REFCL Cost Benefit Analysis

Energy Safe Victoria is seeking the production of a report. The purpose of the report is to:

• analyse the performance of REFCLs and determine the risk reduction benefits as evidenced by the deployment of REFCL to date based on the quantum of fires avoided by REFCL operation and the cost of bushfire as established in the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Bushfire Mitigation Regulations Amendment dated 17 November 2015.
  
• forecast the likely risk reduction benefits that will be realised when the full programme is deployed
  
• establish the cost of realising the benefits to Victorians, including but not limited to:
  • initial capital expenditure, with consideration given to the remaining useful life of assets that were replaced,
  • changes to operational expenditure due to the different asset mix, and
  • costs associated with changes to supply reliability
    
• assess the direct costs incurred by major electricity companies (MECs) in deploying REFCLs to meet the requirements of Part 10A of the Electricity Safety Act 1998 (Act), particularly section 120M.