Electrical Contractors

What’s happening?

We’ve updated our Connection Policy CEOP2513.06 to align with emerging network and customer requirements.

Effective from 1 July 2024, the updated policy applies to all customers seeking to connect or alter an existing connection – including regulated Stand-Alone Power Systems (SAPS) – to Essential Energy’s distribution system under Chapter 5A of the National Electricity Rules.

We’ll provide further updates and advice as we implement the updated requirements.

Key updates include:

• clarity on situations where works which would normally be provided on a contestable basis may be classified as non-contestable
• clarity on when Essential Energy may provide financial contribution towards a connection augmentation
• thresholds for regulated SAPS
• provision to reduce an approved connection size through consultation and in good faith, in alignment with our recently released Model Standing Offers.

What do you need to do?

1. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
2. Review the updated Connection Policy on Document Library.

Further Information

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

As per our communications from 6 August 2024, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) provided notice to Essential Energy of its intention to commence protective industrial action effective from 8 August 2024.

The ETU has notified Essential Energy of further proposed protective industrial action commencing on Wednesday 21 August 2024 and Thursday 22 August 2024.

Potential Impacts

The planned industrial action is likely to create unavoidable disruptions for ASPs, contractors and customers through the possible postponement of planned work. ASPs will receive notice of planned work being postponed on the morning of the job. Notice will be provided through a phone call or email that morning.

Any job that is postponed will need to be resubmitted via the Essential Connection Portal. For projects not being administered via the Essential Connections Portal, you will need to complete and submit a ‘Request for Planned Outage’ form CEOP6013 via contestableworks@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.

As per our communications from 6 August 2024, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) provided notice to Essential Energy of its intention to commence protective industrial action effective from 8 August 2024.

The ETU has notified Essential Energy of further proposed protective industrial action commencing on Saturday 17 August 2024 and each consecutive day up to and including Tuesday 20 August 2024.

Potential Impacts

The planned industrial action is likely to create unavoidable disruptions for ASPs, contractors and customers through the possible postponement of planned work. ASPs will receive notice of planned work being postponed on the morning of the job. Notice will be provided through a phone call or email that morning.

Any job that is postponed will need to be resubmitted via the Essential Connection Portal. For projects not being administered via the Essential Connections Portal, you will need to complete and submit a ‘Request for Planned Outage’ form CEOP6013 via contestableworks@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.

As per our communications from 6 August 2024, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) provided notice to Essential Energy of its intention to commence protective industrial action effective from 8 August 2024.

The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has notified Essential Energy of further proposed protective industrial action commencing on Thursday 15 August 2024 and Friday 16 August 2024.

Potential Impacts

The planned industrial action is likely to create unavoidable disruptions for ASPs, contractors and customers through the possible postponement of planned work. ASPs will receive notice of planned work being postponed on the morning of the job. Notice will be provided through a phone call or email that morning.

Any job that is postponed will need to be resubmitted via the Essential Connection Portal. For projects not being administered via the Essential Connections Portal, you will need to complete and submit a ‘Request for Planned Outage’ form CEOP6013 via contestableworks@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.

As per our communications from 6 August 2024, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) provided notice to Essential Energy of its intention to commence industrial action effective from 8 August 2024.

Essential Energy has received further notice of a range of indefinite or periodic bans, including limitations on work tasks and activities. We expect rolling industrial action to continue to take place in the short term and will continue to keep you updated.

Potential Impacts

The planned industrial action is likely to create unavoidable disruptions for ASPs, contractors and customers through the possible postponement of planned work. ASPs will receive notice of planned work being postponed on the morning of the job. Notice will be provided through a phone call or email that morning.

Any job that is postponed will need to be resubmitted via the Essential Connection Portal. For projects not being administered via the Essential Connections Portal, you will need to complete and submit a ‘Request for Planned Outage’ form CEOP6013 via contestableworks@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 revised version of the CEOP2015 Contestable Works Guidelines, Terms and Conditions for Contestable Works is available in the Document Library.

It has been reviewed and updated in its entirely to enhance clarity and reflect current processes, including rollout of Construction in the Essential Connections portal.

Section 8 Revisions provides a summary of major changes.

While many updates based on feedback from ASPs and internal stakeholders have been incorporated, some recommendations have been logged for further exploration. Any agreed or approved revisions will be included in future updates.

What do you need to do?

1. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
2. Review the document, on the Document Library

Further Information

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

UPDATE:

On 1 August 2024, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) provided notice to Essential Energy of its intention to commence industrial action effective from 8 August 2024, with rolling one (1) hour stoppages for participating ETU members.

Essential Energy has also received notice of a range of other indefinite or periodic bans, including limitations on the following work tasks and activities:

• Use of a specified range of Information Technology programs and Applications
• Certifying and inspecting Accredited Service Providers’ (ASPs) designs and projects
• Verification on Life Support Customers for planned outages
• Field Staff Switching – meaning that power will not be switched off which will prevent certain planned works from going ahead
• Locking or unlocking of equipment including electrical cabinets, electrical equipment, switching stations and other hardware devices
• Issuing of access permits (other than during fault and emergency conditions) and field access authorities for non-Essential Energy employees
• Creating or writing planned switching sheets.

Some of the cited actions include a Safety Commitment that ensures a level of employees being available for fault and emergency.

The safety of our employees, customers and the wider community remains our number one priority. We are reprioritising work to ensure urgent and critical work can be performed as required, and Essential Energy will continue to respond to fault and emergency work throughout the industrial action to help ensure a safe and reliable power supply for all customers.

Potential Impacts

The planned industrial action is likely to create unavoidable disruptions for ASPs, contractors and customers through the possible postponement of planned work. ASPs will receive notice of planned work being postponed on the morning of the job. Notice will be provided through a phone call or email that morning.

Any job that is postponed will need to be resubmitted via the Essential Connection Portal. For projects not being administered via the Essential Connections Portal, a ‘Request for Planned Outage’ form CEOP6013 will need to be completed and submitted via contestableworks@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.

Background

Essential Energy recently received the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) Final Distribution Determination for Ancillary Network Services covering the 2024-29 Regulatory Control Period (RCP). This determination regulates the pricing structure for Essential Energy to provide services to external customers.

What does this mean for you?

From 1 July 2024, Essential Energy will implement approved Ancillary Network Services as per the AER’s determination.

To help you understand these services we have provided the Ancillary Network Services 2024-29 ASP Change Overview document that outlines the changes in services and pricing structures. In addition, we have provided you with an Essential Energy Complexity Matrix Calculator (Open in Edge browser). These items can be downloaded from Essential Energy’s Document Library.

Please note, however, that throughout the 2024-29 RCP, Essential Energy may introduce several new regulatory services in targeted areas, based on external feedback, statutory changes and to better reflect the way services are provided.

Additionally, implementation of the AER’s determination by Essential Energy from 1 July 2024 will incur CPI and other cost increases each year until 30 June 2029. ASPs should review service and price changes when preparing quotations for future work.

Where is information about the changes available?

Read more about the determination, and access the final full-service pricing on Essential Energy's website called Price Schedule for Ancillary Network Services - 1 July 2024

Visit the AER website to view all documents associated with the final determination at Essential Energy - Determination 2024-29. For ease of reference, Attachment 16 on the AER web site outlines the new charges for Ancillary Network Services: AER Final Decision Attachment 16 - Alternative Control Services.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the final Price Schedule for Ancillary Network Services 1 July 2024 located on Essential Energy's website and Document Library
2. Review the Essential Energy Complexity Matrix Calculator (Open in Edge browser) on Document Library.
3. Refer to our previous communication relating to Draft Ancillary Network Services 2024-29 published on Essential Engagement on 21 May 2024, to view click here.
4. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation

Further Information

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

Over the coming weeks, you’ll see Essential Energy look a little different. Our logo has been updated, and the look and feel of our communications is being refreshed.

You’ll start seeing these changes from 4 June progressively across our websites, portals and digital channels, and in our correspondence, documentation and more.

Our two logos will coexist for a while, so you may see our old and new brands in various channels and communications materials at the same time.

Here’s a look at our new logo.

While our Essential Energy logo has changed, who we are and what we do remains unchanged.

Thanks for working with us to enable energy solutions that improve life for our customers and communities.

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.

Support for Essential Connections Portal.

Support Session will be available over the next 3 Wednesdays to assist Level 2 ASPs and Electrical Contactors with questions relating to the utilisation of the Essential Connections Portal. Sessions are 1 hour long – drop in anytime during this time. You can just ask a quick question or 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).

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 aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.