National framework for electricity safety proposed

The Energy Networks Association (ENA) recently released the ‘Proposed National Framework for Electricity Network Safety’ document as the recommended approach to national electricity network safety regulation.

ENA is the peak national body for Australia’s energy networks, representing gas distribution and electricity network businesses on economic, technical, environment and safety regulation and national energy policy issues.

“Electricity networks are characterised by extensive distributed assets throughout the public domain such as powerlines, substations and underground cables,” said acting chief executive Michael Kilgariff. “As a consequence, electricity networks are expected to identify and manage both worker and community safety risks.”

The document sets out the scope for a safety case, which is a detailed document prepared by a network operator that:

• identifies all the known and credible hazards and risks;
• describes how the risks are to be managed; and
• describes the safety management system needed to ensure the controls are effectively and consistently applied and performance is measured and continuously improved.

“ENA is of the view that a safety case approved by the relevant regulator should also provide the basis for compliance with the safe workplace obligations under OHS legislation and regulation”, said Kilgariff.

According to Kilgariff, ENA had a firm policy supporting a common approach to energy safety in Australia, including the creation of a single national energy safety regulatory agency: “In many areas of Australian public policy, such as in OHS regulation, the trend is towards national alignment. The economic regulation of energy networks has already moved from the jurisdictions to the national level through the Australian Energy Regulator.

“The National Electricity Market has now been in place since 1998, operated by the National Electricity Market Management Company. In April 2007, the Council of Australian Governments announced its intention to establish a new national Australian Energy Market Operator by July 2009, for both electricity and gas, to strengthen the national character of energy market governance.

“The development of a national energy market, increasing interconnection of energy infrastructure across jurisdictional boundaries and energy companies operating in multiple jurisdictions, has produced an increasing need and justification for national standardisation of energy industry regulation. A truly national market ultimately requires one common set of rules.”

The Ministerial Council on Energy (MCE) has recognised the importance of a harmonised approach to energy safety regulation to ensure worker and public worker safety and to enable the provision of safe and efficient energy services.

MCE has agreed to establish an Energy Technical and Safety Leaders Group to report back to the December 2008 MCE meeting with an implementation plan for the harmonisation of safety regulation that applies to the energy sector.

“ENA will be presenting the Proposed Framework for Electricity Network Safety to Australian energy ministers and the MCE Energy Technical and Safety Leaders Group as the recommended approach to national electricity network safety regulation,” Kilgariff said.

The document is available from www.ena.asn.au.