Energy regulator consults on enforceable rules for transmission companies when accessing private land

The Essential Services Commission is inviting feedback on a proposed enforceable code of practice that electricity transmission companies must follow when using their legal powers to access private land in Victoria.

The draft Land Access Code of Practice follows the regulator’s Electricity Transmission Company Land Access Statement of Expectations published in May 2022, and is informed by ongoing engagement with affected stakeholders and industry representatives regarding the use of transmission company legal powers to access private land.

The draft code proposes clear processes and timings for notifying landowners prior to transmission companies accessing private land. Transmission companies will also need to consider site specific needs and concerns raised by individual landowners, such as biosecurity and fire management controls.

“Clear and transparent engagement between transmission companies and affected landowners is critical to develop the infrastructure required to support renewable energy in Victoria,” said acting commission chief executive officer Sarah Sheppard.

The proposed code will support landowners to understand what they need to consider and what they should expect if a transmission company requests access to their land.

“These obligations aim to provide transparency to landowners about any proposed access and to help them to make informed decisions about whether to enter into voluntary access agreements with transmission companies,” said Ms Sheppard.

It is proposed the code would be enforced by the commission using its full suite of regulatory powers and tools, including issuing penalty notices if transmission companies are found to have breached the code.

Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on the draft Land Access Code of Practice via the Engage Victoria website up until 5pm on 27 July 2023. The final code of practice is expected to be released in September 2023.