Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiters (REFCL)

Rapid earth fault current limiters (REFCL) survey of selected HV sites

Energy Safe Victoria commissioned a survey of selected high voltage customer sites across Victoria to examine the safety risks when HV customer sites are supplied by rapid earth fault current limiter (REFCL) protected networks.

This survey has been completed and Dr Tony Marxsen* has provided his final report titled “Customer Assets Directly Connected to REFCL Networks: A Preliminary Risk Survey” (The Marxsen Report), which is now available on the Energy Safe website:

The Marxsen Report concludes that there is a small but real risk posed from the operation of a REFCL potentially affecting the HV customer sub-network as well as compromise the effectiveness of the REFCL protected network to reduce fire ignitions.

The report provides insights into the potential solutions and the work required to address these risks.

Energy Safe welcomes any comments that stakeholders might have on the final report and with the agreement of the stakeholder will post those comments on our website.

Responses to the Marxsen Report

• United Energy response – HV customers and REFCL protected networks report June 2017:

• CitiPower and Powercor response – HV customers and REFCL protected networks report June 2017:

• AusNet Services response – HV customers and REFCL protected networks report June 2017:

• Jemena Electricity Networks response – HV customers and REFCL protected networks report June 2017:

*Dr Tony Marxsen is an original member of the Powerline Bushfire Safety Taskforce that recommended REFCLs be considered as part of the Governments response to the recommendations from the Bushfires Royal Commission. Tony led all the original and later research and advised government on the technical performance specifications in the bushfire amendment regulations. He is currently Chairman of AEMO and has over 45 years’ experience in all aspects of the electricity industry.