electrical Safety Regulation 2013, Schedule
4 - Clearance of overhead electric lines and
Schedule 5 – Clearance of low voltage
overhead service lines detail the statutory
clearances that must be maintained from
overhead electric lines for completed
buildings and structures. These statutory
clearances will need to be taken into
consideration during the planning phase of
determining the location for a building or
structure. The table below sets out the
minimum statutory clearances required for
voltage levels up to 33 kV. Additional
requirements may apply for voltage levels
above 33 kV, contact the Electricity Entity for
consultation.
Where the Electricity Entity has identified a breach of statutory clearance resulting from erection
of a building or structure, the statutory breach will be reportable to the Electrical Safety Office as
a Dangerous Electrical Event and any costs incurred in subsequent remedial work to achieve
required statutory clearances may be recovered from the person or company who caused the
breach of statutory clearance.




Check this is the latest version before use.               Page 27of30                                        EGX WP1323 Ver 2
9 June 2015                                                                                               EE BS001405R107 Ver 2
                            Joint Reference Document between Energex and Ergon Energy
                    Energex Limited ABN 40 078 849 055  Ergon Energy Corporation Limited ABN 50 087 646 062