Stronger Energy Safety Rules: More Watchdog Powers, Bigger Fines, and Solar Minimum Fee Abolished
Energy and Land Legislation Amendment (Energy Safety) Bill 2025
1st House
2nd House
Law
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) will gain powers to enter premises with a magistrate’s warrant in cases of suspected safety risks.
ESV can immediately suspend an electrical contractor’s registration or an electrical worker’s licence if public safety is at risk.
courts can issue injunctions or adverse publicity orders against individuals or companies breaching energy safety laws.
ESV can issue prohibition notices to stop immediately unsafe energy-related work.
maximum penalties for dangerous acts—like installing unsafe electrical or gas equipment—are raised to up to $48,000 for individuals and $240,000 for companies.
Energy Safe Victoria’s powers will align across the Electricity Safety Act, Gas Safety Act, Pipelines Act, and Energy Safe Victoria Act, making enforcement more consistent and flexible.
Victoria’s requirement for the Essential Services Commission to set a minimum solar feed-in tariff will be removed, simplifying energy regulation.