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C/2007/5962
The local electricity distributor pruned and cleared trees at Mr I’s property, despite his objections and ongoing discussions about whether the work was actually necessary. Mr I said the distributor told him bushfire season had been declared earlier than expected, so it had to undertake the clearance works without further consultation — as its operating licence required the clearing to be completed by a nominated date.
Contacted by EWOV, the distributor said it had tried to reach Mr I, by fax and telephone, to tell him the works had become urgent. When it couldn’t reach him, it went ahead with the works, in accordance with the Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Regulations 2005.
The distributor acknowledged M r I’s concerns, apologised for not having carried out a thorough consultative process, and said it was willing to negotiate a vegetation management plan with him. It acknowledged that, in moving ahead, it had acted contrary to the regulations — but maintained the urgency of the works exempted it from the negotiation/consultation requirements.
EWOV’s review of the relevant sections of the Electricity Safety(Electric Line Clearance) Regulations 2005 and the Electricity Safety Act 1998 showed the distributor was obliged to balance regulatory consultation obligations with the asset maintenance requirements of its operating licence. However, our review of the distributor’s documented internal dispute resolution process showed parts of that process hadn’t been followed.
To move the issue towards resolution, we arranged an on-site meeting, attended by Mr I and distributor representatives. At this meeting, the need for open and ongoing negotiation and a vegetation management plan going forward were agreed. Mr I was also able to demonstrate some of the measures he took to manage his vegetation, including tree tethering.
The distributor agreed to have an arborist visit the property to discuss pruning and other methods appropriate for future clearance works — and to investigate line undergrounding options. Timeframes were agreed and Mr I was provided with a
higher-level contact at the distributor for ongoing discussions. Mr I was satisfied that the distributor understood his concerns and was genuine in its willingness to reach agreement with him on how to manage future vegetation issues at his property.
Where customer/company discussions have reached a stalemate, an independent assessment — which takes account of relevant laws and codes, good industry practice and customer needs — can provide a basis for moving forward. Customers are often more accepting of information, when it is conveyed by an independent third party.
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