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The electricity supplier on Tuesday vowed to "vigorously defend" the claim brought by bushfire victims that the company negligently started a bushfire through defective power lines.
"SP AusNet's bushfire mitigation and vegetation management programs fully comply with Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Regulations and are audited annually by Energy Safe Victoria," the company noted in its full year financial report.
"All bushfire mitigation programs, including vegetation management, were completed prior to the declaration of the bushfire season in December 2008."
Law firm Slidders is bringing the claim against SP AusNet.
The claim will centre on a fallen power line that is believed to have ignited the blaze that devastated Kinglake, Steels Creek and St Andrews.
Slidders managing partner Renishka Naidoo said the energy company's compliance with bushfire regulations was relevant to its case.
"It's still early days but we will look into all those issues, particularly the bushfire management plans," she told AAP.
"We're also watching the (bushfires) royal commission with great interest.
"The evidence being put forward there will also be relevant to our claim."
SP AusNet chief Nino Ficca would not comment on any potential claims but said the company had liability insurance against bushfires.
"We are not speculating about anything to do with negligence or otherwise. Our insurance cover is for the purposes of bushfire liability," Mr Ficca said.
A statement to the stock exchange shows Mr Ficca received a $412,461 cash bonus, taking his annual salary for the year ending March 31 to $2,378,498.
The bonus came after SP AusNet was criticised after widespread blackouts twice hit Victoria, following storms last year and the record heatwave in the weeks before February's fires.
The bushfires royal commission, chaired by Justice Bernard Teague, held its second day of hearings in Melbourne on Tuesday.
It is examining the events and circumstances of the Black Saturday fires that resulted in the deaths of 173 people and destruction of more than 2,000 homes and properties.
(AAP)
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