Guide to the energy industry technical safety regulatory framework administered by Building and Energy

In Western Australia, all persons who design, construct, operate and/or maintain:

• electricity generation, transmission and distribution systems;
• consumers' electrical installations;
• gas distribution systems (including in cylinders); and
• consumers' gas installations,

must comply with the electricity and gas technical and safety legislation administered by Building and Energy.

Building and Energy is an independent regulator through the statutory functions of the Director of Energy Safety created by Part 2 (s.5 - s.9) of the Energy Coordination Act 1994.  This act also provides for the designation and powers of inspectors, through Part 3 (s.12- s.20) and the Energy Coordination (Inspectors and Infringement Notices) Regulations 1995.

Building and Energy as an independent regulator is funded by industry in accordance with the Energy Safety Act 2006 and the Energy Safety Levy Act 2006.

Electrical requirements

All electrical work must be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Electricity Act 1945 and supporting regulations, which are:

• Electricity (Network Safety) Regulations 2015
• Electricity Regulations 1947
• Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991

and the WA Electrical Requirements.

The Electricity (Network Safety) Regulations 2015 are designed to ensure the safety of the public, consumers and electricity workers in the vicinity of electricity supply infrastructure.

The Electricity Regulations 1947 deal with electrical worker safety and the supply of electricity to consumers including obligations to inspect consumer installations. These regulations also cover requirements for the safety approval of certain types of electrical equipment.

The Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 cover the standards of electrical work on consumers' installations, licensing of electrical workers and contractors and procedural matters.

The WA Electrical Requirements specify supply service rules, which dictate supply connection requirements. They also set out any Western Australian variations to the “Wiring Rules” (AS/NZS 3000) and any other standards as referenced by the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991.

Gas requirements

All gas work must be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Gas Standards Act 1972 and supporting regulations, which are:

• Gas Standards (Gas Supply and System Safety) Regulations 2000
• Gas Standards (Gasfitting and Consumer Gas Installations) Regulations 1999

The Gas Standards (Gas Supply and System Safety) Regulations 2000 apply to gas distribution systems and include requirements for network safety, gas quality (natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas) and metering accuracy.

The Gas Standards (Gasfitting and Consumer Gas Installations) Regulations 1999 cover the licensing of gas fitters, standards of gasfitting work on consumers' gas installations, including the approval of Type B (industrial) gas appliances and procedural matters.

The Gas Standards Act 1972 also deals with a number of other requirements including the safety approval of Type A (domestic and small commercial) gas appliances. The Gas Standards (Infringement Notices) Regulations 2007 deal with the prescription of offences that are subject to the giving of infringement notices.