Voltage performance data

Maintaining steady and compliant voltage levels is important for energy consumers. Voltage can affect household appliances and solar panel output from homes.

Energy distributors must provide us with voltage performance data every quarter. This requirement is contained in Schedule 6 of the Electricity Distribution Code of Practice. 

We use this data to monitor distributors compliance with our voltage performance standards and ensure consumer needs are met.

In Victoria, electricity distributors must make sure that voltage levels comply with the Electricity Distribution Code of Practice (which refers to the Australian Standard AS 61000.3.100-2011).

Functional compliance is achieved if up to one per cent of measurements below 216 V and up to one per cent of measurements above 253 V are maintained across at least 95 per cent of a distributor's customers. The horizontal red line below shows where five per cent of customers experience over-voltage (graph 1) and under-voltage (graph 2) for more than one per cent of the time.

Voltage performance data

The graphs show voltage performance data, in weekly intervals, for each of the Victorian distributors for the stated period.

We acknowledge that a distributor's ability to achieve compliance is impacted by a range of factors, including but not limited to:

• variations in load depending on weekday or weekend demand
• the capacity of a network to support two-way power flows
• length and distance between power lines originating from substations
• topology of the network and the type of terrain and distance the network must travel through
• local weather patterns and seasons/climate (i.e. influence of high or low temperatures).

Any of these may impact a distribution network's ability to comply with voltage standards and may partially explain why voltage levels are non-compliant. Additionally, voltage performance can be inhibited by ageing infrastructure that does not have the capacity to keep up with increasing volume demands on a network.

In February 2024, Victoria experienced significant storm events. An event such as this is likely to have had an impact on the levels of over- and under-voltage as shown in the graphs above. Other incidents involving assets requiring maintenance or unexpected equipment malfunctions may also contribute to voltage levels fluctuating.

Since 1 October 2022, clause 20.4.1 of the Electricity Distribution Code of Practice has been specified as a civil penalty requirement. We are actively monitoring compliance with voltage performance. Where instances of non-compliance are identified these are managed in accordance with our Compliance and Enforcement Policy.

Please be advised that this publication is to provide general guidance only. It does not constitute legal or other professional advice and should not be relied on as a statement of the law. While we have made every reasonable effort to provide current and accurate information, you should obtain professional advice if you have any specific concern, before relying on the accuracy, currency or completeness of this information.