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Hi Paul. I've worked in the electricity industry in Victoria for 40+ years and have actually noticed a reduction in OH&S since the privatisation process if anything. My career has been to say the least quite varied extending from Electrician through to Shift Manager of about 30 Power stations and trading wholesale electricity. The old SEC were very pro active when it came to safety even to the extreme. They ran a very good system of investigation and examination then a very proactive approach to ensuring it never happened again. The Old SECV had procedures by the score and all were the result of some form of investigation but with privatisation electrical safety was reduced to the lowest common point which was the old Victorian Blue Book. It was the minimum standard and still forms the basis of OHS in electricity sector. I do think the reduction in staffing, the need to train staff quickly and get staff authorised is almost putting the horse before the cart. I spent much of my career training and authorising High Voltage Operators and ensuring that the procedures were in place and correct for the work to be done.
I have now retired but still do a little consulting work and still think the dollar is the main concern with senior management and safety is becoming much more a shop floor responsibility.
The electricity industry is heavily regulated and as such it is still one of the safer industries to work in but I do fear we are letting to much slip by to the keeper.
Good description of the Electricity Market Allan. Voll is now $12500 / MWHr.
NT is not involved in the National Market at this stage either. I would hate to work at AEMO and manage the system these days with Wind Farms and domestic Solar to contend with while still maintaining a spinning reserve at a cost we can afford. I know a few of the system engineers and they have some horrific days at work.
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