Electrical Contractors

What is happening?

Essential Energy will be hosting opt-in support session for Level 2 ASPs and Electrical Contractors with questions relating to the Essential Connections Portal. The session will run for 1 hour – please drop in anytime, you can ask a quick question or stay as long as you choose.

The opt-in support session will be held on Wednesday 25 June at 8 am to 9 am - please click here to register.

What do you need to do?

1. Ensure you are registered to attend the support session.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

If you need further information, please email techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au.

What is happening?

Our new one-stop Technical Support Hub is providing our Accredited Service Providers, Electrical Contractors, solar installers and connections customers with self-service and supported-service options tailored to your specific requirements.

A dedicated team of technical specialists and subject matter experts are available to offer real time advice and help resolve enquiries at first point of contact, helping drive timely and consistent outcomes for you and your customers.

To easily identify the first point of contact who can best assist with your Essential Connections Portal enquiries:

• contact the team by calling 13 23 91 and selecting Option 2
• send your Essential Connections enquiries to a new email address: techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au.

What do you need to do?

1. Ensure you are registered to attend the support sessions.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

If you need further information, please email techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au.

What is happening?

A tragic incident occurred in Randwick on 22 May 2025 involving an Ausgrid employee who sadly lost their life after coming into contact with energised low voltage (LV) conductors.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the employee’s family, friends, colleagues, and our industry partners at Ausgrid. They remain in our thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the Safety Briefing, click here to view.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

What is happening?

Essential Energy is holding a Drop-in-Session for Electrical Contractors and ASPs assisting with flood recovery in the Taree area to ensure the safe and efficient connection of customer premises affected by inundation.

When: Monday, 2 June 2025

Time: 8 – 10 am

Where: Lear and Smith Electrical Wholesalers, 7 Grey Gum Road, Taree NSW 2430

Essential Energy Key Contacts

• Essential Energy General Enquiries – 13 23 91, option 2 for Tech Support
• Senior Network Assurance Facilitator - Ivan Gould 0417 930 454
• Senior Network Assurance Facilitator - Craig Brockwell 0491 349 614

What do you need to do?

1. Review the above invitation
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

Flood Recovery

The recent floods on the Mid North Coast and other areas of NSW have caused catastrophic property damage for our customers. Essential Energy is committed to supporting Accredited Service Providers (ASPs) and Electrical contractors safely reconnect properties after thorough testing has been completed.

Safety

At all times consider the safety of yourself, customers, and Essential Energy team members when testing and reconnecting customers.

Ensure the following:

• Follow your own safety management systems and safe work methods.
• Ensure you have isolated all incoming supplies (including solar and batteries), even if the network is deenergised.
• Disconnect and isolate faulty circuits at the switchboard. Prevent customers reconnecting until inspected and tested safe.
• Do not leave exposed cabling, General Purpose Outlet (GPO) and light terminals after gyprock has been removed.
• A GPO mounted in the switchboard can provide electricity supply if all other circuits are isolated. Ensure that all new installations are installed to current standards and protected by a Residual Current Breaker with Overcurrent protection (RCBO).  

CCEW

All premises must be inspected, tested, and repaired before reconnecting. A Certificate of Compliance Electrical Work (CCEW) must be submitted via Essential Connections portal immediately after the premise is deemed safe to connect. When submitting the CCEW in the Essential Connection Portal, select "Natural Disaster" in the special circumstances field to help Essential Energy process it efficiently.

The premises do not have to be brought up to currents standards if only safety testing and no additional equipment is installed.

Only accredited and authorised Level 2 ASPs can reconnect disconnected premises. Electrical contractors can either contact a Level 2 ASP or Essential Energy will reconnect upon receiving a CCEW. Service Protection Devices (SPDs) with a sealed escutcheon plate are the only exception for electrical contractors.

NOSW

A Level 2 ASP must submit a NOSW via the Essential Energy Connections portal immediately after reconnecting supply to premises. When submitting the NOSW in the Essential Connection Portal, select "Natural Disaster" in the special circumstances field, this notifies Essential Energy that the premise has been reconnected and avoids our crews having to re-visit premises. Replacement of damaged services can only be completed by Essential Energy.

A Level 2 ASP authorised person can perform the below:

• Class 2A – Reconnect at the connection point only
• Class 2B – Replace the Service Protection Device (SPD) and reenergise customers isolated at the switchboard.
• Class 2C – Replace the Service Protection Device (SPD), reenergise customers isolated at the switchboard and reconnect at the connection point and point of common coupling
• Class 2D – can only reenergise at the Service Protection Device (SPD) / Meter Protection Device (MPD).

INFORMATION FOR RE-ENERGISATION BY LEVEL 2 ASPS

Required Actions for appropriately authorised Level 2 ASPs when re-energising premises with flood affected meters and FIRs:

1. Confirm a CCEW has been submitted, and the customer’s electrical system has been thoroughly checked, tested and is safe to be energised.
2. Ensure submerged meters and load control equipment have been bypassed. Refer to the Meter Bypass Guide for instructions on bypassing meters located at Essential Energy’s website.
3. After reconnection, submit a Notification of Service Work (NOSW) through Essential Connections portal. For consistency and clarity, in the ‘Comments’ field make the following note:

• For sites with meters only note ‘ALL METERS BYPASSED’
• For sites with meters and an FIR note ‘ALL METERS AND FIR BYPASSED’

Essential Energy Contacts

• Essential Energy General Enquiries – 13 23 91, option 2 for Tech Support
• Level 2 Supervisor – Mitch Lotze 0400 089 800
• Network Assurance Manager – Kevin Miller 0407 784 701

Further Information

For more information, visit Essential Energy's web site: Floods and our network. If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

What is happening?

The Essential Energy Connections virtual forum was held on 15 May 2025, here is a link to supporting slide deck and for the Level 3 ASPs the Authorisation Agreement Q&As.

What do you need to do?

Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

What is happening?

The Essential Connection Information Session with Level 2 ASPs and Electrical Contractors was held on 30 April 2025. To view the slide deck, click here and the recording click here.

What do you need to do?

Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

What is happening?

Our new one-stop Technical Support Hub is providing our Accredited Service Providers, Electrical Contractors, solar installers and connections customers with self-service and supported-service options tailored to your specific requirements.

A dedicated team of technical specialists and subject matter experts are available to offer real time advice and help resolve enquiries at first point of contact, helping drive timely and consistent outcomes for you and your customers.

To easily identify the first point of contact who can best assist with your Essential Connections Portal enquiries:

• contact the team by calling 13 23 91 and selecting Option 2
• send your Essential Connections enquiries to a new email address: techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au.

What do you need to do?

1. Ensure you are registered to attend the support sessions.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

If you need further information, please email techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au.

What is happening?

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has approved Essential Energy’s new regulatory charges for Ancillary Network Services from 1 July 2025.

As an Accredited Service Provider (ASP), Authorised Person (AUP) or Electrical Contractor (EC), please use the new charges applicable to the services you provide when preparing quotations for work to be undertaken after 30 June 2025.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the Price Schedule for Ancillary Network Services - 1 July 2025 available on the Essential Energy website
2. Accredited Service Providers, Authorised Persons and Electrical Contractors should consider pricing changes when preparing quotations for customers regarding future work
3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further information

If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au,

What is happening?

Essential Energy’s Biannual Connections (previously called ASP) engagement forum will be held on Thursday 15 May 2025 via Microsoft Teams. In this round, we’ll be covering a range of topics including:

• Safety
• Network Defects
• Overhead standards – composite poles and smart switches
• Underground standards – update to LV pillars
• Introducing the Level 3 ASP Authorisation Agreement
• Essential Connections Portal update
• Connection interaction and enquiries channel improvements
• Update from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
• Ask us anything Q&A session.

We encourage you to participate in this forum. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss our plans and initiatives, and to ask questions or raise issues with Essential Energy team members This includes time allocated for you to ask us anything.

To help us better respond to your questions on the day, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au with the topics or issues you would like addressed.

Registration

The forum will be held on Thursday 15 May 2025 from 10.00am to 12.00 noon – please click here to register.

What do you need to do?

1. Click on register here to reserve your spot.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.