eMAIL #7

Good afternoon Ray, 

Thank you for contacting the TasNetworks Customer Advocacy Team in relation to your vegetation enquiry. ...................... I have completed my investigation into your case, and please find below confirmation of the options provided by the TasNetworks Vegetation management team. ...................... The service line in question is crossing your property boundary, therefore TasNetworks is required to maintain the vegetation to a compliant and safe distance from the line. Our vegetation crew attended as agreed on the 4th of November 2021, and trimmed the minimum required from the tree (500mm) with a hand saw. ...................... If you prefer that TasNetworks or its contractors do not enter your property, you may wish to consider the following options:- 

The neighbouring service line can be relocated at the customer’s cost, which would be a private matter between your neighbour and yourself. 

You are able to engage an authorised vegetation contractor of your choice in order to maintain the vegetation encroaching on the service line. 

If you do not wish to consider either of the above options, TasNetworks will be required to continue maintaining the vegetation within a safe distance of the service line. ...................... Please feel free to click on the below link if you require further clarification on where responsibilities start and finish in relation to vegetation maintenance. ...................... Maintaining trees near powerlines - TasNetworks ...................... We request that any further contact in relation to this matter be directed to the following email address:- Customer.Advocacyteam@tasnetworks.com.au Please refrain from any further contact with our Vegetation Officer or Customer Service Centre moving forward. ...................... Additionally, we respectfully request that all names of TasNetworks’ personnel be removed from any social media platforms immediately. ...................... I acknowledge that this may have been a negative customer experience from your viewpoint and not your desired outcome, however If dissatisfied you are welcome to contact the Energy Ombudsman via their online form (the link is below for your convenience). ...................... Energy Ombudsman Tasmania https://secure.justice.tas.gov.au/ombudsman_resolve_update/energy_ombudsman_complaint_form ...................... Thank you once again for contacting TasNetworks. ...................... Kind Regards, MsS

FILE NOTE: 

This eMAIL should not be regarded as a true reflection of the telephone conversation it  purports to reflect. The conversation was in fact heavily weighted towards 'WINNING' & PROJECTING THE TASNETWORK'S CORPORATE WORLDview. The basic assumption being that the 'property owners'[AKA CUSTOMERS] must be ultimately 'compliant'  with the 'corporate WORLDview' come what may – irrespective of any loss of amenity, irrespective of equity or 'natural justice'.

Throughout the conversation there was no apparent acknowledgement that the 'Vegetation Officer' might have erred in any way, potentially or otherwise, or had handled his engagement with a member of 'the public' in an inappropriate manner. Moreover, I believe that a perusal of the recording of the telephone conversation, made "for training purposes", albeit not stated or flagged at the time, will support the proposition that;

• The call was confrontational;
• The call was non-conciliatory; and
• Undertaken to enforce the Tasnetworks' WORLDview backed as it is by considerable resources, legal and otherwise – generally unmatched by Tasnetwork's client base.

The so-called reconciliatory options on offer quite deliberately avoid the issues at hand. The points made in my first correspondence have been skirted around and the implied threat of 'legal implications' is both counterproductive and very poor marketing.