Voltage performance data

Energy distributors must provide us with voltage performance data every quarter. We use this data to monitor distributor compliance with our voltage performance standards and ensure consumer needs are met.

Cog wheel.

Maintaining steady and compliant voltage levels is important for energy consumers. It can affect household appliances and solar panel output from homes.

Energy distributors must provide us with voltage performance data every quarter. This requirement is contained in our Compliance and Performance Reporting Guideline.

We use this data to monitor distributor compliance with our voltage performance standards and ensure consumer needs are met.

In Victoria, electricity distributors must make sure that voltage levels comply with the Electricity Distribution Code of Practice (which refers to the Australian Standard AS 61000.3.100-2011).

Functional compliance is achieved if up to one per cent of measurements below 216 V and up to one per cent of measurements above 253 V are maintained across at least 95 per cent of a distributor's customers. The horizontal red line below shows where five per cent of customers experience over-voltage (graph 1) and under-voltage (graph 2) for more than one per cent of the time.

Voltage performance data

Graph 1 represents the percentage of NMIs that were recorded above 253 volts for more than one per cent of the time. This is known as over-voltage. All five Victorian distributors are represented on the graph. AusNet is in yellow, CitiPower is in blue, Powercor is in green, United Energy is in pink and Jemena is in black. The red line represents functional compliance, shown on the graph as five per cent.

 

Graph 2 represents the percentage of NMIs that were recorded below 216 volts for more than one per cent of the time. This is known as under-voltage. All five Victorian distributors are represented on the graph. AusNet is in yellow, CitiPower is in blue, Powercor is in green, United Energy is in pink and Jemena is in black. The red line represents functional compliance, shown on the graph as five per cent.

The graphs show voltage performance data, in weekly intervals, for each of the Victorian distributors for the stated period.

We acknowledge that a distributor's ability to achieve compliance is impacted by a range of factors, including but not limited to:

  • variations in load depending on weekday or weekend demand
  • the capacity of a network to support two-way power flows
  • length and distance between power lines originating from substations
  • topology of the network and the type of terrain and distance the network must travel through
  • local weather patterns and seasons/climate (i.e. influence of high or low temperatures).

Any of these may impact a distribution network's ability to comply with voltage standards and may partially explain why voltage levels are non-compliant. Additionally, voltage performance can be inhibited by ageing infrastructure that does not have the capacity to keep up with increasing volume demands on a network.

Since 1 October 2022, clause 20.4.1 of the Electricity Distribution Code of Practice has been specified as a civil penalty requirement. This enables us to use a range of enforcement tools, such as issuing penalty notices or seeking civil penalties for non-compliance. We are actively monitoring compliance with voltage performance. Where instances of non-compliance are identified these are managed in accordance with our Compliance and Enforcement Policy.

Please be advised that this publication is to provide general guidance only. It does not constitute legal or other professional advice and should not be relied on as a statement of the law. While we have made every reasonable effort to provide current and accurate information, you should obtain professional advice if you have any specific concern, before relying on the accuracy, currency or completeness of this information.

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