Electrical Contractors
- Proactive discussions, engagement and insights from Electrical Contractors;
- Critical information updates
- Other useful and relevant information
- Solar and Battery and relevant information.
If you need further information or support, please email techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au
- Proactive discussions, engagement and insights from Electrical Contractors;
- Critical information updates
- Other useful and relevant information
- Solar and Battery and relevant information.
If you need further information or support, please email techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Access to our November 2023 ASP Forum presentation
What is Happening?
We’ve uploaded a copy of our November 2023 ASP Zoom Forums slide presentation to Essential Engagement for those of you who weren’t able to attend.
To access the presentation, click here to view now, or go to Essential Engagement and click on the Forum heading on the right-hand side.
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.
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Secure Web Forms and Essential Connections will be unavailable on Wednesday, 29 November from 4pm to 7pm
What’s happening?
Secure Web Forms (SWF) will be unavailable on Wednesday, 29 November from 4pm till 7pm for necessary system maintenance.
This will also impact our Essential Connection Portal and you will be unable to submit a Notice of Service Works (NOSW) during this timeframe. We apologise for any inconvenience.
If you experience any other issues with Essential Connection during this time, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.
What do you need to do?
- Please log out of Secure Web Forms prior to 4pm on Wednesday, 29 November 2023.
- Do not submit any NOSW during the system maintenance.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Reminder: Register now for Essential Energy’s ASP Zoom forums – 28 & 30 November 2023
What is Happening?
Essential Energy’s November ASP engagement forums will be held via Zoom. In this round, we’ll be covering a range of topics including:
- Safety
- Standards – Updates to the overhead and underground manuals, as well as Construction News and transitioning to composite poles
- Contestable Design – CEOM7001 Construction Plan Requirements, New Earthing Guide and tips for Neara
- Improvements to surveyor’s advice
- Updates to our easement policies
- Essential Connections –the platform, upcoming construction and commissioning roll out, next steps for CEOP2015 Terms and Conditions for Contestable Works (Guidelines) and process changes.
We encourage you to participate in these forums. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss our plans and initiatives, and to ask questions, make suggestions and raise issues with Essential Energy team members.
Dates and Times
Date
Time
Link
Tuesday 28 November 2023
5.00 – 7.00 pm
Thursday 30 November 2023
9.00 – 11.00 am
A confirmation email will be sent to you with the Zoom meeting link once you have registered.
What do you need to do?
- Select the session time above that suits you and reserve your spot.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Register now for Essential Energy’s ASP Zoom forums – 28 & 30 November 2023
What is Happening?
Essential Energy’s November ASP engagement forums will be held via Zoom. In this round, we’ll be covering a range of topics including:
- Safety
- Standards – Updates to the overhead and underground manuals, as well as Construction News and transitioning to composite poles
- Contestable Design – CEOM7001 Construction Plan Requirements, New Earthing Guide and tips for Neara
- Improvements to surveyor’s advice
- Updates to our easement policies
- Essential Connections –the platform, upcoming construction and commissioning roll out, next steps for CEOP2015 Terms and Conditions for Contestable Works (Guidelines) and process changes.
We encourage you to participate in these forums. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss our plans and initiatives, and to ask questions, make suggestions and raise issues with Essential Energy team members.
Dates and Times
Date
Time
Link
Tuesday 28 November 2023
5.00 – 7.00 pm
Thursday 30 November 2023
9.00 – 11.00 am
A confirmation email will be sent to you with the Zoom meeting link once you have registered.
What do you need to do?
- Select the session time above that suits you and reserve your spot.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
2023-24 Bushfire Danger Period
What is Happening?
Essential Energy recognises the importance of incorporating management strategies crucial to mitigating the risk and impact of bush fire on the community and ensures that the effects of its work activities on bushfires are minimised and comply with the relevant legislation.
In response to past bush fire events which resulted in a devastating loss of life and property, the NSW Government introduced legislative changes to ensure bushfire matters are considered in the development and maintenance processes within our industry. At present, all new development on bush fire prone land must comply with Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019 which sets out the basis for all bushfire planning and bushfire protection measures.
The spring 2023 bushfire outlook issued by the Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) emphasises the need for immediate community and business preparedness. Australia's climate has changed since last spring, with a transition to higher temperatures and lower rainfall predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology. This shift follows years of above average rainfall during La Nina seasons.

Be Prepared
Each of us should have a bushfire survival plan in place and be ready, even if the time never comes. Download the Hazards Near Me app and be notified when fires occur within your area.
There may be a requirement for Essential Energy to review and possibly suspend requested outages in certain situations if bushfires hazards are severe.
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.
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Essential Connections fix for Draft Applications
What is Happening?
Essential Energy has listened to feedback from ASPs and EC and has created a Submit button for applications with a ‘Draft’ status.
You can now resume, complete, and submit draft applications by clicking on the new Submit button.
If you continue to experience any issues, please contact aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.
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.
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Basic Connections Zoom Session and available help
Information and help zoom sessions.
Schedules information and help zoom sessions are below. You can register to join any session. Click the ‘Registered here’ link for the session that suits you. Tip! Save in your calendar or note done the joining details (Meeting ID and passcode).
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
11 September
12 September
13 September
14 September
15 September
12 noon
45 mins
18 September
19 September
20 September
21 September
22 September
12 noon:
45 mins
Links to video guides and step-by-step guides for all key basic connections activities in Essential Connection are below.
I need to ...
Help available
Help link
- Get started using Essential Connections.
- Submit a form.
- Pay an invoice.
- Find cases.
- Complete actions.
Basic Navigation of Essential Connections video
4:14 mins
- Submit a Protection Settings Request for a Switchboard >100amps.
Protection Settings Request for Switchboard >100amps
3:31 mins
- Submit a Switchboard Review Request. (After Protection Settings provided).
Switchboard Compliance Review
3:37 mins
- Submit a basic Non-Standard Approval request.
Basic Non-Standard Approvals
3:05 mins
- Submit an Intent to Connect (done after Connection Application, before installation/ works are done).
Intent to Connect (ITC)
5:50mins
- Submit a NOSW.
- With Connection Offer.
- Without Connection Offer.
NOSW
- 4:34 mins
- 6:12 mins
- Submit a CCEW
- With Connection Offer (and Intent to Connect).
- Without Connection Offer.
CCEW
- 4:19 mins
- 5:56 mins
- Rectify a defect and enter details in Essential Connections.
Rectify a Defect
5:04 mins
- Submit a CCEW or NOSW for a safety defect I have rectified.
Safety Defects
CCEW: 5:38 mins
NOSW: 5:50 mins
More help options:
- Essential Energy Contact Centre Call 13 23 91 (General Enquiries).
- Contact aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.
What do you need to do?
- Please use the self-help materials.
- Ensure you are registered to use Essential Connections Registration.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.
- Get started using Essential Connections.
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Basic Connections – Updates and reminders
Please note the following reminders about Notice of Service Works (NOSW) and Switchboards > 100 amps.
1. NOSWs have a mandatory document upload – Please attach a dummy/ blank document if required until further notice.
NOSW submission requires attachment of a document. Documents can include sketches, drawings and any other documents to support the submission of the NOSW.
If there are no documents needed to support your NOSW, please attach a ‘dummy’ (blank) document to allow submission to occur.
We are working to change this requirement and will let you know when attachment of a dummy document is no longer required.
2. Reminder: Application for Protection Settings and Switchboard approvals (rated above 100 amps) are now done through Essential Connections.
This is a 2-step process which can be done as soon as the Application is approved and needs to be completed before installation / works.
CCEW and/ or NOSW cannot be submitted if these are not complete.

Information and guides are here: Protection Settings and Switchboard Review.
Don’t forget - these help options are always available for you:
- Essential Energy Contact Centre Call 13 23 91 (General Enquiries)
- Contact aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.
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.
-
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Changes to CEOP2015 Contestable Works Guidelines
What is Happening?
A new version of CEOP2015 Contestable Works Guidelines Terms and Conditions for Contestable Works is available on the Document Library, this update aligns the document with the release of Basic Connections in the Essential Connections Portal and adjustments or amendments in response to ASP and internal stakeholder review and feedback.
Continuous Improvement
Again, we expect this version of CEOP2015 to have a reasonably short lifespan.
Some of the very constructive recommendations received from ASP and internal reviewers were not able to be incorporated into this version. Therefore, a number of items have been logged for further investigation, and where appropriate, any agreed or approved revisions will be included in the next update.
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.
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Basic connections – Update for Admins
We’ve changed Intent to Connect functionality and created a guide with tips to help you (Admins) support your businesses.
Admins can now submit Intent to Connects for works their company is undertaking.
Please note: The Intent to Connect for works that will be done by someone not listed as part of your company will need to be submitted by that person. Please provide them with the ECN and Application case number.
We’ve developed a guide for Admins/Support staff focusing on basic connections forms and activities which is available on our website (Essential Connections - Basic Connections Quick guide for Admins and Support staff).
It includes:
- What forms Admins can submit?
- How to register as an Admin in the Essential Connections portal
- What’s the best way to see your company’s cases
- Useful statuses to know
- Paying fees/ invoices.
We trust this is helpful.
Don’t forget - these help options are always available for you:
- Essential Energy Contact Centre Call 13 23 91 (General Enquiries)
- Contact aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.
What do you need to do?
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.