Ensuring safety when working near electrical infrastructure is crucial. Essential Energy provides advice to the building industry, councils, Accredited Service Providers, electrical contractors and anyone working near the overhead and underground electricity network.

Before you start work

Clearances and Approvals

• Maintain necessary clearances for structures and activities.
• Confirm that proposed work does not encroach on statutory safety clearances.
• Make sure everyone on your worksite knows where the powerlines are and what the required clearances are.
• Submit a request for safety advice for work near electrical infrastructure.

Regardless of whether local council approval is required e.g. Exempt, Complying or Development Application and any NSW State approved projects, it is essential to confirm that the proposed work does not encroach on statutory safety clearances.

Read more about Developments near Essential Energy’s infrastructure

Find more information relating to other activities near Essential Energy’s infrastructure

Safety advice

Assess Risks:

• Identify potential hazards on your worksite.
• Submit a Request for Safety Advice if your work will occur near the network or cannot maintain the safe working clearances set out in the Working Near Overhead Powerlines Code of Practice, or CEOP8041 - Work Near Essential Energy's Underground Assets

Use Tools Safely:

• Never use tools with damaged power cords.
• Avoid using power tools in wet or damp areas.

Wear Proper Footwear:

• Always wear proper footwear at work. An electric shock is more likely to be fatal if you're working with bare feet.

Before You Dig Australia

Before You Dig Australia helps you locate underground powerlines and other utility assets before starting any excavation work. Ensure you have a current plan and understand the location of underground powerlines.
Before You Dig Australia 

• Prior to digging or excavating, ensure that you have carried out and have a copy of a current Before You Dig Australia plan and you understand whether there are underground powerlines in the vicinity of your job. If so, you must know their location (this may require the services of a locator). Implement a plan by referring to CEOP8041, and if you are unable to maintain safe approach distances, contact us.
• Before using any machinery, always check for powerlines when setting the machinery up and prior to extending it. Make sure all equipment or machinery is fully lowered before moving off.

Look Up and Live

Look Up and Live provides real-time locations of overhead and underground powerlines. Use the interactive geospatial map to ensure safety on your property.
Look Up and Live

What to do if something goes wrong

• Stay in your vehicle and call 000 immediately.
• If escape is necessary, jump well clear and land with your feet together.
• Shuffle or jump with your feet together until you are at least 8 metres clear.

Order Safety Collateral

Essential Energy provides free safety stickers for vehicles and machinery - Order Safety Collateral 

Development Application Information

Read more about the process on our Development Applications page.

Submitting a request for safety advice

You need to make a request for safety advice for all work that cannot maintain the safe working clearances set out in the Working Near Overhead Powerlines Code of Practice (found on SafeWork NSW for sites in NSW, or WorkCover QLD – Electrical Safety Office for sites in Queensland) or CEOP8041 – Work Near Essential Energy’s Underground Assets.

Whenever possible, we will need at least two weeks’ notice before work commences. The following may be included as part of the recommendation:

• De-energising Electrical Assets or Construction Work
• Tiger Tails and Warning Markers including aerial markers
• High Load Permits and Escorts
• Traffic Control
• Site Safety Supervision

Please note, some services may incur a cost and estimates for costs will be provided following a review of the work.

For more information email [email protected] or call 132391 and ask to speak to a member of the Public Safety team.