Essential Energy is reminding political candidates and campaign workers that attaching signs or posters to power poles in the lead up to the 2016 Federal Election is dangerous and against the law.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Regional manager southern, Steven Ilitch, said the activity posed a serious safety risk and was in breach of the Electricity Supply Act and the Graffiti Control Act.
“Access to the electricity network and the display of visual advertising are matters regulated by law,” Steven said.
“There are strict safety procedures in place for authorised employees or contractors to access or work near the electricity network, including maintaining safe clearances, wearing personal protective equipment and using insulating barriers.”
There are strict safety procedures in place for authorised employees or contractors to access or work near the electricity network, including maintaining safe clearances, wearing personal protective equipment and using insulating barriers.
- Regional manager southern, Steven Ilitch
Essential Energy warned that any unauthorised contact, or near contact, with the electricity network could result in serious injury or even death.
“People attempting to place posters on poles, streetlight columns, ground-based substations or other network infrastructure risk coming into contact with electrical current, with potentially fatal consequences,” Steven said.
Last year Essential Energy, Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy safely removed 599 election posters that had been attached illegally to power poles.
“Where posters pose a danger, Essential Energy will remove them immediately,” Steven said.
Essential Energy encourages the report any unsafe activity around the electricity network on 13 20 80.
