Guy Barnett,Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
The Tasmanian Government knows that getting essential services connected to a home or business can cause frustration and cost time and money, so we are making it quicker and easier to get the power connected.
Based on feedback from home builders, developers and businesses alike, and in close consultation with TasNetworks, we will now set maximum time limits for having electricity connected to new homes and new or expanding businesses.
All stages of power connection from initial assessment through to turning on the power will be subject to specific timeframes with maximum limits set for small, medium and large-scale works.
The new service standards will officially begin on the 1st January under the regulations; however there will be a six month transitional period to allow TasNetworks time to make internal system changes with the service standards being fully adopted by 1st July 2022.
For small jobs such as connecting power to a new home where there is existing infrastructure, the timeframe for assessment, design and connection will be up to 45 days.
Medium scale works such as connecting or upgrading infrastructure for a small business will have a limit of 60 days.
For large-scale works such as connecting an industrial plant that requires high-voltage infrastructure, the allowable timeframe will be up to 160 days.
These service standards provide certainty and consistency across our building sector and industry and deliberately delineate between small, medium and large-scale projects based on the size and complexity of the job.
These standards will provide homeowners, small businesses and large-scale investors with timeframes they can factor into their developments.
These new service standards are part of the Tasmanian Government's wider building and construction reform agenda, making it easier to build new homes and to start or grow businesses across the State.
