Regulatory compliance for LV Services within the Queensland franchise area

What is Happening?

A recent Queensland Electrical Safety Office audit has found that support fixtures for LV services installed on customer premises have not been earthed appropriately and in accordance with Queensland Electrical Safety Regulation 2013-Reg 212.

This Regulation requires that all LV service installations in the Queensland franchise area – including new installations and those installed in fault and emergency situations – must comply with clauses (2), (3) and (4) noted below. This includes a requirement to earth support fixtures, such as metallic pins, eye bolts or similar fixtures.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY REGULATION 2013 - REG 212

Termination of low voltage overhead service line.

212 Termination of low voltage overhead service line.

(1) An electricity entity must ensure a low voltage overhead service line is—

(a) secured to a consumer’s premises, including poles on the premises; and

(b) insulated continuously; and

(c) not readily accessible to persons.

(2) An electricity entity must ensure a metallic pin, eye bolt or other similar fixture installed by or for it on a consumer’s premises to support an active conductor of a low voltage overhead service line is effectively earthed.

(3) The earthing must be by direct connection to the neutral conductor of the service line, at the point of support, by a conductor having an appropriate cross-sectional area.

(4) Earthing under subsections (2) and (3) is not required if—

(a) the low voltage overhead service line is a neutral screened cable, and the service fuse is mounted on the electricity entity’s pole; or

(b) no part of the metallic pin, eye bolt or other similar fixture, or of a metal bracket or riser supporting it, is within 25mm of other metal work on a building, pole, or other structure.

More information on Queensland Electrical Safety Regulations.

Please help us comply

Essential Energy staff typically complete new and like for like service replacements on the Essential Energy network extending into the Queensland franchise area.

The Queensland Electrical Safety Regulation 2013-Reg212 requires that the electricity entity must ensure low voltage service lines comply with the regulation as such all new and like for like replacements will not be completed unless the regulation is complied with.

Contractors must ensure the requirements of the regulation are complied with before Essential Energy staff attend to carry out new and like for like replacements.

What do you need to do?

1. Share this information will your team members.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. View this communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.