Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) fined, disciplined or led prosecutions against more than 70 tradespeople, councils and major electricity companies that were found to be breaking the law over the past 12 months.

ESV is responsible for enforcing Victoria’s energy safety laws, ensuring the community remains safe through the use of electricity, gas and various forms of renewable energy.

Between 1 January and 31 December 2022, ESV carried out  seven prosecutions and issued 63 infringement notices.

ESV Chairperson and Commissioner Marnie Williams said the regulator had increased its focus on catching and prosecuting lawbreakers through 2022.

“We continue to expand our compliance and enforcement programs to catch and prosecute those that believe they can cut corners and put people’s lives at risk,” Ms Williams said.

On 9 February, David Byrne was fined $1,000 under the Gas Safety Act 1997 in the Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court for illegally moving a gas meter at a property in Warrandyte North.

On 24 February, Parvinder Singh was convicted and fined $1,500 under the Building Act 1993 in the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court after he approved the use of a heater at a Melton South property, despite the fact that it was spilling carbon monoxide into the home.

On 10 October, Ridgewater Plumbing Pty Ltd plead guilty to two charges in the Werribee Magistrates’ Court and fined $5,000 under the Gas Safety Act 1997. The company failed to comply with an Improvement Notice issued in relation to non-compliant gas installation works at a Hoppers Crossing restaurant.

On 13 October, Lara Plumbing Pty Ltd pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court and fined $7,500 under the Gas Safety Act 1997 after illegally relocating an AusNet-owned gas meter at a Geelong smallgoods business.

On 14 October, Phillip Jones pleaded guilty to charges under the Electricity Safety Act 1998 in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court after carrying out unlicensed electrical work at a property in Glen Iris. He was ordered to make a $750 donation to a hospital charity fund.

On 9 November, plumber William Greig was found guilty and fined $3,200 in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court, after carrying out the works and falsely informing ESV the works were compliant with the Gas Safety Act 1997.

And on 14 December, Airconic Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to a charge under the Gas Safety Act 1997 in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court after failing to ensure gas fitting work complied with relevant Standards, in relation to works carried out in a commercial kitchen in Brunswick.

ESV also took disciplinary action against electrician Stuart Royce Macdonald in November, stripping him of his electrical contractor registration following multiple unsafe and fraudulent works across Melbourne.

During 2022, 63 fines worth $110,156 were issued for a range of safety breaches from poorly installed solar systems to the unsafe delivery of basic gas and electrical work. This includes six fines issued to major electricity companies and councils under new powers given to ESV in June for vegetation line clearance breaches.