Electrical Contractors
- Proactive discussions, engagement and insights from Electrical Contractors;
- Critical information updates; and
- Other useful and relevant information.
If you need further information or support, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au
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Draft Price Schedule for Ancillary Network Services - AER Price Increase 1 July 2020
What is Happening?
From 1 July 2019, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) introduced new regulatory charges for Ancillary Network Services. As an Accredited Service Provider (ASP), Authorised Person (AUP) or Electrical Contractor (EC), you would be aware of the current Ancillary Network Services charges applicable to services you provide to your customers.
Effective 1 July 2020, there will be a price increase of approximately 2.6 per cent on all Ancillary Network Services.
You can read more about Essential Energy’s draft pricing for Ancillary Network on our website at: Essential Energy > Our Network > Network Pricing and Regulatory report > Network Pricing. Additional information will be made available once the 2020-21 pricing schedules have been finalised and approved by the AER.
What do you need to do?
- Review the 2020-21 ‘draft’ Pricing Schedules for Ancillary Network Services available on the Essential Energy website
- Accredited Service Providers, Authorised Persons and Electrical Contractors should consider pricing changes when preparing quotations for customers regarding future work
- 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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Safety Brief CEOP2377 Equipotential and Personal Protective Bonding Issue 6
What is happening?
The Electrical Safety Office recently completed a review of Operational Procedure: CEOP2377 Equipotential and Personal Protective Bonding.
Updates now incorporate the recent amendments made to CEOP8030 Electrical Safety Rules and other feedback received from within the business.
Details of these updates are listed within section 7.0 of CEOP2377 issue 6, now available on Essential Energy’s Document Library.
Safety Brief 905 - CEOP2377 Equipotential and Personal Protective Bonding Issue 6 is being shared for your information and can be accessed from Essential Energy’s Document Library or Essential Engagement.
What you need to do?
Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation
For Further information
If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au
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Distributed Energy Resources Register Go Live Update
What is happening?
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) launched its Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Register and associated online portal on 1 March 2020 The register captures information on newly installed solar panels, small scale battery storage and other forms of DER.
From 30 March 2020, all new DER installations on Essential Energy’s network must be recorded.
What you need to do?
Installers will have 20 business days from the date of installation to enter installation data into the register.
Two options are available for entering data:
- using the DER Register portal on the AEMO website: DER Register, or
- via a smartphone app.
To set up a DER register account you need an active job number and NMI – the job number is the same as the application number on Essential Energy’s approved connection paperwork. Once this has been set up you will only need your account details and password. Please note that Google Chrome is the preferred browser for the DER Register portal, and other browsers may experience compatibility issues.
Further Information
More information on the register can be found on the AEMO website.
If you are not able to find answers to your questions on these web pages, please email us at der.register.info@essentialenergy.com.au or call us on 13 23 91.
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FYI Phishing Emails
What is happening
Last week one of Essential Energy’s mailing lists was targeted by a phishing email with a PDF link that was malware. We would like to remind our ASP partners to be vigilant for these emails and maintain your cyber security.
A phishing email is a fraudulent attempt to obtain your sensitive information by a sender disguising themselves as a trustworthy entity.
If you receive a phishing email please take the following actions:
- Delete the email
- Do not open it and do not click on any links
- If you click on a suspicious link, we recommend you change all your passwords
- Do not forward the email
Further Information
If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au
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SafeWork NSW - Safety Awareness Videos for the Solar Industry
SafeWork NSW have created two videos to raise safety awareness in the Solar industry. You can view these videos on SafeWorks NSW YouTube Channel or follow the links below.
If you would like further information, please use the contact details provided in the video.
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Safety Brief 892 - Ongoing Works in Fire Affected Grounds
What is Happening?
As Essential Energy’s response to the bushfire events across the state continue, we are seeing a number of potentially hazardous situations present themselves to those working on the Essential Energy network.
Safety Brief 892 – Ongoing Works in Fire Affected Grounds is being shared for your information and can be accessed from Essential Energy’s Document Library or Essential Engagement/ASP Engagement.
During this Bushfire time we ask you to:
- Contact your local Network Assurance Facilitator or Essential Energy contact before doing work on or near our network. Where network supply is not available to conduct testing these premises are to be left disconnected and secured with a danger tag. Contact your local Essential Energy representative to co-ordinate connection when the network supply is restored.
- Remember our network is in an abnormal state and ensure that you put your safety first. Be on the lookout for temporary generation connections that may be back-energising installations.
- That all ASPs are only allowed to undertake work on or near the network that they are accredited and authorised to perform (eg only overhead authorised ASPs are to perform overhead service works).
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.
Distributed Energy Resources Register Update
Whats Happening?
In September 2018 the Australian Energy Market Commission made a ruling for the Australian Energy Market (AEMO) to establish a register of Distributed Energy Resources (DER), the register will capture information on newly installed solar panels, small scale battery storage and other forms of DER.
Once live, the DER Register will give both AEMO and Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs) better visibility of installed DER capacity across Australia to enable them to plan and run the electricity grid more effectively in the future.
The Register was due to go live on 1 December 2019, however AEMO has delayed the register roll out and it is on hold due to technical issues, the new launch date is unknown at this point in time.
Essential Energy is committed to partnering effectively with our electrical contractors and will provide an update as soon as one is available.
Further Information
For more information on the register, this can be found on the AEMO website or by downloading the Fact sheet for installers in the ACT and NSW.
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Cable Covers (Tiger Tails) and Fault & Emergency Work
What is Happening?There have been several instances recently where Level 2 ASPs, or in some cases unauthorised trade contractors, have fitted cable covers (tiger tails) to energised overhead service lines.As a result of further investigation, it has been identified that confusion exists as to who is authorised to undertake this task. The WorkCover Code of Practice (CoP): Work Near Overhead Power lines provides direction in relation to the implementation of control measures for unauthorised persons working near low voltage overhead service lines.Consideration should be given to Eliminating the hazard by deenergising the supply for the duration of the work, and where there is a danger of physical damage to the overhead service its temporary removal. Where this is not practicable, separating the hazard from the worksite may be achieved through the installation of insulating matting and tiger tails at the point of attachment.Essential Energy’s responseCable covers must only be fitted to energised service lines for the purposes of adherence to the CoP by electrically qualified Essential Energy authorised employees. ASPs and contractors are not authorised to carry out these tasks as this is not classified as Contestable Work, unless working on behalf of Essential Energy under the conditions of a contract can these be installed.A Level 2 ASP can however, de-energise and remove a service line for the duration of the proposed works, or fit cable covers on a deenergised service line for mechanical protection and visual indication so long as the covers are removed prior to the installation being reenergised.When de-energising a service line, the service connections at the Point of Common Coupling must always be disconnected and made safe. The service line should then be visually assessed to determine its condition. If it is not of sound condition or there are other factors preventing the service removal. The disconnected service is to remain in situ and covered with insulating matting and tiger tails for visual awareness and mechanical protection. Special attention should also be paid to protecting the consumer mains at the Point of Attachment.If the service line is deemed to be in sound condition, and providing it is firstly disconnected at the Point of Common Coupling, then disconnect the connections at the Point of Attachment, remove the service from the attachment, and carefully roll up.The completely disconnected service can then be secured where practicable to the non-trafficable side of the distribution pole or private pole at a minimum height of 4.6m. If this is not practicable or introduces other hazards, then the service should be removed and stored in a secure location ensuring no physical damage to the service is sustained.Before re-energising, precautions must be taken to ensure that the service and electrical installation are in a state suitable for energisation and that all required testing (e.g. insulation resistance, polarity, neutral integrity and phase rotation) has been satisfactorily completed.We would also like to remind ASPs are not to undertake any fault and emergency work on Essential Energy assets including services.What do you need to do?- All concerns should be directed to the Essential Energy Supply and Interruptions group on 13 20 80
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation
- Click on the below link for additional information on Essential Energy’s website https://www.essentialenergy.com.au/safety/construction-safety
- View this communication via Essential Engagement at engage.essentialenergy.com.au/ASP
Further InformationIf you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au
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Essential Energy customer satisfaction research
As part of Essential Energy’s commitment to continuous improvement, we are seeking feedback from our customers and business partners about how easy we are to do business with.To facilitate this, we have appointed an independent research organisation, Woolcott Research & Engagement.Over the next few weeks, Woolcott may contact you to participate in a survey that will assess your satisfaction with our service delivery and operational performance. Your input is needed to help Essential Energy optimise customer outcomes and ensure our operations are aligned to your needs.Essential Energy encourages you to participate and we look forward to receiving your feedback. -
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Safety Brief 878 - Essential Energy Aware Tape
What is Happening?Essential Energy have now adopted the use of plastic tape, called ‘Essential Energy Aware’ tape – which identifies that a site has been visited by one of our workers and that the asset/s have been ‘made safe’.This increases visibility for members of the public and to enable Essential Energy to highlight sites which have been assessed and made safe – prior to permanent repairs being carried out at the time, but instead will need to be re-visited at a later stage for the permanent repairs to take place.Safety Brief 878 – Essential Energy Aware Tape is being shared for your information and can be accessed from Essential Energy’s Document Library or Essential Engagement.Further InformationIf you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au
Who's Listening
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Phone 02 6933 5956 Email hamish.wheatley@essentialenergy.com.au
