Victorian regulators have criticised the power sector's bushfire preparedness.

Victoria is on high alert as it braces for what could be its most dangerous bushfire season in recent years. 

Energy Safe Victoria has expressed concerns over power companies' preparedness for the upcoming bushfire season. 

Despite some improvements following recent inspections, the regulator insists that there is significant room for improvement, particularly in maintaining vegetation clearances around powerlines - a key factor in preventing fire ignitions.

In response to these concerns, major power companies have ramped up their bushfire mitigation strategies. 

Powercor, serving over half of Victoria, has undertaken extensive tree-cutting around powerlines, inspected and upgraded thousands of power poles, and is continuously seeking innovative solutions to enhance safety and reliability. 

Powercor and other companies are increasingly turning to advanced technologies. This includes using helicopters equipped with laser systems for precise powerline inspections, deploying drones for aerial surveys, and replacing traditional chainsaws with trucks bearing giant circular saw blades for vegetation management.

A crucial addition to these efforts is the implementation of rapid earth fault current limiters (REFCLs) across Victoria. 

These devices, akin to safety switches, dramatically reduce the risk of fires by cutting or limiting electricity flow through powerlines upon detecting a fault. This technology has shown promising results, with several activations during the 2019-20 season preventing potential fires.

More details are accessible here.