Minimising impacts of power outage during HSC exams

What is Happening?

Essential Energy recognises the importance of continuous electricity supply to our customers particularly for Year 12 students who have or are about to commence HSC trial exams.

With the ever-changing COVID-19 situation, we recognise students across our distribution area may be completing HSC exams from locations other than school.

Essential Energy has written to Principals from all secondary schools in New South Wales, advising that we have implemented an additional process to minimise impacts on HSC students during their exams, if a planned power outage is required.

Essential Energy has developed an online form to help us work with affected students or schools. The form is available at essentialenergy.com.au/hsc. We are asking affected students or schools to complete this form as soon as they become aware of a planned outage impacting a trial exam or during the HSC exams.

The likelihood of an HSC student being affected by a planned power outage during a stay-at-home or self-isolate order would be rare. However, should a student be affected Essential Energy will strive to work with the student or school to minimise impacts of the planned power outage.

How can ASPs help?

We are asking ASPs to support affected HSC students and schools in minimising any disruption to students who may be impacted by an ASP planned power outage which coincides with either a trial or final HSC exam.

We draw your attention to the requirements of Essential Energy’s ‘Request for Planned Outage, Connection or Work Live LV Request’ form which requires third parties such as ASPs, to make reasonable attempts to address concerns raised by our customers.

Essential Energy will pass on to ASPs any request received from HSC students or schools in accordance with usual processes.

If an outage cannot be reasonably rescheduled, we recommend ASPs consider supplying and connecting a generator so that students can complete their important exams without any further disruptions.

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.