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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:
What do you need to do?
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is Happening?
In the interest of maintaining a safe and compliant network, Essential Energy would like to formally notify Accredited Service Providers (ASP) our intention when addressing significant incidents or instances of non-compliance.
Incidents that necessitate an investigation or implementation of disciplinary or corrective action, Essential Energy retains the authority to temporarily suspend the company’s authorisation.
Essential Energy will initiate a prior notification and engage in discussions with the ASP before proceeding with the suspension. This allows for a constructive dialogue and an opportunity for the ASP to address any concerns raised during the investigation process.
Upon issuing the suspension notice the ASP is expected to comply immediately upon receiving the notice of suspension and cease all work on or near Essential Energy's network until further notice. For Level 1 ASP they cannot engage the services of other level 1 ASPs or authorised person(s) to conduct contestable work.
To seek reinstatement of their authorisation, the ASP can apply in writing once they have rectified the identified issues and fulfilled all requirements specified in Essential Energy's notice. This application should include supporting evidence demonstrating the resolution of the concerns that led to the suspension.
Continued failure to comply with Essential Energy guidelines will result in an extended suspension and a formal request to the Department of Energy and Climate Change for an ASP regrade.
Essential Energy is committed to fostering a collaborative relationship with its ASPs and endeavours to ensure that all work performed on or near its network adheres to the highest standards of safety and compliance. The suspension process is designed to promote accountability and encourage prompt corrective action to maintain a reliable and safe network.
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
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is Happening?
As of now 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 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.
What is Happening?
Essential Energy will be transforming the Accredited Service Providers (ASP) induction process for new applicants seeking to be authorised to work on or near the network.
We will be introducing a Network Familiarisation Session for Authorisation via an online learning platform which can be performed anytime once the applicant meets the conditions to be authorised.
Applicants already enrolled to attend an upcoming ASP induction will be notified and provided instructions on how to commence the new Network Familiarisation Session.
The applicant applying for authorisation must be the person who completes the Network Familiarisation Session for Authorisation. Estimated time to complete the Network Familiarisation Session is 1 hour which includes a technical assessment for electrically qualified applicants.
How it will work:
- A link will be emailed to the applicant with instructions on how to login and commence the network familiarisation session.
- The applicant is to review and understand the network familiarisation learner material and then undertake the technical assessment.
- Once the technical assessment is completed, our network authorisations team will receive a completion notification and process your authorisation.
Please note: The login link expires after (1) month if not actioned.
What do you need to do?
- Please ensure all required information is provided, as per the checklist on the CEOF6203 Authorisation Application form.
- Please ensure the applicants email address on the authorisation application form is correct.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
For any assistance or enquires regarding this new process please contact the Network Authorisations team via email authorisations@essentialenergy.com.au or phone 02 6643 7850.
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.
At our recent forums we shared that we will be publishing a sub-division connection model standing offer, approved by the Australian Energy Regulator, on 1 July 2023.
A Zoom session will be run on 27 June 2023 from 11.00am – 1.45pm for ASPs and Developers to familiarise our customers with the new Model Standing Offer and consider feedback regarding implementation.
If you would like to attend this optional session, please click Register Here enter your details, and add the invite to your calendar.
Prior to 1 July 2023 you can find a copy of the sub-division model standing offer on Essential Engagement.
On 1 July 2023 you can find a copy in our website Connection offers and Contracts.
Benefits of the new sub-division connection model standing offer.
- Delivering time efficiencies and cost savings by reducing the requirement for a developer to negotiate their connection with Essential Energy
- Providing developers with explicit, detailed information about the roles and responsibilities of all parties in the contestable connections process, including developers, Accredited Service Providers and Essential Energy
- Supporting consistent and transparent application of network design and construction standards and Essential Energy’s CEOP2015 Terms and Conditions for Contestable Works
- Providing a clear summary of the key steps and requirements for each phase of a standard connection project or undertaking
- Incorporating a Deed Poll - Transfer of Gifted Assets that clearly outlines the terms of engagement between the developer and Essential Energy in electrical asset design, construction and gifting to become Essential Energy distribution network assets on completion of works.
What do you need to do?
- Register your details to attend the information session.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
- View this communication via Essential Engagement.
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.
At our recent forums, you asked for a session on what is changing in version 9 of CEOP2015 – Contestable Works Guidelines, due to be published on 1 July 2023.
We’re offering an optional session on 22 June 2023 from 10.30am – 12.00 noon.
If you would like to attend, you can click below to register, enter your details and add the invitation to your calendar:
Register Here
What do you need to do?
- Click on ‘Register now’ and add your details to attend the information session.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
- View this communication via Essential Engagement.
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?
In preparation for basic connections coming into Essential Connections from 19 June 2023, there will be the following system outages:
- 5 pm Thursday 15 June 2023 to 7am Friday 16 June 2023.
- 5 pm Friday 16 June 2023 to 7am Monday 19 June 2023.
Essential Connections will not be available during these outage times.
Good news!
- Essential Connections portal passwords will now last 1 year/ 365 days before needing to be changed.
- You will receive a reminder 5 days before your password expires.
- This change is effective immediately and the 365 days applies from your last password change.
What do you need to do?
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
- View this communication via Essential Engagement.
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.
The go live date for basic connections coming into Essential Connections is 19 June 2023.
To encourage you to quickly switch across, there will be no fees for CCEWs and NOSWs submitted in Essential Connections from 19 June to 3 July. (Don’t forget, you need to submit the Intent to Connect first).
Secure Web Forms will be closed from 4 July for CCEW & NOSW submissions.
- Previous forms will still be accessible.
- Request for Service Work (ROSW) and Requisition for supply of Frequency Injection Relays (FIRs) will continue to be submitted through Secure Web Forms.
CCEWs and NOSWs will need to be submitted by the authorised/ licenced installer who tested the installation works.
You will need to be individually registered to use the portal.
- Please activate your account if you received a Welcome email from OKTA, Essential Energy’s security platform.
- Please go to Essential Connections Registration and register if you are a new user.
Intent to Connect is new. It’s the bridge between approved applications and service and/or electrical works. It will be submitted by the authorised Level 2 ASP or licenced Electrical Contractor doing the works.
Please note that customers will receive some notifications from now on so it will be important to enter customer details correctly.
Protection Settings Requests and Request for a Switchboard Review >100amps will be done in Essential Connections.
Non-standard approvals (where you seek to vary from our construction standards, the Australian / New Zealand wiring rules (AS/NZ 3000) and the NSW Service and Installation rules (SIRs)) will be submitted in Essential Connections. A fee, approved under the Regulatory Framework, will apply to non-standard approvals from 19 June 2023.
Need help? Here’s what’s available.
Self-help resources:
We will share all the links next week.
- Short videos for every activity/ form.
- Step-by-step guides.
Drop-in sessions.
We will hold information and help sessions from 13 June until late July, at 7:30am, 12 noon and 5pm. You can join a session and ask questions and get help. We will share the schedule for this next week.
Essential Energy Contact Centre.
Payment options.
- If your business does L1 and L3 works on the Essential Energy network your current invoices for your L1 and L3 works is charged to your 30-day account.
- For your business, when we go live on 19 June with Drop 4, your invoices for NOSW and CCEW will also be charged to your 30-day account. You will no longer pay for these invoices up front. This also means that the invoice won’t be created in Essential Connections but will be emailed to you from our finance system just like happens for your L1 and L3 works.
What do you need to do?
- Re-read previous information to ensure you’re as ready as possible.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
- View this and past communication via Essential Engagement.
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.
The go live date for basic connections coming into Essential Connections Portal is 19 June, pending no technical challenges. Included in this Go Live is Notice of Arrangements.
What are you doing?
I need a Notice of Arrangement.
- If a standard construction project is not being managed via Essential Connections Portal, please submit the Notice of Arrangement (NoA) request via the contestable works mailbox: contestableworks@essentialenergy.com.au.
- For all other NoA requests please submit via the Essential Connections Portal.
-
Please keep an eye on information updates – we are planning to bring all NoA into Essential Connections Portal soon.
What do you need to do?
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
- View all communications via Essential Engagement.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.