Living with transmission lines

Easements within the transmission network

A vast network of transmission lines has been built across Victoria to ensure electricity reaches homes and businesses across the state. 

Our lines carry electricity at extra high voltages 220,000 volts (220kV) to 500,000 volts (500kV) from the power stations and renewable sources to the major load centres. From here the voltage is transformed and local distribution companies then supply it to homes and businesses. 

Most of our conductors are supported by steel towers. The grounds that house the towers and lie under the conductors are known as transmission line easements. There are 6,500 kilometres of transmission lines crossing a total area of about 17,500 hectares of easements across Victoria.

It’s our job to maintain the transmission system and the easements provide easy and constant access to the lines for maintenance, repairs and construction. The easements are also important for community safety and certain activities cannot be carried out within easements for safety purposes.

One of our highest priorities is to eliminate potential electrical or fire hazards for the safety of the public and landowners, and the electricity system in general. Another major priority is to protect and nurture the ecosystems, flora and fauna that inhabit the easements.

Underground transmission cable

While most of our transmission lines are constructed on steel towers, we also have a significant number of 220kV transmission cables installed underground.

Prior to starting any work involving digging, excavating, changing ground surface cover or driving of stakes or posts into the ground, a Dial Before You Dig enquiry must be made to prevent damage to underground transmission lines.

Easement policy

As part of our role and responsibilities within the energy system, we have developed an easement policy that takes into account our legislative responsibilities and the interests of the Victorian community. 

This policy dictates that we will:

• Create awareness of our easement policy through promotion to landowners, land managers and the wider community.
• Recognise and observe planning and environmental constraints. 
• Consult with local authorities, governments and interest groups on vegetation management. 
• Provide advance notice of our activities wherever practical and consult with land users, local authorities and others who have an interest in our activity. 
• Minimise fire, safety and security risk within our easements.
• Minimise disturbance to landowners and occupiers by limiting the frequency of visits. 
• Retain the services of an arborist to provide expert advice on vegetation and flora.
• Encourage property owners, land managers and community groups to plant native species in the vicinity of powerlines.
• Replace incompatible tall-growth species of vegetation with lower-growing local native varieties.
• Remove tall trees adjacent to easements that have the potential to cause line damage or fire.

Further considerations 

Explosives

You must not use explosives on easements. If you need to detonate explosives in the vicinity of an easement you must not use an electrical detonation device. Please inform us before you carry out any explosions in the vicinity of an easement. 

Damage

We are not responsible for any damage to any development you are carrying out on the easement caused by the operation and maintenance of the lines.

Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF)

Electric and magnetic fields, also known as EMFs, occur when electricity is flowing or there is an electrical force. They can occur naturally, such as lightning or solar activity, or from human activity, such as powerlines and common household appliances.

People all over Australia and the world have been living with appliances that emit EMFs for many decades and there is no established evidence that transmission line EMFs pose a risk to human health. Studies have also not found any observable impacts on the health and productivity of cows, sheep, pigs and horses.

There are some possible impacts to smart farming technologies, but we will work with landholders to ensure these impacts are mitigated or minimised.

Assessment of research results by health authorities has established interim guidelines on limits of public and occupational exposure to EMF and we operate within these guidelines. 

Discharges, micro-shocks or a tingling sensation under or near transmission lines

Sometimes an electric field can be present under a high voltage transmission line. When you touch nearby metal objects such as long wire fences or metallic roofing or work with large metal objects, you may feel an acute shock or the hairs on your skin vibrate.

Proper earthing methods or working procedures will eliminate these discharge. Please contact us on transmissionprojects@ausnetservices.com.au for further information on discharges from wire fences, clotheslines or large metallic objects.

EMF may cause some interference to electrical equipment and appliances in your home or workplace. The type of interference you might experience includes television and radio interference and computer monitor or video display unit (VDU) interference.  

Computer monitor or VDU interference

The screen display on common computer monitors or VDUs is driven by the unit’s internal magnetic circuitry. Under certain conditions, external magnetic fields may interfere with a monitor and affect the quality of the display with a jitter or distortion. 

Magnetic field sources in commercial and industrial buildings (and occasionally homes) often come from equipment such as internal substations, main electrical switchboards, heavy-current cables, and external power distribution and transmission lines. 

If this happens, check that the computer equipment and local magnetic field sources are properly installed. If you believe the magnetic field sources are coming from outside electrical installations, you can obtain further assistance from your local electricity distribution company. Refer to your electricity account for contact details.

Please contact us on transmissionprojects@ausnetservices.com.au if you suspect the interference relates to high voltage transmission lines.

Vehicle access

We (and our contractors) need vehicle access to tower sites at all times. In many cases, gates 4.6 metres in width are required in boundary fences to permit access along the easement. Our personnel and contractors entering properties will leave gates in the same open or closed position they were found in.

Contact us

If your question or concern has not been addressed in this guide, please contact us on transmissionprojects@ausnetservices.com.au.

To ensure we can address your query as effectively as possible, please provide as much detail as you can. This may include dimensioned plans, details of your proposal, map of the property and easement, tower positions, a copy of the certificate of title etc.

Please send your request well in advance of the start of your planned works to ensure we have enough time to respond to you and find a suitable solution.