INQ349

AusNet annually attest to the Minister for Energy and Resources about the currency, completeness, maturity and implementation ability of its emergency risk management practices regarding the transmission of electricity, inclusive of assets, people, resources, governance, systems, processes and ar

The Victorian Government advocates for stronger telecommunications service reliability outcomes from the Australian Government, and associated telecommunications reviews.

The Victorian Government to work with the Commonwealth Government and telecommunications carriers to ensure that there are appropriate arrangements, via existing services or alternatives, for communities to stay connected for 72 hours without network power supply.

Owners and operators of critical infrastructure should participate in Regional Emergency Management Planning Committees and ensure that they have appropriate arrangements for services to stay connected for 72 hours without network power supply – to be actioned immediately.

Victorian Government design and implement an Extended Loss of Supply Support Payment Scheme (ELOSS Payment) which requires distribution businesses to financially support customers during prolonged power outages.

To support reliable electricity supply to communities impacted by prolonged power outages, a minimum service level standard should be introduced for Victorian distribution feeders, which if breached, requires remediation by the relevant distribution business.

To quickly address unreliable power supply to known areas at risk of prolonged power outages, by December 2024 or earlier, the Minister for Energy should apply a licence condition for AusNet to: a. Improve realiability of the specified feeders; and b.

As part of its review of the Energy Retail Code of Practice, the ESC should include requirements for energy retailers to collect the phone and email contact details of customers and others in the household for the purpose of sharing with distributors to facilitate information about power outages

The Victorian Government consider implementing a principle based overarching consumer duty either through legislation or relevant regulatory instruments.

DEECA in conjunction with distribution businesses formalise mutual aid arrangements between all businesses to support effective management of prolonged power outage events to reduce time to restore outcomes for customers.

Distribution businesses to inform DEECA of properties with defect notices to support community recovery planning. DEECA work with peak bodies representing registered electrical contractors to ensure coordinated community recovery planning.

The Minister for Energy and Resources undertake an independent review of distribution businesses response to the next prolonged power outage event(s) against the recommendations and observations of the Network Outage Review with a view to identifying and removing barriers to achieving better outc

The Victorian Government and energy sector work with The Energy Charter #BetterTogether Life Support Customer Initiative to support and implement in Victoria a national approach to achieve better outcomes for life support customers that meets strong standards of consumer protection.

DEECA in conjunction with Emergency Management Victoria design and run a networkwide, multi-sector emergency exercise to test implementation of lessons learnt following the 13 February event and identify and remove barriers to effective coordination and response by September 2025

Distribution businesses annually attest to the Minister for Energy and Resources.

Distribution businesses annually attest to the Minister for Energy and Resources. The attestation should include specific reference to, but not limited to: Application of best practice communication and engagement approaches before, during and after prolonged power outages including:

Distribution businesses annually attest to the Minister for Energy and Resources. The attestation should include specific reference to, but not limited to: Adoption and operation of State Emergency Management Priorities including ‘make safe’.

Distribution businesses annually attest to the Minister for Energy and Resources. The attestation should include specific reference to, but not limited to: Ability to undertake rapid impact assessment at a network-wide scale during an event including integration of:

Distribution businesses annually attest to the Minister for Energy and Resources.

Distribution businesses annually attest to the Minister for Energy and Resources. The attestation should include specific reference to, but not limited to: Capability and capacity to achieve effective management of events and timely restoration of customers.

Distribution businesses annually attest to the Minister for Energy and Resources.

Distribution businesses annually attest to the Minister for Energy and Resources.

The Victorian Government amend the Emergency Management Act 2013 to:

The Victorian Government make explicit the support agency role of transmission and distribution businesses for electricity emergencies in the State Emergency Management Plan.

DEECA work with distribution businesses, emergency service agencies, and peak bodies to integrate prolonged power outage preparedness into existing business and household emergency preparedness plan templates by June 2025.

The Minister for Energy and Resources undertake an independent assessment of AusNet's emergency risk management practices for its transmission network including arrangements with contractors by September 2025.