Changes to the energy safety legislation

The Energy and Land Legislation Amendment (Energy Safety) Act 2025 was passed by the Victorian Parliament last week, strengthening Energy Safe Victoria’s regulatory powers.

The changes build on previous changes which came into effect in May 2024 and further strengthen our ability to keep Victoria energy safe.

• The changes include:
  significantly increased penalties for certain breaches of the Electricity Safety Act and Gas Safety Act
• the power to immediately suspend the registration of an electrical contractor or licence of an electrical worker if public safety is at risk
• the authority to issue prohibition notices and an expanded scope for issuing improvement notices for contraventions of the Electricity Safety Act
• expanded authorised officer powers, including entering a premises with a warrant if there is a safety risk or non-compliance; and the authority to request assistance when exercising powers, with penalties for refusal or obstruction
• streamlined regulatory processes, including when specified operators must submit bushfire mitigation plans, which is now at least every 5years, instead of annually.

Some of these changes take effect immediately, while some will come into effect over the next 12 months.

Read more on our website: https://www.energysafe.vic.gov.au/about-us/regulatory-framework/enforcement/legislation-amendment-2025