Ahead of a potentially dangerous bushfire season, a new safety system to prevent electricity infrastructure from starting fires has been installed in Benalla.
The world-leading, cutting-edge Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter (REFCL) has been installed in 44 other areas across Victoria, with Benalla the final recipient of the program.
The Benalla REFCL is servicing one of the longest powerlines in Victoria at more than 1000km.
A REFCL works like a giant safety switch that shuts off power when the powerline comes into contact with vegetation or the ground - significantly reducing the chance of ignition.
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio was in Benalla on Friday, November 3, to announce the completion of the state’s biggest investment in powerline bushfire safety.
“Today is a really good day for powerline bushfire safety,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“It marks the completion of the rollout of this very important life-saving technology.
“REFCLs save lives. We have one at the main sub-station in Benalla itself.
“And we have this remote one (besides the Hume Fwy on Boho Church Rd), which is part of that Benalla system.”
During the 2019-20 Black summer bushfires, REFCLs were triggered 33 times in total fire ban days by faults that could have ignited catastrophic bushfires.
Ausnet Executive General Manager, Network Operations and Safety, Prue Crawford-Flett, said the new technology will protect lives and property.
“On the worst total fire ban days, the REFCL systems are set to detect any fault across the network that could potentially cause a fire,” Ms Crawford-Flett said.
“The Benalla REFCL will protect more than 300,000 of our customers and about 40,000 square kilometres (of land).”