SP AusNet urges residents to use electricity safely during the bushfire season
With the fire season now upon us, local residents and businesses are urged to take preventative measures to ensure the community is as safe as possible during the hot and dry conditions anticipated during the summer months.
SP AusNet, Victoria’s largest energy delivery business, is particularly concerned with providing residents and businesses in the municipality with advice on the safe use of electricity in the lead up to the bushfire season.
Trees growing close to powerlines can cause fires, blackouts and power surges and present a major safety risk. But minimising this risk isn’t difficult.
Clearing trees around powerlines is a shared responsibility. In some urban areas council is responsible for the trees growing in your street. SP AusNet is responsible for maintaining trees on road reserves and private property in rural areas.
Residents, however, are responsible for inspecting their own private powerlines. This means residents must ensure they have an appropriately qualified contractor keep trees on their property clear of the powerline that runs to their property.
Residents who are responsible for private overhead powerlines will have recently received a letter and brochure in the mail from SP AusNet outlining their responsibilities and providing guidance on how to keep your property safe.
Pruning of trees for which residents are responsible should be undertaken with great care. If trees are not well clear of lines or if pruning may cause branches to fall over lines, do not prune them yourself, contact an authorised contractor.
SP AusNet recommends residents who are responsible for private overhead powerlines conduct regular comprehensive inspections in order to identify potential hazards, particularly during periods of high fire danger. SP AusNet asks residents to look for damage to power poles and wires, long grass, overhanging trees and other fire risks and report any hazards immediately to SP AusNet’s Faults Hotline on 13 17 99.
SP AusNet constantly monitors its poles and wires throughout the year, particularly in high bushfire risk areas. We also rely on residents and local communities to play their part in ensuring the area is as safe as it can be during the bushfire season.
For customer inquiries or questions about powerlines and the bushfire season, please contact SP AusNet on 1300 360 795.
