Electrical Contractors

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?

1. Please log out of Secure Web Forms prior to 4pm on Wednesday, 29 November 2023.
2. Do not submit any NOSW during the system maintenance.
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 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

A confirmation email will be sent to you with the Zoom meeting link once you have registered.

What do you need to do?

1. Select the session time above that suits you and 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.

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

A confirmation email will be sent to you with the Zoom meeting link once you have registered.

What do you need to do?

1. Select the session time above that suits you and 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.

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.

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.

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).

Links to video guides and step-by-step guides for all key basic connections activities in Essential Connection are below.

More help options:

• Essential Energy Contact Centre Call 13 23 91 (General Enquiries).
• Contact aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

What do you need to do?

1. Please use the self-help materials.
2. Ensure you are registered to use Essential Connections Registration.
3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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

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.

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

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.

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?

1. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Basic connections information and help sessions are ending soon.

This week’s information & help zoom sessions are below. Sessions are 45 mins long – but you can just ask a quick question/ stay as long as you choose.

Click the ‘Register here’ link for the session that suits you. Tip! Save into your calendar or note down the joining details (Meeting ID and passcode).

All Notice of Arrangement (NOA) applications can now be made in Essential Connections.

If you are applying for a NOA where the development is part of a contestable works project, you can request this via our Essential Connections portal as a registered user in 2 ways:

1. Click on the 'Manage My Standard Connection Projects (L3 and L1 ASP works)' button on your homepage and then click the 'Request Notice of Arrangement' button.
2. Your Level 1 ASP can request a NoA by clicking on the ‘Request Notice of Arrangement’ button within their construction case.

All other NOAs: You will need to submit a Connection Application: Subdivision – Residential and Commercial via the Essential Connections portal making sure you select ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Requesting Notice of Arrangement’.

More information about NOA and guides to show you what to do Click Here.

Basic Connections video guides and step-by-step guides.

Links to Video guides and step-by-step guides for all key basic connections activities in Essential Connections are below.

More help options:

• Essential Energy Contact Centre Call 13 23 91 (General Enquiries).
• Contact aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

What do you need to do?

1. Please use the self-help materials.
2. Ensure you are registered to use Essential Connections Registration.
3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
4. View this and past communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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