Overview
Safety case obligations for major electricity companies, gas companies and pipeline licensees (energy infrastructure companies) are changing. Here’s an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed changes to safety cases.
Energy infrastructure companies have mandatory obligations to submit safety cases to Energy Safe Victoria under Victoria’s energy safety laws.
This includes:
- Electricity safety management schemes (ESMS) under the Electricity Safety Act 1998 (Vic)
- Gas safety cases (GSC) under the Gas Safety Act 1997 (Vic)
- Safety management plans (SMP) under the Pipelines Act 2005 (Vic).
The Energy Legislation Amendment (Energy Safety) Act 2023 (Vic) includes changes to the way safety cases are revised and submitted.
From 16 May 2024, Major Electricity Companies (MECs) and gas companies must submit:
- a revised ESMS, Bushfire Mitigation Plan (BMP) or GSC (as applicable) to Energy Safe every five years, regardless of when the last revision was accepted
- all proposed revisions to an accepted ESMS, BMP or GSC (as applicable) to Energy Safe regardless of whether the revision is ‘significant’ or not.
We are taking this opportunity to review Energy Safe’s published safety case policies and guidelines. Our objective is to enhance the quality of safety cases submitted for acceptance to ensure they meet regulatory objectives.
The review is being undertaken in two stages:
- Stage 1 involves reviewing the existing Energy Infrastructure Safety Management Policy with the aim of updating and communicating, at a high level, Energy Safe's current expectations about the form and content of safety cases and the assessment process.
- Stage 2 will involve reviewing and updating the sector-specific guidelines and producing more detailed or other guidance where necessary. This will be informed by the feedback in the first stage.
The guidelines
Energy Safe is now seeking feedback on draft Energy infrastructure safety case guidelines before they are finalised.
We recognise that that our changed expectations regarding the style, contents and structure of safety cases represents a significant shift in the way safety cases are submitted. Similarly, we recognise that the changes in revision and submission practices brought about by the legislative amendments are also significant. We anticipate a transitional period to align drafting and submission practices with these new requirements and are committed to assisting entities throughout this process.
To provide feedback on the draft guidelines, please email your submission to: consultation@energysafe.vic.gov.au
Submissions close Monday 15 July 2024 at 12:00 pm (midday).
All questions about the consultation process must be submitted in writing to consultation@energysafe.vic.gov.au. Such questions will be deidentified and published on this web page with an official answer, to ensure all potential submissions have access to the same information.
Questions about the draft guidelines should be included in written submissions. These will be answered in the consultation report, which will be published once the new guidelines are finalised.
Date: 27/07/2024 6:11
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Reviewed