The NSW Minister for Energy formed the NSW Electricity Supply, Industry Safety Steering Committee (ISSC) in 2002. The ISSC’s role is to review the safety performance of the electricity supply industry and NSW Government compliance strategies to identify opportunities for improvement.
The ISSC advises the Minister for Energy and the department on ways to convert the opportunities it identifies into improved safety outcomes.
ISSC members
The ISSC consists of the following members:
Network Operators
- ACEREZ
- Ausgrid
- Endeavour Energy
- Essential Energy
- Sydney Trains
- Metro Trains Sydney
- Parklife Metro
- Transgrid
- APA/Directlink
- Lord Howe Island Board (LHIB)
Unions
- Electrical Trades Union (ETU)
- United Services Union (USU)
Regulators
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW, the department)
- SafeWork NSW
- Independent Pricing & Regulatory Tribunal (IPART)
- Building Commission NSW
- EnergyCo
Peak Industry Bodies
- National Electrical & Communications Association (NECA)
Accredited Service Providers (ASP)
- A representative of each level ASP
The ISSC Guides
The ISSC sets up working groups to develop advice, document issues and draft or review ISSC Guides. Working groups are provided with terms of reference and timetables to report back to the ISSC.
The industry refers to the ISSC Guides to interpret and implement legislation consistently.
ISSC Guides have been prepared for users with a minimum level of technical qualifications and experience. The ISSC Guides are not intended for use by untrained or unqualified people.
These Guides are advisory only and do not substitute for, or override any relevant legislation, regulation or safety rules implemented by jurisdictional regulators or network operators.
- ISSC Guide 03 - Management of vegetation in the vicinity of electricity assets – Nov 2016
- ISSC Guide 14 - Electrical workers' safety equipment – Oct 2010 *UNDER REVIEW*
- ISSC Guide 20 - Management of activities within electricity easements and close to electricity infrastructure – Sep 2012
- ISSC Guide 28 - Enclosed spaces in NSW electricity networks – Mar 2013
- ISSC Guide 29 - Pre-climbing and climbing assessment of poles – May 2013 * UNDER REVIEW*
- ISSC Guide 31 - Management of private overhead lines – Sep 2019
- ISSC Guide 32 - Network operators to provide information to the construction industry for working near overhead power lines
- ISSC Guide 33 - Network configuration during total fire ban days – Sep 2024
- ISSC Guide 34 - Height safety within the NSW electricity industry – Jun 2013 *UNDER REVIEW*
- ISSC Guide 35 - Safe work area taping in outdoor switchyards – Sep 2012
- ISSC Guide 37 - Working on near or in the vicinity of the apparatus of another network operator – Dec 2021
- ISSC Guide 38 - Testing of connections to low voltage electricity networks – Jul 2021
- ISSC Guide 39 - Training of personnel working on or near electricity networks – Jun 2025
ISSC Guide 40 - Managing the risk of inadvertent network energisation from customer energy resources is coming soon.
Contact and support
For any enquiries regarding the ISSC guides please contact us at [email protected].
Electricity Supply ISSC Alerts
A full list of ISSC Safety Alerts is available on our website.
Protecting underground energy assets
Using the Before You Dig service is mandatory before carrying out certain types of excavation work. These requirements are set out in changes to the Electricity Supply Act 1995 and Gas Supply Act 1996 and their Regulations. Fines and penalties may apply if people are found in breach of these rules.
Visit the Before You Dig website to find out more or to access the service.
Line crossings on NSW waterways
Overhead and submarine cables which cross navigable waters can be hazardous to vessels, resulting in damage and serious injury. If a vessel contacts submarine cables, it can also damage the electricity infrastructure which could affect supply, the environment and create legal and financial liabilities.
The Code of Conduct for Line Crossings of NSW Navigable Water, found on the Line crossings on NSW waterways site, covers the installation and maintenance of cables which cross navigable waters. Network operators are required to take the Code of Conduct into account when they develop their Network Management Plans.
Transport for NSW, as delegate of the Minister for Transport, is responsible for the safe navigation of both recreational and commercial vessels in NSW (S.24, Ports and Maritime Administration Act 1995).