Planning Assessment Enquiry

This week we are releasing a new Planning Assessment Enquiry process which effectively replaces the old ‘feasibility DIP’ process. The Planning Assessment Enquiry process is to be used by customers where they would like a formal assessment from our planning team to identify potential network augmentation needs on a project to help inform whether the project should proceed to a formal connection application. Fees apply for this service.

For further information on this service and for information on how to apply please refer to our Planning Assessment Enquiry knowledge article on Essential Support.

Note that the Planning Assessment Enquiry does not give you a binding connection offer and you will still be required to submit a connection application if you want to proceed with the connection.

Standard Auto Approval fee change

The new Essential Connections portal has allowed for a more efficient approval process, an automated approval and offer creation. One example of this is the new Subdivision application where augmentation is known and accepted upfront.

Our existing fee structure has not accounted for this change, a new fee will be added in the next regulatory period. In the interim Essential Energy have made a decision to change the fee charged for a Standard offer where it has been auto approved, to the Connection offer service - Basic fee.

This change will be implemented in the system on 1st December, automatically. You will see the new amount in your invoice from this date.

For more information on Ancillary Network Service fees visit our website, Pricing Schedule for Ancillary Network Services.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the above and make your customers aware.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. View this communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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

What is Happening?

Our Document Library will be unavailable from 12 noon until 3pm on Monday, 28 November 2022 while routine maintenance is carried out.

Please help minimise inconvenience by sourcing any necessary documents prior to this.

What do you need to do?

1. Ensure you have sourced your documents prior to the scheduled maintenance date and time.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. View this communication via Essential Engagement

Further Information

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

What is happening?

To protect everyone’s health and safety, we’ll hold our next round of ASP engagement forums via Zoom, rather than face to face.

In this round, we’ll be covering a range of topics including Safety, Standards update, our BetterConnect project and Connections Changes.

We encourage you to participate in these forums. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss our plans and initiatives, and to ask questions or raise issues with Essential Energy team members.

Dates and times

Click on one of the session date/time options below to reserve your preferred session time, each session will run for two hours (all sessions will have the same content).

A confirmation email will be sent to you with the Zoom meeting details once you have registered.

What do you need to do?

1. Select the session date above and reserve your spot to attend one of our forums.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. View this communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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

ASP and Electrical Contractor Briefing: 2022 Central West Floods

• Safety must be the highest priority when testing and reconnecting customers.
• All submerged meters must be bypassed by an Essential Energy representative before reenergising premises.
• A CCEW must be submitted to Essential Energy to confirm the premise is safe to connect.
• A NOSW must be submitted as soon as possible after an ASP reconnects a premise.

Flood Recovery

The recent floods in the Central West of NSW have caused catastrophic property damage for our customers. Essential Energy is committed to supporting Accredited Service Providers (ASP’s) and Electrical contractors safely reconnect properties after thorough testing has been completed.

Safety

At all times consider the safety of yourself, customers and Essential Energy team members when testing and reconnecting customers.

Ensure the following:

• Follow your own safety management systems and safe work methods.
• Ensure you have isolated all incoming supplies, even if the network is deenergised.
• Disconnect and isolate faulty circuits at the switchboard. Prevent customers reconnecting until safe.
• Do not leave exposed cabling, GPO and light terminals after gyprock has been removed.
• A GPO mounted in the switchboard can provide electricity supply if all other circuits are isolated. Ensure that all new installations are installed to current standards and protected by a RCBO.
• All meters and frequency injection relays (FIR) that have been submerged by flood water must be bypassed by Essential Energy before the premise is energised.

CCEW

All premises must be inspected, tested and repaired before reconnecting. A Certificate of Compliance Electrical Work (CCEW) must be submitted to Essential Energy via Essential Energy’s Secure Web Form (SWF) portal immediately after the premise is deemed safe to connect. The premise does not have to be brought up to currents standards if only safety testing and no additional equipment is installed.

For further information see the recent Essential Engagement “Reimbursement for reconnection – Flood impacted customers Central West” dated 17/11/22.

Only accredited and authorised ASP’s can reconnect disconnected premises. Electrical contractors can either contact an ASP or Essential Energy will reconnect upon receipting a CCEW without an associated NOSW. SPDs with a sealed escutcheon plate are the only exception for electrical contractors.

NOSW

A Level 2 ASP must submit a NOSW immediately after reconnecting power to a premises (this will avoid our crews having to re-visit these premises).

A Level 2 ASP authorised person can perform the below:

• Class 2A – Reconnect at the connection point only.
• Class 2B – Replace the Service Protection Device (SPD) and reenergise customers isolated at the switchboard.
• Class 2C – Replace the Service Protection Device (SPD), reenergise customers isolated at the switchboard and reconnect at the connection point and point of common coupling.
• Class 2D – can only reenergise at the Service Protection Device (SPD) / Meter Protection Device (MPD).

Information for Re-energisation by Level 2 ASPs

Required Actions for appropriately authorised Level 2 ASPs when re-energising a premises with flood affected meters and FIRs:

1. Confirm a CCEW has been submitted and the customers electrical system has been thoroughly checked and tested and is safe to be energised.
2. Check the meters and FIRs have been bypassed. Please contract Essential Energy to bypass meters before re-energising by calling the Essential Energy Supply interruptions – 13 20 80.
3. Submit a Notification of Service Work (NOSW) through SWF. For consistency and clarity, in the ‘Comments’ field in Section E make the following note:

a. For sites with meters only note ‘ALL METERS BYPASSED’.
b. For sites with meters and an FIR note ‘ALL METERs AND FIR BYPASSED’.

Essential Energy Contacts

• Southeast Network Assurance Supervisor – Mitch Lotze 0400 089 800.
• Network Assurance Manager – Kevin Miller 0407 784 701.
• Essential Energy General Enquiries – 13 23 91.
• Floods and our network (essentialenergy.com.au).

Further Information:

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

What is Happening?

A recent Queensland Electrical Safety Office audit has found that support fixtures for LV services installed on customer premises have not been earthed appropriately and in accordance with Queensland Electrical Safety Regulation 2013-Reg 212.

This Regulation requires that all LV service installations in the Queensland franchise area – including new installations and those installed in fault and emergency situations – must comply with clauses (2), (3) and (4) noted below. This includes a requirement to earth support fixtures, such as metallic pins, eye bolts or similar fixtures.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY REGULATION 2013 - REG 212

Termination of low voltage overhead service line.

212 Termination of low voltage overhead service line.

(1) An electricity entity must ensure a low voltage overhead service line is—

(a) secured to a consumer’s premises, including poles on the premises; and

(b) insulated continuously; and

(c) not readily accessible to persons.

(2) An electricity entity must ensure a metallic pin, eye bolt or other similar fixture installed by or for it on a consumer’s premises to support an active conductor of a low voltage overhead service line is effectively earthed.

(3) The earthing must be by direct connection to the neutral conductor of the service line, at the point of support, by a conductor having an appropriate cross-sectional area.

(4) Earthing under subsections (2) and (3) is not required if—

(a) the low voltage overhead service line is a neutral screened cable, and the service fuse is mounted on the electricity entity’s pole; or

(b) no part of the metallic pin, eye bolt or other similar fixture, or of a metal bracket or riser supporting it, is within 25mm of other metal work on a building, pole, or other structure.

More information on Queensland Electrical Safety Regulations.

Please help us comply

Essential Energy staff typically complete new and like for like service replacements on the Essential Energy network extending into the Queensland franchise area.

The Queensland Electrical Safety Regulation 2013-Reg212 requires that the electricity entity must ensure low voltage service lines comply with the regulation as such all new and like for like replacements will not be completed unless the regulation is complied with.

Contractors must ensure the requirements of the regulation are complied with before Essential Energy staff attend to carry out new and like for like replacements.

What do you need to do?

1. Share this information will your team members.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. View this communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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

What is Happening?

Recently there were changes made to legislation which has impacted Essential Energy’s Review of Environmental Factors worksheet CEOF1070.02. The Infrastructure SEPP has been repealed and replaced with the Transport and Infrastructure SEPP 2021. Other minor changes include some government agency names (RMS updated to Transport for NSW, DPIE updated to DPE, DoEE to DAWE),

The new Transport and Infrastructure SEPP will need to be referenced at item 1.9 as follows (rather than the old Infrastructure SEPP clause, as would previously have been referenced):

“The proposed activity is permissible without consent under clause 2.44 of State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021 (T&I SEPP).”

In addition, any reference to the old Infrastructure SEPP at item 2.1 (Notification requirements) will need to be updated to reference the Transport and Infrastructure SEPP instead.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the above information above
2. Download a copy of CEOM1070.02 – Issue 7 from the Document Library and start using the new worksheet.
3. Inflight projects that have not been submitted should be converted to the new issue 7 version of the worksheet. There is no requirement to update the worksheet version for projects that have already been submitted for certification.
4. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
5. View this communication via Essential Engagement

Further Information

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

What is Happening?

We’ve updated our CEOF6016a and CEOF6016b Notice of Arrangement forms to improve data collection and streamline application processing. These forms are now live on the Document Library.

As an interim measure while we’re enhancing the new Essential Connections Portal, please continue to submit these Notice of Arrangement applications as PDF attachments via our Contestable Works inbox.

What form do you use?

Early Notice of Arrangement eligibility

To be eligible for an Early Notice of Arrangement, you must meet Essential Energy’s criteria:

• More than 80% of works are complete.
• All underground cables and conduits are installed.
• All Easements or Deeds are executed.
• A bank guarantee for the total amount of the Level 1 ASP construction works has been received by Essential Energy.
• An inspection has been undertaken by the Network Assurance Facilitator.

Application submission

Please email your Notice of Arrangement applications to contestableworks@essentialenergy.com.au for assessment, ensuring you attach all required documents in the email. If applications meet our criteria, our Contestable Design team will issue the Notice of Arrangement and bill fees.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the above and start using the updated forms.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. View this communication via Essential Engagement at Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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

What is Happening?

To minimise the disruption to customers during the Christmas / New Year period, no planned interruptions with a customer impact will be scheduled from 19th December 2022 to 2nd January 2023.  

Also, Contestable Works will be closed during the same period with business resuming as normal from 3rd January 2023. 

Minimal processing of emails/documentation or Asset Labels will occur from Contestable Works mailbox during the above-mentioned period.

What do you need to do?

1. Review your planned interruption schedule for the dates above and work with your nominated Local Depot Switching Resource to reschedule where required.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. View this communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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

Essential Connections Weekly Update 3rd November 2022

Projects with 2 applications and therefore 2 Essential Connections Numbers (ECNs)

It has come to our attention that some projects in Essential Connections have 2 application cases and 2 ECNs. This only applies to some cases which were raised in the old portal and migrated across to Essential Connections, requiring the creation of ‘dummy’ applications for all design jobs to flow through the new portal.

There are two different scenarios:

• A Connection Application was created in Essential Connections after Drop 1 (June 2022) and a DIA was requested in the old design portal prior to Drop 2 – in this scenario, the original Connection Application and the ‘dummy’ application both exist within Essential Connections, each with their own ECN; or
• A DIA was requested in the old design portal that has not yet had a Connection Application processed – in this case, when the Connection Application is applied for it will generate its own ECN (with the DIA already having a different ‘dummy’ application and ECN created during the migration process).

If you find you have a project in either scenario, please:

• Use the DIA ECN and related ‘dummy’ application case number for your design requests (easements, non-standard approvals, asset labels).
• If you need to obtain a connection offer prior to Design Submission, add a note into the collaboration section of the design submission case by creating a post, and entering the new Connection Application case number and ECN. The Design and Certification Officer will then ‘link’ the two ECNs together within the system for future reference. You will not see this linking in the external portal.

Important changes to the standard construction schedule & earthing verification process

As you know, changes to the standard construction schedule will be taking effect soon. Whilst the target date for these changes to occur was initially the 21st of November 2022, we are exploring options to delay these changes to minimise any impact to you and your colleagues. You will be advised once we have a confirmed date.

More information on the changes was covered in yesterday’s drop-in session along with upcoming changes to the earthing verification process. For anyone who was unable to attend or would like to refer back to it, a link to the recording will soon be made available to you.

Need help?

A registered user guide has been published on our Essential Connections Support to help you navigate the new design portal. Note: If the latest version (October 2022) doesn’t appear, select the CTRL+F5 keys together to refresh the guide.

Our last support session will be held next week to answer any questions you may have. An FAQ document will then be made available to you to assist with any questions and concerns offline.

For design specific training, click on the recording to access the Level 3 ASP design training Recording.

What do you need to do?

1. Access our Essential Connections Support to view our registered user guide.
2. Sign up to the above session to have your questions answered live.
3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
   

Further Information

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

Hi All,

We are reintroducing the Standards Reference Forums which were last held in 2021 to promote engagement and consultation for development and implementation of design and construction standards.

We are engaging in a spirit of openness and transparency to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes and improvements across the scope of design and construction standards.

The Standards Reference Forums scope does not include Contestable Design and Certification, Connections, Outage Management, Authorisations and Electrical Safety Office queries.

The forum will be chaired and facilitated by Manager Network Assurance with support from Manager Engineering Overhead, and Manager Engineering Underground.

Topics included at this forum include Overhead and Underground Standards and streetlights updates.

Your invited.

• Date: Thursday the 10th of November 2022.
• Time: 10:00am - 12:00 Midday.

what do i need to do?

• Register in advance to attend by clicking on this Register Here.
• After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
• Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
• View this communication via Essential Engagement.