Overview
REFCLs quickly detect faults on 22 kilovolt powerlines. They respond by reducing the energy flowing through the affected line.
REFCLs were part of the Victorian Government’s response to the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission (VBRC), which followed the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. REFCLs were later legislated, and distribution businesses have installed them in Victoria.
Most of the REFCLs installed by distribution businesses protect high bushfire consequence areas. These are areas where there is a higher risk of loss of life and/or property if a bushfire starts. This does not mean that all hazardous bushfire risk areas in Victoria are now protected by REFCLs.
REFCLs also protect against electrocution. For example, they activate when an operator of heavy machinery hits an overhead line.
Consultation
The way REFCLs respond to faults depends on the settings in use at the time. We sought feedback on our initial expectations for REFCL operating settings and related topics such as testing and maintenance and broadening REFCL use.
We conducted consultation via a consultation paper, survey and information sessions.
The consultation paper outlined considerations and preliminary positions for REFCLs.
We held information sessions during May 2024.
Public submissions from major electricity companies
Companies that operate REFCLs in Victoria are AusNet, Powercor, Jemena and United Energy. We gave them the opportunity to write a submission before the public consultation. Powercor provided an updated submission during the public consultation.
AusNet REFCL consultation submission
Citipower, Powercor and United Energy REFCL consultation submission
Citipower, Powercor and United Energy REFCL consultation submission – updated
Jemena REFCL consultation submission
Outcome – Decision paper and statement of reasons
Stakeholder feedback informed our final REFCL operations policy. Our decision paper and statement of reasons summarises this feedback and provides our response:
The final REFCL operations policy outlines our expectations for how REFCLs should operate. We will consider this policy when assessing safety cases, including Electricity Safety Management Schemes (ESMSs) and Bushfire Mitigation Plans (BMPs).
Final REFCL operations policy
Read the final REFCL operations policy.
Date: 21/12/2024 12:54
The currency and accuracy of this information cannot be guaranteed once printed or saved to a storage device. If in doubt, please check the Energy Safe Victoria website for the current version.
Reviewed