The ACCC has granted interim authorisation to Victoria’s 5 Electricity Distribution Network Service Providers - AusNet Electricity Services, Citipower, Jemena Electricity Networks (Vic), Powercor Australia and United Energy Distribution (the Applicants) - to enable them to continue to operate their scheme requiring civil contractors performing underground civil works involving electrical infrastructure assets to meet certain accreditation standards.
The interim authorisation commences on 15 May 2024 when the Applicants’ previous authorisation expires and will remain in place until it is revoked or the date the ACCC’s final determination comes into effect.
The Applicants lodged this application for authorisation on 19 April 2024 and are seeking authorisation for 10 years.
The ACCC has moved quickly to assess this request for interim authorisation given the disruption to the industry likely to result from a suspension of the Applicants’ accreditation scheme between the expiry of the previous authorisation and the ACCC’s final determination.
The ACCC is now seeking submissions on the Applicants’ substantive application for authorisation by 31 May 2024. Further details about the application, the reasons for the ACCC’s interim authorisation decision, and how to make a submission are available on the ACCC’s public register.