- Published:
- Monday, 8 September 2025 at 2:48 pm
AusNet Transmission Group Pty Ltd (AusNet) failed to upgrade dozens of electricity transmission towers at risk of failure within agreed timeframes, putting the safety of the Victorian community at risk, the Melbourne Magistrates' Court has found.
On Thursday 4 September 2025, AusNet pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to comply with their accepted Electricity Safety Management Scheme (ESMS), an offence under the Electricity Safety Act 1998, in which they committed to reinforcing 48 transmission towers between Dederang and Corryong by early 2022.
Energy Safe Victoria charged the company after a review in 2023 found they had failed to complete the upgrades by their deadline and had not alerted Energy Safe to the delays.
In sentencing, Magistrate Metcalf emphasised that AusNet “should have done more sooner and communicated better” with Energy Safe, noting the company’s failure to provide updates about the project delays impacted the Regulator’s ability to fulfil its central purpose of protecting the “safety of the Victorian community”.
“[The] Regulator can’t do its job properly and look after the community if companies don’t comply with their duties,” Her Honour said.
AusNet pleaded guilty and was fined $70,000.
Major electricity companies must submit an ESMS to Energy Safe for acceptance every 5 years. These plans are a legal requirement that outline how companies will mitigate safety and bushfire risks on their networks.
In 2019, Energy Safe accepted an ESMS from AusNet where they identified 48 towers at ‘risk of functional failure’ as they were built to an older design standard. The plan detailed additional risks from the towers’ location near roadways in a region likely to experience ‘extreme wind events’. The company committed to reinforcing these towers ‘before 2022’ to reduce the risk of collapse.
After identifying the breach in October 2023, Energy Safe issued an Improvement Notice on 24 January 2024 instructing the company to complete the specified upgrades within 12 months.
AusNet reported they had completed the upgrade works on or around 25 January 2025.
“This result should serve as an important reminder to all owners and operators of energy networks that they must meet their safety commitments, especially where there is a risk to people and property,” Energy Safe CEO Leanne Hughson said.
“If they choose not to, we will take action. Safety is not optional.”
More information about ESMS is available on our website.
Media enquiries
April Dudgeon: 0498 188 117 or media@energysafe.vic.gov.au
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