Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2023 (Vic)

Version No. 002

Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2023

S.R. No. 40/2023

Version incorporating amendments as at

26 June 2025

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

Regulation  Page

1Objective

2Authorising provisions

3Commencement

4Revocations

5Definitions

6Prescribed particulars for bushfire mitigation plans—specified operators

7Prescribed particulars for bushfire mitigation plans—major electricity companies

8Prescribed information about bushfire mitigation plans to be made publicly available by major electricity companies

9Prescribed parts of electric lines excluded

10Prescribed times of inspection

11Prescribed standards of inspection

12Minimum clearance of private electric lines (other than bare open wire electric lines)

13Prescribed period in which notice of inspection is to be given

14Prescribed form of notice to be given before inspection

15Exemptions

Schedule 1—Zone substations

Schedule 2—Notice of inspection

═════════════

Endnotes

1      General information

2      Table of Amendments

3      Explanatory details

Version No. 002

Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2023

S.R. No. 40/2023

Version incorporating amendments as at

26 June 2025

1Objective

The objective of these Regulations is to provide for—

(a)the preparation of bushfire mitigation plans by specified operators and major electricity companies; and

(b)the inspection of overhead electric lines and supply networks.

2Authorising provisions

These Regulations are made under sections 151, 151A and 157 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998.

3Commencement

These Regulations come into operation on 16 June 2023.

4Revocations

The following Regulations are revoked—

(a)the Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2013[1];

(b)the Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Amendment Regulations 2015[2];

(c)the Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Amendment Regulations 2016[3].

5Definitions

In these Regulations—

Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules means AS/NZS 3000, Australian/New Zealand Standard, 'Electrical installations', as published or amended from time to time;

Automatic Circuit Recloser has the same meaning as in section 120K of the Act;

bare open wire or bare has the same meaning as in the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019[4];

electric line construction area means land delineated and shown bounded by an orange line on plans lodged in the Central Plan Office and numbered LEGL./16-199 to LEGL./16-231;

fire danger period means a period declared under section 4 of the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 to be a fire danger period;

high impedance faults means a resistance value in ohms that is equal to twice the nominal phase-to-ground network voltage in volts;

I²t means a measure of the thermal energy associated with the current flow, where I is the current flow in amps and t is the duration of current flow in seconds;

low impedance faults means a resistance value in ohms that is equal to the nominal phase‑to-ground network voltage in volts divided by 31·75;

low voltage has the same meaning as in the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019;

polyphase electric line has the same meaning as in section 120K of the Act;

required capacity means, in the event of a phase‑to‑ground fault on a polyphase electric line, the ability—

(a)to reduce the voltage on the faulted conductor in relation to the station earth when measured at the corresponding zone substation for high impedance faults to 250 volts within 2 seconds; and

(b)to reduce the voltage on the faulted conductor in relation to the station earth when measured at the corresponding zone substation for low impedance faults to—

(i)1900 volts within 85 milliseconds; and

(ii)750 volts within 500 milliseconds; and

(iii)250 volts within 2 seconds; and

(c)during diagnostic tests for high impedance faults, to limit—

(i)fault current to 0·5 amps or less; and

(ii)the thermal energy on the electric line to a maximum I²t value of 0·10;

SWER line has the same meaning as in section 120K of the Act;

the Act means the Electricity Safety Act 1998;

total or partial fire ban day means a day or partial day that has been declared to be a day or partial day of total fire ban under section 40(1) of the Country Fire Authority Act 1958;

wholly or substantially replaced means the planned replacement or relocation of an electric line that involves—

(a)the relocation of at least 4 consecutive spans of the electric line; or

(b)the replacement of conductors on at least 4 consecutive spans of the electric line.

6Prescribed particulars for bushfire mitigation plans—specified operators

For the purposes of section 83BA(2)(b) of the Act, the following are the prescribed particulars—

(a)the name, address, email address and telephone number of the specified operator;

(b)the position, address, email address and telephone number of the person who was responsible for the preparation of the plan;

(c)the position, address, email address and telephone number of the persons who are responsible for carrying out the plan;

(d)the email address (if any) and telephone number of the specified operator's control room so that persons in the room can be contacted in an emergency that requires action by the specified operator to mitigate the danger of bushfire;

(e)the bushfire mitigation policy of the specified operator to minimise the risk of fire ignition from its at-risk electric lines;

(f)the objectives of the plan to achieve the mitigation of fire danger arising from the specified operator's at-risk electric lines;

(g)a description, map or plan of the land to which the bushfire mitigation plan applies, identifying the location of the specified operator's at-risk electric lines;

(h)the preventative strategies and programs to be adopted by the specified operator to minimise the risk of the specified operator's at-risk electric lines starting fires;

(i)a plan for inspection that ensures that all of the specified operator's at-risk electric lines are inspected at regular intervals of no longer than 37 months;

(j)details of the processes and procedures for ensuring that each person who is assigned to carry out the inspections referred to in paragraph (i)—

(i)has satisfactorily completed a training course approved by Energy Safe Victoria; and

(ii)is competent to carry out the inspections;

(k)details of the processes and procedures for ensuring that persons (other than persons referred to in paragraph (j)) who carry out or will carry out functions under the plan are competent to do so;

(l)the operation and maintenance plans for the specified operator's at-risk electric lines—

(i)in the event of a fire; and

(ii)during a total or partial fire ban day; and

(iii)during a fire danger period;

(m)the investigations, analysis and methodology to be adopted by the specified operator for the mitigation of the risk of fire ignition from its at-risk electric lines;

(n)details of the processes and procedures by which the specified operator will—

(i)monitor the implementation of the bushfire mitigation plan; and

(ii)audit the implementation of the plan; and

(iii)identify any deficiencies in the plan or the plan's implementation; and

(iv)change the plan and the plan's implementation to rectify any deficiencies identified under subparagraph (iii); and

(v)monitor the effectiveness of inspections carried out under the plan; and

(vi)audit the effectiveness of inspections carried out under the plan;

(o)the policy of the specified operator in relation to the assistance to be provided to fire control authorities in the investigation of fires near the specified operator's at-risk electric lines.

7Prescribed particulars for bushfire mitigation plans—major electricity companies

(1)For the purposes of section 113A(2)(b) of the Act, the following are the prescribed particulars—

(a)the name, address and telephone number of the major electricity company;

(b)the position, address, email address and telephone number of the person who was responsible for the preparation of the plan;

(c)the position, address, email address and telephone number of the persons who are responsible for carrying out the plan;

(d)the email address (if any) and telephone number of the major electricity company's control room so that persons in the room can be contacted in an emergency that requires action by the major electricity company to mitigate the danger of bushfire;

(e)the telephone number of the major electricity company that members of the public can call in an emergency that requires action by the major electricity company to mitigate the danger of bushfire;

(f)the bushfire mitigation policy of the major electricity company to minimise the risk of fire ignition from its supply network;

(g)the objectives of the plan to achieve the mitigation of fire danger arising from the major electricity company's supply network;

(h)a description, map or plan of the land to which the bushfire mitigation plan applies;

(i)the preventative strategies and programs to be adopted by the major electricity company to minimise the risk of the major electricity company's supply network starting fires;

(j)details of the preventative strategies and programs referred to in paragraph (i) (including details in relation to timing and location) by which the major electricity company will ensure that, in its supply network, each polyphase electric line originating from every zone substation specified in Schedule 1 has the required capacity;

(k)details of testing that will be undertaken before the specified bushfire risk period each year by which the major electricity company will ensure that its supply network can operate to meet the required capacity in relation to each polyphase electric line in accordance with paragraph (j);

(l)details of the preventative strategies and programs referred to in paragraph (i) (including details in relation to timing and location) by which the major electricity company will ensure that, within an electric line construction area, each electric line with a nominal voltage of between 1 kV and 22 kV that is constructed, or is wholly or substantially replaced, in its supply network is a covered or underground electric line;

(m)details of the preventative strategies and programs referred to in paragraph (i) by which the major electricity company will ensure that, in its supply network, each low voltage overhead electrical cable or wire that is constructed after the commencement of these Regulations in a hazardous bushfire risk area is insulated;

(n)details of the processes and procedures by which the major electricity company will ensure that the major electricity company installs and maintains in operation an Automatic Circuit Recloser in relation to each overhead SWER line in its supply network;

(o)a plan for inspection that ensures that—

(i)the parts of the major electricity company's supply network in hazardous bushfire risk areas are inspected at intervals not exceeding 37 months from the date of the previous inspection; and

(ii)the parts of the major electricity company's supply network in other areas are inspected at specified intervals not exceeding 61 months from the date of the previous inspection;

(p)details of the processes and procedures for ensuring that each person who is assigned to carry out inspections referred to in paragraph (o) and of private electric lines—

(i)has satisfactorily completed a training course approved by Energy Safe Victoria; and

(ii)is competent to carry out the inspections;

(q)details of the processes and procedures for ensuring that persons (other than persons referred to in paragraph (p)) who carry out or will carry out functions under the plan are competent to do so;

(r)the operation and maintenance plans for the major electricity company's supply network—

(i)in the event of a fire; and

(ii)during a total or partial fire ban day; and

(iii)during a fire danger period;

(s)the investigations, analysis and methodology to be adopted by the major electricity company for the mitigation of the risk of fire ignition from its supply network;

(t)details of the processes and procedures by which the major electricity company will—

(i)monitor the implementation of the bushfire mitigation plan; and

(ii)audit the implementation of the plan; and

(iii)identify any deficiencies in the plan or the plan's implementation; and

(iv)change the plan and the plan's implementation to rectify any deficiencies identified under subparagraph (iii); and

(v)monitor the effectiveness of inspections carried out under the plan; and

(vi)audit the effectiveness of inspections carried out under the plan; and

(vii)before the specified bushfire risk period each year, report to Energy Safe Victoria the results of testing undertaken in that year in accordance with paragraph (k);

(u)the policy of the major electricity company in relation to the assistance to be provided to fire control authorities in the investigation of fires near the major electricity company's supply network;

(v)details of processes and procedures for enhancing public awareness of—

(i)the responsibilities of owners of private electric lines that are above the surface of the land in relation to maintenance and mitigation of bushfire danger; and

(ii)the obligation of the major electricity company to inspect private electric lines that are above the surface of the land within its distribution area;

(w)a description of the measures to be used to assess the performance of the major electricity company under the plan.

(2)In subregulation (1)(l), covered, in relation to an electric line, means that a system of insulation is installed on any bare open wire forming part of the electric line.

(3)In subregulation (1)(m)—

electrical cable or wire means the whole or any part of a cable, wire or similar thing used or to be used for the purpose of transmitting, distributing or supplying electricity, but does not include—

(a)any thing enclosing or supporting the cable, wire or similar thing; or

(b)a cable, wire or similar thing directly used in converting electrical energy into another form of energy;

insulated, in relation to an electrical cable or wire, means an electrical cable or wire that is separated from any adjoining conductive material by a permanently affixed protective layer of non-conductive material.

(4)In subregulation (1)(o), supply network does not include a terminal station, a zone substation or any part of the major electricity company's underground supply network that is below the surface of the land.

8Prescribed information about bushfire mitigation plans to be made publicly available by major electricity companies

For the purposes of section 113A(3) of the Act, the following information specified in a major electricity company's accepted bushfire mitigation plan is the prescribed information about the plan—

(a)the company's name, address and telephone number;

(b)the company's telephone number for members of the public to call in an emergency that requires action by the company to mitigate the danger of bushfire;

(c)the company's bushfire mitigation policy;

(d)the objectives to achieve mitigation of fire danger arising from the company's supply network;

(e)the description, map or plan of the land to which the bushfire mitigation plan applies;

(f)the preventative strategies and programs to minimise the risk of the company's supply network starting fires;

(g)the company's plan for testing to ensure that its supply network can operate to meet the required capacity in relation to each polyphase electric line originating from a zone substation specified in Schedule 1;

(h)the details of the processes and procedures for installing and maintaining in operation an Automatic Circuit Recloser in relation to each overhead SWER line in the company's supply network;

(i)the company's plan for inspection of its supply network;

(j)the details of the processes and procedures for ensuring that each person who is assigned to carry out inspections under the plan referred to in paragraph (i) and of private electric lines—

(i)has satisfactorily completed a training course approved by Energy Safe Victoria; and

(ii)is competent to carry out the inspections;

(k)the details of the processes and procedures for ensuring that persons (other than persons referred to in paragraph (j)) who carry out or will carry out functions under the plan are competent to do so;

(l)the company's operation and maintenance plans for its supply network—

(i)in the event of a fire; and

(ii)during a total or partial fire ban day; and

(iii)during a fire danger period;

(m)the investigations, analysis and methodology adopted by the company for the mitigation of the risk of fire ignition from its supply network;

(n)the company's policy in relation to the assistance to be provided to fire control authorities in the investigation of fires near the company's supply network;

(o)the details of the processes and procedures for enhancing public awareness of—

(i)the responsibilities of owners of private electric lines that are above the surface of the land in relation to maintenance and mitigation of bushfire danger; and

(ii)the company's obligation to inspect private electric lines that are above the surface of the land within its distribution area.

9Prescribed parts of electric lines excluded

For the purposes of section 113F(1) of the Act, the prescribed part of a private electric line is the part of the private electric line that is installed after the point at which the line is connected to a building or other structure (not including a pole) on the land.

10Prescribed times of inspection

For the purposes of section 113F(1) of the Act, the prescribed times to cause an inspection of private electric lines to be carried out are—

(a)for private electric lines located in hazardous bushfire risk areas, no later than 37 months after the date of the previous inspection carried out by the major electricity company; and

(b)for private electric lines located in other areas, no later than 61 months after the date of the previous inspection carried out by the major electricity company.

11Prescribed standards of inspection

(1)For the purposes of section 113F(1) of the Act, the prescribed standards for the inspection of a private electric line are—

(a)the insulators and any stay wires are serviceable and are properly secured to the pole or cross‑arm; and

(b)the cross-arms are serviceable; and

(c)the conductors and metal ties that secure the conductors to the insulator are serviceable; and

(d)in the case of a line that is horizontally constructed with bare open wire conductors, that a low voltage conductor spreader is fitted to each span of the line; and

Note

Regulation 236(1)(a) of the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 provides for the fitting of a spreader to each span of a private aerial line that is horizontally constructed with bare open wire conductors.

(e)in the case of a line that has bare open wire conductors, the line complies with the minimum clearance requirements for bare live conductors set out in Table 3.8 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules; and

(f)in the case of a line that has insulated and unsheathed live conductors—

(i)before 16 December 2023, the line complies with the minimum clearance requirements for insulated and unsheathed live conductors set out in Table 3.8 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules; and

(ii)on or after 16 December 2023, the line complies with the minimum clearance requirements set out in regulation 12(1) and (3); and

(g)in the case of a line that is double insulated or is a neutral-screened cable—

(i)before 16 December 2023, the line complies with the minimum clearance requirements for a neutral-screened cable set out in Table 3.8 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules; and

(ii)on or after 16 December 2023, the line complies with the minimum clearance requirements set out in regulation 12(2) and (3); and

(h)the insulation is in a serviceable condition; and

(i)the poles must not lean more than 10 degrees from the vertical; and

(j)in the case of wooden poles other than treated pine poles—

(i)the girth of the pole is greater than 550 mm at any point within 200 mm above the ground; and

(ii)the pole is free from termites to a depth of 300 mm below the surface of the ground; and

(iii)an annulus of at least 50 mm of the wood is free of decay; and

(iv)no fruiting fungal bodies are observed; and

(k)in the case of treated pine poles—

(i)the girth of the pole is greater than 450 mm at any point within 200 mm above the ground; and

(ii)the pole is free from termites to a depth of 300 mm below the surface of the ground; and

(iii)the wood is free from external decay; and

(l)in the case of tubular and solid steel poles, the thickness of the metal of the pole in any corroded area below the ground is at least 75% of the sound metal above the ground; and

(m)in the case of concrete poles, the pole—

(i)is free of concrete decay; and

(ii)does not have exposed metal reinforcement; and

(n)the line complies with clause 3 of the Code; and

Note

The Code is the Code of Practice for Electric Line Clearance prescribed under regulation 7 of the Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Interim Regulations 2025[5] and set out in Schedules 1 and 2 to those Regulations.

(o)if during an inspection a hazard tree is identified, the hazard tree is notified to the responsible person.

(2)In this regulation, a tree is a hazard tree if a suitably qualified arborist—

(a)has assessed the tree having regard to foreseeable local conditions; and

(b)has determined that the tree, or any part of the tree, is likely to fall onto, or otherwise come into contact with, an electric line.

(3)For the purpose of subregulations (1)(o) and (2), it is irrelevant that the tree is not within, and is not likely to grow into, the minimum clearance space for an electric line span.

(4)In this regulation—

conductor spreader has the same meaning as in the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019;

horizontally constructed has the same meaning as in the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019;

neutral-screened cable has the same meaning as "Cable, neutral-screened" has in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules;

private aerial line has the same meaning as in the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019.

12Minimum clearance of private electric lines (other than bare open wire electric lines)

(1)For the purposes of regulation 11(1)(f)(ii), the minimum clearance requirements are that a line that passes over an area, building or structure specified in column 2 of Table 1 must not be closer than the minimum height specified in column 3 of Table 1 to—

(a)the ground of, or surface of the water in, that area; or

(b)the roof of that building; or

(c)if the structure is a pool, the surface of the water in the pool; or

(d)the highest point of the structure.

(2)For the purposes of regulation 11(1)(g)(ii), the minimum clearance requirements are that a line that passes over an area, building or structure specified in column 2 of Table 1 must not be closer than the minimum height specified in column 4 of Table 1 to—

(a)the ground of, or surface of the water in, that area; or

(b)the roof of that building; or

(c)if the structure is a pool, the surface of the water in the pool; or

(d)the highest point of the structure.

Table 1

Column 1 Item number	Column 2 Area, building or structure	Column 3 Minimum clearance for insulated and unsheathed live conductors	Column 4 Minimum clearance for double insulated or neutral-screened cables
1	Areas traversable by large trucks and agricultural machinery	4·5 m	4·5 m
2	Areas traversable by vehicles other than vehicles described in item 1	3·0 m	3·0 m
3	Areas traversable by pedestrians but not by vehicle	3·0 m	2·7 m
4	Areas not traversable by vehicles or pedestrians	3·0 m	2·7 m
5	Areas where sailing craft or irrigation pipes are used	13·5 m	13·5 m
6	Roofs used for traffic or resort	2·7 m	2·7 m
7	Other roofs and structures	1·2 m	0·5 m
8	Swimming pools	3·0 m	3·0 m

(3)For the purposes of regulation 11(1)(f)(ii) and (g)(ii), the minimum clearance requirements are that a line that is adjacent to or near a building, wire or other thing specified in column 2 of Table 2 must not be closer than the minimum distance specified in column 3 of Table 2 to that building, wire or other thing.

Table 2

Column 1 Item number	Column 2 Buildings, wire or other thing	Column 3 Minimum distance
1	Buildings, including walls	0·9 m
2	Clothes lines, radio and television aerials, counter poise or stay wires	1·8 m
3	Telecommunications lines	0·5 m

13Prescribed period in which notice of inspection is to be given

For the purposes of section 113F(2) of the Act, the prescribed period is not more than 45 days before the inspection and not less than 21 days before the inspection.

14Prescribed form of notice to be given before inspection

For the purposes of section 113F(2) of the Act, the prescribed form of notice is set out in Schedule 2.

15Exemptions

(1)Energy Safe Victoria may, in writing, exempt a specified operator or major electricity company from any of the requirements of these Regulations.

(2)An exemption under subregulation (1) may specify conditions to which the exemption is subject.

SCHEDULE 1—ZONE SUBSTATIONS

Regulations 7(1)(j) and 8(g)

Column 1		Column 2		Column 3	Column 4	Column 5
Item		Name		Code	Latitude	Longitude
1		Winchelsea		WIN	-38·23644	144·00102
2		Colac		CLC	-38·34092	143·60619
3		Eaglehawk		EHK	-36·71772	144·25089
4		Woori Yallock		WYK	-37·77634	145·52933
5		Maryborough	MRO	-37·04909	143·73727
6		Seymour	SMR	-37·02548	145·14068
7		Ballarat South	BAS	-37·59450	143·79908
8		Bendigo TS	BET	-36·78289	144·25296
9		Wangaratta	WN	-36·35744	146·31022
10		Castlemaine	CMN	-37·07182	144·20637
11		Camperdown	CDN	-38·22599	143·15655
12		Woodend	WND	-37·33385	144·51729
13		Kinglake	KLK	-37·51440	145·31615
14		Rubicon A	ALA, MVE	-37·29287	145·81850
15		Bairnsdale	BDL	-37·82537	147·61261
16		Geelong	GL	-38·13477	144·33741
17		Ballarat	BAN	-37·50088	143·85096
18		Waurn Ponds	WPD	-38·21082	144·30380
19		Lilydale	LDL	-37·76339	145·35840
20		Wodonga and Tallangatta	WOTS	-36·15439	146·94682
21		Myrtleford	MYT	-36·55745	146·72525
22		Barnawartha	BWA	-36·10556	146·67345
23		Kilmore South	KMS	-37·31798	144·97174
24		Kalkallo	KLO	-37·53833	144·94140
25		Gisborne	GSB	-37·45352	144·57625
26		Belgrave	BGE	-37·93056	145·36096
27		Moe	MOE	-38·18424	146·25908
28		Mansfield	MSD	-37·05458	146·08802
29		Ferntree Gully	FGY	-37·89304	145·29167
30		Eltham	ELM	-37·71675	145·13881
31		Ringwood North	RWN	-37·79260	145·23449
32		Charlton	CTN	-36·26562	143·35478
33		Benalla	BN	-36·55160	145·98000
34		Koroit	KRT	-38·31541	142·43245
35		Hamilton	HTN	-37·73876	142·02283
36		Terang	TRG	-38·23860	142·91531
37		Merbein	MBN	-34·16805	142·05807
38		Stawell	STL	-37·05833	142·77839
39		Bendigo	BGO	-36·76102	144·27897
40		Ararat	ART	-37·28308	142·93030
41		Coolaroo	COO	-37·64207	144·93391
42		Corio	CRO	-38·07445	144·35898
43		Lang Lang	LLG	-38·26605	145·56266
44		Wonthaggi	WGI	-38·60885	145·58860
45		Sale	SLE	-38·10364	147·06972

SCHEDULE 2—NOTICE OF INSPECTION

Regulation 14

To the Occupier,

In accordance with section 113F(2) of the Electricity Safety Act 1998, please be advised that on or about [insert date] our asset inspector will inspect all private electric lines above the surface of land on the property you occupy, except for those parts of the lines that are installed after the point at which they are connected to a building or other structure (not including a pole).

The inspection may reveal that defects exist and maintenance is required on a private electric line on the property that you occupy. If this is the case, we will give the owner written notice of the maintenance work required to be carried out.

Please contact [insert name of responsible person] on [insert telephone number] if you have any queries.

Signed

[insert name of major electricity company]

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ENDNOTES

1   General information

See for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.

The Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2023, S.R. No. 40/2023 were made on 6 June 2023 by the Governor in Council under sections 151, 151A and 157 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998, No. 25/1998 and came into operation on 16 June 2023: regulation 3.

The Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2023 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 6 June 2033 (see section 5 of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1994).

INTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)

Style changes

Section 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.

References to ILA s. 39B

Sidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression "(1)" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.

Interpretation

As from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:

•     Headings

All headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after
1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule.  Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.
This includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms. 
See section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).

•     Examples, diagrams or notes

All examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule.  Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule.  See section 36(3A).

•     Punctuation

All punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after
1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule.  Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.
See section 36(3B).

•     Provision numbers

All provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after
1 January 2001.  Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs.  See section 36(3C).

•     Location of "legislative items"

A "legislative item" is a penalty, an example or a note.  As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision.  For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision.  See section 36B.

•     Other material

Any explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule.  See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).

2   Table of Amendments

This publication incorporates amendments made to the Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations 2023 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.

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Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Interim Regulations 2025, S.R. No. 40/2025

Date of Making:	11.6.25
Date of Commencement:	Reg. 13 on 26.6.25: reg. 3

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3   Explanatory details

[1] Reg. 4(a): S.R. No. 62/2013 as amended by S.R. Nos 67/2015, 68/2015, 32/2016 and 50/2020.

[2] Reg. 4(b): S.R. No. 68/2015.

[3] Reg. 4(c): S.R. No. 32/2016.

[4] Reg. 5 def. of bare open wire or bare: S.R. No. 113/2019.

[5] Reg. 11(1)(n): S.R. No. 40/2025.

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Table of Applied, Adopted or Incorporated Matter

The following table of applied, adopted or incorporated matter was included in S.R. No. 40/2023 in accordance with the requirements of regulation 5 of the Subordinate Legislation Regulations 2014.

Statutory rule provision	Title of applied, adopted or incorporated document	Matter in applied, adopted or incorporated document
Regulation 5 definition of Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules	AS/NZS 3000:2018 (Incorporating Amendment Nos 1 and 2) Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules), 6th edition, published by Standards Australia on 26 June 2018	The whole
Regulation 11(1)(e), (f)(i) and (g)(i)	AS/NZS 3000:2018 (Incorporating Amendment Nos 1 and 2) Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules), 6th edition, published by Standards Australia on 26 June 2018	Table 3.8

Statutory rule provision	Title of applied, adopted or incorporated document	Matter in applied, adopted or incorporated document
Regulation 11(4) definition of neutral‑screened cable	AS/NZS 3000:2018 (Incorporating Amendment Nos 1 and 2) Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules), 6th edition, published by Standards Australia on 26 June 2018	The whole