PowerEarth provides specialist planning and advisory services for clients managing complex electrical and earthing infrastructure. Whether it’s developing a long-term master plan for an airport’s electrical supply, assessing earthing safety and corrosion risks across a rail network, or leading an electric shock investigation, we understand the responsibilities of a trusted technical adviser — and we don’t take them lightly.
Our advisory work draws on 30 years of hands-on engineering experience across power, rail, water, mining, defence, renewables, airports and commercial infrastructure. This breadth means we bring practical, sector-aware advice that is grounded in real project delivery — not just theory.
Our Advisory Services
Master Planning and Feasibility
PowerEarth develops electrical infrastructure master plans that map out the long-term power supply, earthing and protection requirements for complex facilities and precincts. Our master planning work covers demand forecasting, supply options analysis, staging and staging strategies, redundancy and resilience planning, and budget estimation. We also deliver feasibility studies for specific projects — evaluating technical options, identifying risks and providing the cost and programme information needed to support investment decisions. Our master planning clients include airport operators, defence establishments, large industrial facilities and major infrastructure programs.
Technical Advisory and Subject Matter Expert Support
PowerEarth acts as embedded subject matter expert for clients who need specialist electrical and earthing engineering advice on an ongoing or project-specific basis. This includes providing technical input to procurement processes, supporting design brief development, advising on standards interpretation, assisting with contractor technical evaluations and representing our clients in technical forums and stakeholder negotiations. We have provided ongoing advisory support for projects including the Sydney Metro, Melbourne Metro, major airport upgrades and critical defence infrastructure programs.
Risk Assessment and Safety Advisory
We conduct technical risk assessments for earthing-related safety hazards, electrolysis and corrosion risks, AC interference on metallic pipelines, and electromagnetic interference on sensitive systems. Our risk assessments follow the principles of ENA EG-0, AS/NZS 4853 and relevant workplace health and safety legislation, providing clients with a clear understanding of their risk exposure and practical recommendations for treatment. We support clients in meeting their due diligence obligations under the WHS Act by quantifying risks and recommending controls that are proportionate and evidence-based.
Electric Shock Investigation
PowerEarth provides specialist investigation services following electric shock incidents and near-misses. Our investigations identify the technical root cause of the event — whether it involves earthing system failure, protection system malfunction, voltage transfer, stray current or equipment fault — and provide findings and recommendations that support both immediate remediation and systemic improvement. Our investigation reports are prepared to a standard suitable for regulatory submissions and coronial proceedings where required.
Standards and Regulatory Advisory
With engineers who contribute to Australian Standards committees and industry working groups, PowerEarth provides advisory services on standards interpretation, compliance strategy and regulatory engagement. We help clients understand their obligations under AS 2067, ENA EG-0, AS/NZS 3000 and other applicable standards, and develop practical compliance strategies for both new and existing installations.
Sector Applications
Our planning and advisory services address the specific challenges of each sector we work in:
- Airports: Mains and backup power supply master planning, airfield lighting power systems, earthing safety for fuel infrastructure
- Rail & metro: Earthing and electrolysis advisory for electrified rail networks, traction power planning, stray current risk management
- Defence: Secure electrical infrastructure planning, earthing and lightning protection advisory for military facilities
- Power & utilities: Network earthing safety advisory, EPR risk management, third-party asset protection planning
- Renewables: Grid connection advisory, earthing planning for solar and BESS installations
- Mining & industrial: Electrical safety advisory, earthing risk assessments for operational sites
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an electrical infrastructure master plan?
An electrical infrastructure master plan is a long-term strategic document that maps out the power supply, distribution, earthing and protection requirements for a facility or precinct over a defined planning horizon — typically 10 to 30 years. It considers future demand growth, asset condition, redundancy requirements, staging strategies and budget, providing a roadmap for investment and development. PowerEarth develops master plans for airports, defence establishments, industrial campuses and other complex facilities.
What happens during an electric shock investigation?
PowerEarth’s electric shock investigations identify the technical root cause of the incident through a combination of site inspection, electrical testing, review of design documentation and protection system records, and engineering analysis. Our investigation reports document the sequence of events, identify the failure mechanism, assess whether the installation complied with applicable standards, and provide recommendations for remediation and prevention. Reports are prepared to a standard suitable for regulatory and legal proceedings.
Can PowerEarth provide ongoing technical advisory support?
Yes. Many of our advisory engagements are ongoing retainer arrangements where PowerEarth acts as an embedded subject matter expert for the client’s engineering team. This model is particularly effective for large infrastructure programs, asset owners managing extensive electrical portfolios, and organisations that need specialist earthing or electrical expertise but don’t have it in-house. We scale our involvement to match your needs — from occasional ad-hoc advice to full-time embedded support.
What is the difference between planning and advisory and peer review?
Planning and advisory work is proactive — we help you develop strategies, make decisions and plan future infrastructure. Peer review is reactive — we evaluate designs or studies produced by others to verify their quality and compliance. Both services draw on the same deep technical expertise, but they serve different roles in the project lifecycle. Many clients use both: advisory during the planning phase and peer review during design and construction.
Do you provide expert witness services?
Yes. PowerEarth’s senior engineers have provided expert technical evidence in legal proceedings, coronial inquests and regulatory investigations relating to electrical safety incidents, earthing system failures and standards compliance. Our investigation and advisory reports are prepared with the rigour and objectivity required for these contexts.
Talk to Our Advisory Team
Whether you need a master plan for a complex facility, specialist advisory for a major infrastructure program, a risk assessment for your earthing systems, or an independent investigation following an incident, PowerEarth brings 30 years of engineering expertise and the trusted-adviser approach that critical infrastructure demands.
Contact us today to discuss your advisory requirements, or call us on 1300 POWEREARTH.