Powercor Ltd, pleads guilty, faces $3m fine over charges relating to maintenance of power lines, Glenmore fire
An energy company which supplies nearly one million Victorian homes “failed” in its legal obligations to maintain its power lines, leading to a horror bushfire.
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An energy company that supplies nearly one million Victorian homes with power is facing a $3m fine after a lack of maintenance of its power lines led to a fire in Victoria’s west.
Powercor Ltd pleaded guilty to more than 100 charges in the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court in
relation to general conduct of failing to inspect power lines and failing to address vegetation encroaching on their powerlines, and a fire in Glenmore.
The blaze burnt across about 185ha of land, threatening homes and destroying sheds, fences, and farming equipment.
Powercor failed to inspect lines in the Horsham and Shepparton areas and cut vegetation according to the minimum clearance span of 2.25m between trees and powerlines.
Powercor was required to clear and inspect lines every calendar year ahead of the fire danger period.
In the Glenmore area, no cutting had occurred between March 2022 and February 17, 2023, the day of the fire.
Energy Safe Victoria inspections in 2021 and 2022 showed 140 instances of vegetation not meeting the minimum clearance distance from power lines in areas across Victoria and including Ballarat, Bendigo, Hamilton, and Terang.
The court heard Powercor supplies more than 920,000 households in Victoria.
Three victim impact statements relating to the Glenmore fire were read to the court.
The first statement, with the initials ‘JH’, was from a member of the Rowsley CFA.
“I still to this day remember responding to a grassfire … I felt fear about what the Rowsley fire brigade were about to face,’’ JH wrote.
“I had to make a decision to attempt to save the four houses directly under threat, and threaten the life of my crew.
“I watched my crew defend the properties that were being impacted by the fire, and I was also aware the fire was travelling towards a school camp, which on this day had 200 children there.
“I made the decision to save the properties and risk my crew’s life.
“I was confused and angry that this happened in the first place.”
The statement said that without proper planning and execution from the fire brigade, it could have been worse.
“We would have lost four properties and lost lives”, the statement read.
The statement also said that the brigade had changed the way it approached fires
The second victim impact statement, from a person with initials PC discussed the fear they had on the day.
“Concern for possible loss of stock and being unable to confirm their safety,” it read.
The statement mentioned their lack of trust in the power company.
The victim spent two months off work, unpaid, resurrecting their property, resulting in a loss of income of $10,000.
Stock was also sold nine months later than desired, resulting in further monetary losses.
The third and final victim impact statement spoke of the emotional toll it has taken since the fire.
“Since the fire there has not been an enjoyable summer, it is just a period of time to get through.
“Summer is just fire season now, and nothing more”, it read.
Powercor’s counsel said the company prioritises safety, particularly in relation to vegetation management.
“In pleading guilty to these charges, Powercor admits it failed to meet its legal obligations and expectations”.
The court also heard that workforce shortages during the Covid-19 pandemic hampered Powercor’s ability to maintain vegetation and inspect their lines.
The prosecution submitted that the maximum fine that the court could impose was more than $3m.
Powercor has a criminal history, with two prior convictions, one of which related to fires in Terang and The Sister’s on St Patrick’s Day 2018.
Magistrate Amina Bhai adjourned the matter for sentencing on May 8.
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