Compliance and enforcement priorities

Our compliance and enforcement priorities


Complex renewable energy safety	Ageing power station safety	Bushfire mitigation	Apprentice safety	Safety at home

Our compliance and enforcement priorities target non-compliance and harms across the energy value chain and the domains we regulate. We base our priorities on information and evidence from a range of sources applicable to these domains.

Our domains are the segments we regulate across the energy value chain. They include energy generators, energy networks, licensed workers and equipment and appliances.

Energy Safe Victoria is responsible for the safe generation, supply and use of electricity, gas and pipelines. We do this by monitoring and enforcing compliance with Victoria’s energy safety legislative framework.

This includes:

working with regulated entities to ensure energy safety requirements are known, understood and complied with
working with community to provide advice and increase awareness of energy safety
monitoring and enforcing compliance with the energy safety legislative framework
targeting regulatory action – informed by technical safety expertise and data – to achieve the safest outcomes
holding regulated entities to account for non-compliance with energy safety requirements.

Safety challenge
The use of renewable energy technology to generate and store energy in Victoria is increasing. These technologies include wind, solar, geothermal, bioenergy and battery energy storage systems. These technologies can cause, bushfires, serious injuries and fatalities.
What we will do
- Conduct audits and inspections
- Define our safety expectations, issue guidance and set clear reporting requirements
- Monitor compliance against safety expectations and guidance
- Undertake investigations
- Take action to address unsafe practices
- Undertake enforcement activity proportionate to the nature of the offence
Safety outcome
Complex renewable energy installation owners and operators understand their risks and can demonstrate that they are managing them appropriately and to our expectations.
Safety challenge
Power plants are complex electrical installations, which obliges owners and operators of these facilities to reduce risk as far as practicable. There has been a recent trend of safety non-compliances at these facilities as they near end of life. These safety challenges have the potential to lead to serious injuries and fatalities.
What we will do
- Conduct audits and inspections (including inter-agency work)
- Monitor compliance against VESMSs
- Undertake investigations
- Take action to address unsafe practices by ageing coal-fired energy generation facilities.
- Undertake enforcement activity proportionate to the nature of the offence
Safety outcome
Improved safety performance and reduction in non-compliance and safety incidents by owners and operators of ageing power stations.
Safety challenge
Large bushfires destroy lives, homes and property, the environment and livelihoods. Electricity assets and vegetation, around energy networks, have a history of causing bushfires in Victoria. Major electricity companies and councils need to manage these risks – and prevent bushfires caused by energy infrastructure in Victoria.
What we will do
- Conduct audits and inspections
- A review of asset management practices of duty holders
- Develop and consult with industry on Bushfire Management Plan (BMP) Guidelines
- Publish safety performance dashboard reports to improve transparency
- Monitor compliance against BMPs, Electrical Lince Clearance Management Plans and Electrical Safety Management Schemes.
- Undertake investigations
- Undertake enforcement activity proportionate to the nature of the offence
Safety outcome
Hold industry and councils to account, and ensure they proactively manage energy safety risks and hazards, that lead to bushfires.
Safety challenge
Electrical apprentices are a high-risk group for electrical safety. Inadequate technical skills and a lack of on-site supervision can lead to damage to property, house fires, serious injuries and fatalities.
What we will do
- Training program for supervisors on Apprentice Supervision Requirements
- Conduct site audits and inspections
- Monitoring of compliance against Apprentice Supervision Requirements
- Undertake investigations
- Undertake enforcement activity proportionate to the nature of the offence
Safety outcome
Employers, supervisors and apprentice electricians know their legal responsibilities for supervision of apprentice electricians. Compliance with Apprentice Supervision Requirements by employers and supervisors.
Safety challenge
There are many new and emerging safety risks with home energy use – and products – that could result in harm to the community. Unsafe home energy use has the potential to damage property, house fires, serious injuries and fatalities.
What we will do
- Develop guidance on expectations for manufacturer and suppliers to supply safe products. For example, lithium-ion batteries and e-rides.
- Consult industry on options to manage energy safety risks associated with lithium-ion e-micromobility devices (e-rides) such as e-bikes and e-scooters.
- Conduct audits and inspections of online and physical retail operators.
- Conduct inspections of neighbourhood battery installations to ensure legal requirements are being met and Neighbourhood Battery Safety Guidelines are being followed.
- Work with marketplace operators, to provide sellers information regarding product compliance.
- Marketplace operators remove non-compliant and un-registered equipment from their platforms.
- Undertake enforcement activity proportionate to the nature of the offence.
Safety outcome
Online platforms take accountability for supply of safe and compliant products. Australian suppliers – online and physical retail operators – take accountability for their obligations. Owners of home installations take responsibility for battery and home energy generation sources.

Compliance and Enforcement Policy

The Compliance and Enforcement Policy sets out Energy Safe’s approach – how we promote and enforce compliance with Victoria's energy safety legislative framework.

Date: 18/10/2025 20:39

Controlled document

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Reviewed 22 September 2025