The Office of the Technical Regulator operates within the following legislative framework.  Up to date versions of the Electricity Act 1996, the Electricity (General) Regulations and the Electricity (Principles of Vegetation Clearance) Regulations may be purchased from Service SA, Government Legislation Outlet, 101 Grenfell Street, Adelaide, and can be viewed from the Government's Legislation  website

The Electricity Act 1996 and Regulations

The Act and Regulations were proclaimed on 1 January 1997.

The Electricity Act 1996 and associated Regulations were developed to provide the legislative frame work to ensure that South Australian consumers continue to have access to a safe, reliable and quality electricity supply and safe electrical installations in a competitive electricity market.

The objectives of the Electricity Act 1996 are:

• to promote efficiency and competition in the electricity supply industry
• to promote the establishment and maintenance of safe and efficient systems for electricity generation, transmission, distribution and supply
• to establish and enforce proper standards of safety, reliability and quality in the South Australian electricity supply industry
• to establish and enforce proper safety and technical standards for electrical installations and electricity infrastructure
• to protect the interest of consumers of electricity.

The Technical Regulator has the following functions:

• the monitoring and regulation of safety and technical standards in the electricity supply industry
• the monitoring and regulation of safety and technical standards with respect to electrical installations
• the administration of the provisions of the Act relating to the clearance of vegetation from powerlines any other functions assigned to the Technical Regulator under the Electricity Act 1996.

Electricity (Principles of Vegetation Clearance) Regulations

The Electricity (Principles of Vegetation Clearance) Regulations 1997 define the vegetation clearance requirements around powerlines. The legislation provides for a safe and efficient electricity transmission and distribution system in South Australia, while not imposing excessive vegetation clearance requirements, to minimise the risk of:

• bushfires in bushfire risk areas
• damage to powerlines and possible associated power outages
• electric shocks

Electricity (General) Regulations

The Electricity (General) Regulations impose safety and technical requirements for electrical installations, electricity infrastructure, work on electrical installations, and work on and in proximity to powerlines.  They also impose clearance distance requirements between buildings (and other structures) and powerlines.  The Regulations also specify "certificate of compliance" requirements applicable where work is carried out on installations.

Electrical Products Act 2000

The safety and energy efficiency of various electrical appliances and other electrical products is dealt with by this Act.  This Act, and the regulations made under it, impose requirements for the labelling of prescribed products to certify their compliance with safety and technical standards (approval) or to indicate their energy efficiency (energy labelling); and for the registration of products required to comply with MEPS (minimum energy performance standards).  The legislation also provides power for the Technical Regulator to prohibit the sale or use of unsafe electrical products.

When Draft Legislation is released for consultation it also available on this site.