Why we need to access your property
The electricity transmission network is critical infrastructure that supplies electricity to homes, businesses and essential services across Victoria.
To keep the network reliable and community safe, we regularly inspect and maintain our transmission towers and lines.
These inspections and maintenance activities help protect local communities by preventing and fixing faults that could disrupt the power supply or create safety hazards, such as electrical faults or bushfires.
We inspect the transmission lines, easements, access tracks and gates to:
- make sure they’re in safe working condition
- check the condition of tower bases and powerlines
- find and address defects or problems as early as possible
- make sure access tracks and gates are maintained and allow safe and clear access to the transmission lines
- confirm trees and vegetation on the easements are a safe distance from the powerlines and are not overgrown.
We work with our delivery partners and others to do this work.
Sometimes, we also need to complete larger projects to upgrade or replace lines and towers for the ongoing safety and reliability of the network. Find out more about our Current projects
How often we access your property
Inspections are carried out at different times and for different reasons, including:
- yearly easement patrols to check lines, towers and easements on foot or in four-wheel drive vehicles
- detailed inspections of towers and lines – depending on the tower type, we do this every three, six or nine years by climbing each tower to do a detailed condition assessment
- aerial inspections using helicopters or drones to assess the network from the air
- vegetation maintenance – our pre-summer inspections identify areas we need to clear vegetation that could pose a bushfire risk.
Any faults or issues found during inspections are repaired as quickly as possible to keep the network safe and reliable.
How we access your property
We always aim to access transmission towers by the shortest and most direct route and use the easement wherever possible to minimise impact on your property. If we can access the easement from a gate directly off the road, we will do so without entering other areas of your property.
If we can’t directly access your easement, we may need to use the nearest gate or access path on your property.
We may need to access your property outside of your easements for the purposes of accessing, inspecting, operating, maintaining our transmission assets, or for other purposes permitted under section 93 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000 or electricity safety legislation.
Outside of emergencies, if we need to access your property, we will always endeavour to:
- contact you in advance if we have your contact details
- explain the work we need to do
- engage with you on entry requirements
- take reasonable steps to minimise damage and limit disruption to your property.
Our employees and delivery partners are required to leave your property as we found it, close any gates we open or leave open gates if they were open when we arrived. If any damage occurs, we will repair it as soon as possible.
If you would like to be notified about when we are accessing your property, or have specific access requests, please let us know using this online form.
