You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
On 15 May 2025, Essential Energy applied for a ring-fencing waiver to establish a training academy with hubs in Goulburn, Grafton, Orange, Parkes, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga and deliver contestable technical and safety training courses to the electricity industry.
The facility will aim to provide accredited training to future-proof internal workforce sustainability and, through commercial course offerings, address existing skills shortages and evolving training needs across the broader energy sector.
The waiver (from clauses 3.1(b), 4.2.1, 4.2.2 and 4.2.3 of the Ring-fencing Guideline (electricity distribution), would enable Essential Energy to offer two certificate IV courses from 2025 to meet current industry demand, ahead of establishing a full training academy by 2027.
Your input is welcomed
The AER will be interested to hear from third parties supporting the waiver on:
- Need for skilled workforce in regions for energy projects out to 2050 (project proponents)
- What is the current availability of training services in regions for energy projects and where lack of availability, what is the impact on project economics and delivery (project proponents) Benefits to projects and regional economic development of having regionally based workforce training (project proponents, regional councils-business community) in the short and longer-term
- Benefits to safety and overall workforce capability in underserved areas.
You can lodge your written submission through the AER website here - Initiation | Australian Energy Regulator (AER), via e-mail to AERringfencing@aer.gov.au.
Submissions must be lodged by close of business on 5 September 2025.
What do you need to do?
- Find further information, including the initiation notice, on the AER website, click here to view.
- 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.
What is happening?
On 22 July 2025, Essential Energy announced it had moved the timing for submission of Protection Settings and Switchboard Review requests to assist with lead times on standard connection projects. To further improve this process, we have also removed the requirement of an Intent to Connect (ITC) case being submitted prior to Protection Settings or Switchboard Review requests.
Key Changes:
- Any registered Essential Connections user can submit Protection Settings and Switchboard Review requests directly.
- There is no need for a Level 2 ASP or Electrical Contractor to first submit an ITC.
Submission Timing Remains Unchanged:
- Basic Connection Projects – After Connection Offer is issued.
- Standard Connection Projects – After Design Information Pack has been issued.
Compliance Item Completion:
- NOSW and CCEWs can only be submitted once all compliance items (Protection Settings and Switchboard Review) are completed.
- These must be submitted by a Level 2 ASP or Electrical Contractor.
- NOTE: It is the responsibility of the Connection Applicant (or their nominated representative) to ensure the engaged Level 2 ASP or Electrical Contractor are aware of all compliance items and any related site-specific conditions.
What do you need to do?
- Continue to submit your requests through the Essential Connections Portal.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
We are aware that some users have recently experienced issues with the IdentityONE app. Specifically, the app may not allow access to sites, and the Home Page may not display the usual information.
Please do not delete the app.
App needs to refresh. The solution is to swipe and force the app to fully close, then re-open, which will refresh the app. We recommend you try this option first.
- Click here to view how to swipe close an app on iPhone.
- Click here to view how to close an app on Android phone.
As a last check, try turning your phone off and back on.
Additionally, we have made the following improvements to the app:
- Users will no longer receive emails or notifications to approve or reject updated authorisations. This process is now automated.
- The IdentityONE app has adopted the new Essential Energy branding and colours.
Thank you for your attention and understanding.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email Essential Energy Security at eesecurity@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
Some individuals are experiencing issues with the IdentityONE app on their mobile devices preventing the usual information from being displayed on the Home Page, showing an orange screen requesting an invitation code instead.
There are two causes of this:
- App needs to refresh. The solution is to swipe and force the app to fully close, then re-open, which will refresh the app. We recommend you try this option first.
- Credential expired. Where a credential has expired, it will require support from your Essential Energy contract management team who will be able to assist.
The IdentityONE app is also transitioning to the new Essential Energy branding. The app will reflect the new branding for new users and for new credentials. Everyone else will have the old branding until the app is updated in due course. Further communication will be delivered at this point.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email eesecurity@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
Essential Energy has brought forward when you can request protection settings and switchboard review for a standard connection project. Starting today you can commence the switchboard review process after the Design Information Pack has been issued, and a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider or Electrical Contractor has submitted an Intent to Connect for the related connection project. This will allow you to request protection settings followed by a switchboard review in parallel with the Level 3 design work.
The following disclaimer has been added to the Essential Connection Intent to Connect process to ensure you understand the additional risk for requesting this earlier.
If design requirements for connection project works change between the date of this [submission / response] and the scheduled energisation, it is the responsibility of the Connection applicant or their representative to assess if new Protection Settings and Switchboard Compliance Review are needed. These requests must be initiated well before the planned energisation date to avoid delays or cancellation. Essential Energy will not be liable for any time or financial loss due to changes in the customer’s design requirements.
Thank you to the Accredited Service Providers and customers who provided feedback on the challenges being faced with switchboard lead times with hope this change assists your projects.
What do you need to do?
- Continue to submit your requests through the Essential Connection Portal.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is Happening?
This is a reminder that Accredited Service Providers (ASPs) do not have to authorise sub-contractor(s) under their company if the sub-contractor(s) holds a current network authorisation with Essential Energy.
The ASP can engage the services of any authorised person(s) with the appropriate authorisation classification to perform contestable work. The ASP must ensure sub-contractor(s) are appropriately qualified, trained and authorised for the category of work being performed.
Person(s) will only be authorised under the ASP listed on the authorisation application form.
The ASP must still register all sub-contractor(s) under their accreditation with the NSW Office of Energy and Climate Change.
Submission of Project Specific Documentation:
When project specific documentation needs to be submitted, such as network asset testing and commissioning CEOF5125 forms, sub-contractor(s) must be registered and authorised under the principal ASP for the project.
This is a requirement for when projects commence in Essential Connections, it’s necessary so that sub-contractor(s) can access the relevant project case(s) in Essential Connections and submit project specific documentation.
When applying for sub-contractor authorisation, please tick the sub-contractor box on the authorisation application form and provide another email address not previously supplied for authorisation.
What do you need to do?
Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email authorisations@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
Essential Energy have been made aware of an access issue relating to Youreka. Users are being directed to the Essential Energy Portal home Page instead of the Youreka Application.
If this issue occurs, please uninstall and reinstall the Youreka App. Once re-installed you will need to recreate the host pathway, please follow the step by step guide available on the Support Page.
If you are not able to access the app after the above has been completed, please email techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au and a technical agent will call you to assist in accessing.
What do you need to do?
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
- Ensure you are using the latest version of the Youreka Mobile app on your mobile device and follow the step by step guide on the Support Page.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
Essential Energy recently experienced two private pole failures, which were thoroughly investigated by the Safety Team. The resulting Investigation Summaries are being shared with ASPs to raise awareness of potential hazards and to communicate key lessons learned from these incidents.
What do you need to do?
- Review the Investigation Summary IS-041 Private pole failure during pole replacement work and IS- 042 Private steel pole failure.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.
Safety Briefs/Alerts
Briefing – CEOM7098 issue 16 - Underground Design manual changes (382 KB) (pdf)
