Energy company director fined for rebooting dangerous electrical installation after investigation by regulator
A dodgy unlicensed sparky has been switched off after investigators busted him — again — setting up a jerry-rigged operation to power his factory.
Melbourne City
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An unlicensed sparky jerry-rigged his company’s factory to a row of car batteries to keep the power going — again — after the energy regulator flicked the switch.
Renaud Kobrynski was convicted and fined at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court after breaching an Energy Safe Victoria direction following a 2021 investigation at a Footscray factory.
Kobrynski was the director of alternative energy engineering company Hydroxygas when a complaint to the state regulator prompted officers to attend the Barkly St factory.
Investigators located a battery energy storage system (BESS) powered by a large quantity of car batteries inside a shipping container that was connected to the main switchboard of the precinct.
They also found serious electrical issues inside the factory including unsafe wiring and switchboards.
Energy Safe then disconnected the BESS and the power supply was cut by the distributor.
The 51-year-old, who was not a licensed electrical worker, then reconnected the BESS to the main switchboard.
Energy Safe was alerted and returned to disconnect it once more.
Hydroxygas and its director were found guilty of failing to comply with Energy Safe’s direction.
Both company and director were convicted in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court earlier this month.
They were fined $50,000 and $10,000 respectively.
Kobrynski, who was sentenced via video link, was also found guilty of undertaking electrical work without a licence.
Outside of court, Energy Safe chief executive Leanne Hughson said it was fortunate no one was injured by Kobrynski’s actions.
“Our investigation highlighted that the factory was not a safe working environment for its employees,” Ms Hughson said.
“It is very disappointing that (he) chose to disobey Energy Safe’s direction to disconnect the unsafe battery energy storage system.
“Energy Safe will throw the book at anyone who ignores a direction in an unsafe electrical situation.”
Both Hydroxygas and Kobrynski were contacted for comment.
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