Essential Connections Weekly Update 26th October 2022

The new design portal went live on Monday 24th October 2022, allowing new design applications to be submitted via the Essential Connections portal.

Data migration activities in relation to existing design applications and submissions are almost complete and most files related to design cases should be available from today.

Large files may take until the end of the week to come through the new system. If you need access to any missing files urgently, please email: contestableworks@essentialenergy.com.au and provide the relevant reference details for Essential Energy to manually attach the files to the new system.

Process for re-certifications

We have had a couple of queries around the process to follow for recertifications.

If the design for your project was certified via the Contestable Works process, you will need to follow the Contestable Works process for recertification.

If the design for your project was certified in the Design Portal (ST projects) or in the Essential Connections portal, you will need to complete the recertification in Essential Connections.

If you need to do a recertification of a design in Essential Connections on a migrated design case, you may find that you error messages on your screen. In this instance, check the compliance checkboxes in the same way you do for a new design submission (follow the external user guide for design submission). This won’t be required where you do a recertification on a design certified in the new portal.

Need help?

A registered user guide has been published on our Essential Connections Support portal, to help you navigate the new design portal. The guide contains information on how to log in, submit requests in the new portal and where to go for additional support so please use this as your first point of contact, along with the below support sessions. Note: If the latest version (October 2022) doesn’t appear, hit the ctrl key + F5 to refresh the guide. Please find a link to the Level 3 ASP Design Training Recording.

Our support sessions continue, with many great questions received so far, so please join one of our upcoming sessions to have your questions addressed live.

What do you need to do?

1. Access our Essential Connections Support to view our registered user guide.
2. Sign up to one of the above sessions to have your questions answered live.
3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
4. View this communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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

As you know, the BetterConnect project has been preparing for the next Essential Connections release, which will support the design phase of the end-to-end connections process to be managed in the Essential Connections portal.

Although we are progressing well with ensuring the readiness of the system, and it is available for the submission of new design applications, we are experiencing a delay in making your existing design-related data available.

What does this mean for you?

New and in-flight connection enquiries and applications

• The system is now open and ready to accept new connection enquiries and applications and Essential Energy is able to assess and provide you with connection offers

New design submissions

• You can now submit NEW easement requests and design related services (design information application requests, design submissions, asset labels and non-standard approvals) via the Essential Connections portal.

Existing design submissions (design information applications, design submissions and non-standard approvals)

• Whilst you will be able to see your in-flight design cases we are still migrating your design file attachments into Essential Connections portal - these will be available progressively over the coming days.
• We anticipate that all data will be available this week

PLEASE DO NOT ACCESS OR PROCESS ANY IN-FLIGHT DESIGN PROJECTS AS THIS MAY CORRUPT YOUR REQUESTS

Design Information Applications where the Connection Application was Submitted in the NECF Portal

If you have a design information application (DIA) request to submit for a project where the connection application was processed in the NECF portal you won’t be able to submit the request until you get an Essential Connection Number (ECN) and application case number from us. Please send an email to contestableworks@essentialenergy.com.au and include your connection offer number and street address and we will be able to provide you with the information you need to submit the Design Information Application (DIA) request.

Need help? Join our Essential Connections support sessions and have your problems solved live!

Support sessions have been scheduled to address any system questions and solve your problems live. If you need help accessing the portal or have any navigation questions, please join us in one of our sessions and we’ll do our best to assist you!

For learning materials and our step by step Registered User Manual

Information on Essential Connection portal and how to use the solution can be found on Essential Energy's support page, check out the Essential Connections Portal Registered User Manual.

Additional support

If you can’t make any of the support sessions mentioned above, please send an email to the relevant mailbox based on your type of enquiry.

Note: please send your enquiry to one mailbox only and do not cc other mailboxes as this will delay Essential Energy’s response to your enquiry.

Essential Connections Weekly Update 20th October 2022

We continue to work towards next Monday 24th October 2022 for the new design portal to go live. As previously communicated, the following processes are going live on Monday 24th October @ 09:00am.

• Design Information Applications
• Design Submissions
• Non-Standard Approvals
• Asset Labels
• Easements

Construction (Level 1 ASP) processes will not be used in the new system until later in the year. These processes will continue to be carried out via Contestable works and we will communicate further around the phased onboarding approach for construction.

If you have missed this week’s Essential Connections ASP information session or would like to revisit any of the information, please view the Information Session and/or watch the Recording.

Level 3 ASPs: Accessing Essential Connections on Monday 24 October 2022

Existing Level 3 ASPs who have been using Essential Connections will automatically have access to the portal – there is no need to register for the new system.

When you access the system on Monday, the ‘Design Portal’ tile will have disappeared from your OKTA screen, leaving only the ‘Essential Connections’ tile. Use the Essential Connections tile from Monday to access all your design related activity.

For some L3 ASPs you may find an error message when you log in, depending on how you have bookmarked the Essential Connections portal in your browser. If this is the case, simply go to Essential Energy okta to login to the system (and make sure you update your bookmark).

Essential Connections Design Go Live Support Sessions – Starting next week!

Click on the link(s) to register your attendance for one of our support sessions.

NOTE: Drop-in support sessions have been scheduled after go-live to support you and address your enquiries live. These sessions should be your first point of contact to have your queries answered.

Change in easement hold point

Not all projects will be able to transition to the new hold point as highlighted below.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the overview presentation and watch the session recording by clicking on the Essential Connections Information Session above.
2. Access the level 3 ASP 3 hub on Essential Engagement for links to training materials and our user manual.
3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
4. View this communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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

Essential Connections Design Go Live Support Sessions

Drop-in support sessions have been scheduled post go-live to support you and address your enquiries live. These sessions should be your first point of contact to ask questions.

What do you need to do?

Register for the Drop-in Support Sessions that suits you.

Further Information

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

Essential Connections will be unavailable from 18th October (5pm) to 24th October 2022 (9am).

As you may be aware, Essential Energy has been working on the next release of the Essential Connections portal which will support the design and construction phases of the end-to-end connections process to be managed in the one system.

To prepare for this next release, a number of activities need to be undertaken to migrate data from the existing system to Essential Connections.

What do you need to know?

From 18th October (5pm):

• The Essential Connections applications and enquiries portal will not be available from 5pm, Tuesday 18th October until 9am (AEDT), Monday 24th October 2022.
• Similarly, the Design portal will not be accessible during this time.
• There will be a freeze on design information requests, design submission requests, asset label requests, non-standard approvals and re-certification requests (that have been submitted via the design portal).
• All new design information requests will be required to be submitted via the new Essential Connections portal and will not be accepted via email.

What do you need to do?

If you are not already registered user of the new Essential Connections & Design portal, please Register Here.

Essential Connections Portal will be available on the 24th of October 2022 @ 09:00am

Further Information

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

Weekly update on Essential Connections

We continue to work towards 24 October 2022 for go live.

Please find attached the Essential Connections overview presented during the weekly update session. If you missed out or would like to revisit any of the information, click on the Essential Connections Information Session to view the Slide Pack.

The next session will be held on Wednesday 19th October 2022 from 8:30am – 9:30am and cover:

Follow this link Join Zoom Meeting if you are interested in joining next week’s meeting.

Transitions activities

Please remember that from 5:00PM on 18 October 2022, the current design portal will no longer be accessible as we will start migrating data across to the new system.

ASP support sessions

Level 3 ASP Essential Connection Go Live Support Session – 25th October 2022.

Level 1 & 3 ASP Information Sessions – as usual each Wednesday from 8.30am – 9.30am.

NOTE: all ASP sessions from go live will be focused on delivering in-session system and process support for Design (October) and for Construction (November & December).

Design Information Application (DIA) submissions in the NECF portal

If you have an existing connection application that was lodged in the old portal and need to submit a Design Information Application (DIA), you will receive a communication providing you with an Essential Connections Number (ECN) and a case number to enable you to submit a DIA in the new system.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the content covered in the last Essential Connections ASP information session.
2. Please complete our readiness survey. It will only take 2 minutes.

Further Information

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

What is Happening?

Unfortunately, system issues with submission of connection applications and enquiries in the new Essential Connections Portal have resulted in delays in processing applications.

At the moment, the average time to process an application is approximately 15 to 20 days.

We apologise and ask for your patience as we put plans in place to resolve system issues and onboard additional staff to reduce the backlog and process your requests within our standard target of 10 days.

To assist in getting an application completed, please ensure you have filled out the application accurately and all required documents are uploaded.

What do you need to do?

1. Make sure your application is filled in with acturate information and you have attached all the required documents
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation and your clients.
3. View this communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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

Short delay to Standard Connections go-live in the Essential Connections solution

As you know, we have been preparing the implementation of our new solution, which will support the design and construction phases of the end-to-end connections process to be managed in the Essential Connections portal. Whilst the project was working towards Monday 10 October 2022 to roll out the Standard Connections process, additional testing activities are required to resolve the defects identified and enable a smooth transition to the new solution for our customers.

What do you need to know?

We are now working towards Monday 24 October 2022 as our revised go-live date. In line with this decision, the current design portal will be suspended from Tuesday, 18 October 2022 at 5pm and you will be unable to add to or access your design information until the new Essential Connections portal is up and running on Monday 24 October 2022. This means that your existing design data will be migrated to the new portal.

What happens next?

Our weekly ASP information sessions remain in place to keep you abreast of any updates and answer any questions you may have.

For Level 3 ASPs, training sessions initially scheduled from 12th to 20th October 2022 will be rescheduled to take place after go-live. Please look out for updated calendar invitations which will be sent to you shortly.

For Level 1 ASPs, training sessions will be scheduled to take place after go live. Please look out for calendar invitations over the next couple of months.

Thanks again for your understanding and continuous support during the transition period.

Further Information

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

Weekly Update on Essential Connections

As we get closer to go-live on 10th October 2022, we highly recommend that you attend a session to ask any questions you may have.

Please find attached the Essential Connections overview presented during the weekly update session. If you missed out or would like to revisit any of the information, click on the Essential Connections Information Session to view the Recording and the ASP information session.

The next session will be as follows:

Follow this link to Join Zoom Meeting.

Training

A reminder of the Design training that is available to support you in using Essential Connections. The sessions in October will be more detailed and you will have the opportunity to go into the system.

The training pack and recording will be shared at the conclusion of the design sessions next week.

Please note that Construction Training targeting L1 ASPs will be scheduled at a later date.

Cases in previous Connections portal

If you have existing applications in the previous Connections portal, you will require an Essential Connections Number (ECN) and a new case number so that you can access these cases within the new Essential Connections Portal.

You will receive an email on 10th October 2022 that will provide you with the ECNs that have been created for your current application cases.

If you have any issues with these numbers, please contact aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

Transitions Activity

As a reminder, from 5th October 2022:

• The current design portal will no longer be accessible.
• There will be a freeze on design DIAs, design submissions, asset label requests, non-standard approvals and recertification's (that are not in the contestable works system).
• No new DIA jobs will be accepted via the contestable works email.

Continue to submit easements and pioneer scheme cases until 10th October 2022 via email – then it will move to the Essential Connections Portal.

Any activity currently submitted and started via the contestable works email will continue in that system until completion of the project.

OKTA Passwords

We are serious about cybersecurity at Essential Energy and to keep our customers, partners and employees cybersafe, we have specific requirements for passwords. All passwords, including for OKTA, need to be 12 digits in length and have a combination of numbers, special characters and upper and lower case letters. Given this makes passwords more secure, they will only need to be updated annually.

Check out these interesting stats:

Devices

Tablets and phones can be used in the field for interfacing with Essential Connections and Youreka.

When we go live with Construction all Level1 Asps will require access to smart devices in the field – smart phone; i-pad/tablet and/or laptops as it will not be possible to submit any project information via any mechanism other than Salesforce. Yureka, the on-line/off-line form

Readiness Survey

A reminder: Please complete the readiness survey. This helps us to understand how confident you are feeling in using the new system and ways of working. Access the survey readiness survey. It only takes 2 minutes!

What do you need to do?

1. Review the attached overview presentation and watch the session recording by clicking on the Essential Connections Information Session.
2. Complete the readiness survey.
3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
4. View this communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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

Weekly Update on Essential Connections

Please find attached the Essential Connections overview presented during the weekly update session. If you missed out or would like to revisit any of the information, click on the Essential Connections Information Session to view the recording and the ASP information session.

The next session will be as follows:

Follow this link to Join Zoom Meeting.

Training

A reminder of the Design training that is available to support you in using Essential Connections. Please note that Construction Training targeting Level 1 ASPs will be scheduled at a later date.

NOTE: the Design training is not restricted to Level 3 ASPs – If you are an Level 1 ASP but work intensively in the Design submission process please feel free to register and attend.

The training pack and recording will be shared at the conclusion of the design sessions next week.

Transition to Essential Connections

As a result of the updated go-live dates, cutover dates will move. We are working towards a new cutover date of 5th October 2022 (commencement of the transition to the new solution) and will confirm this date next week.

As we transition data to the new Essential Connections Portal, the below activities will cease or change between 5th and 10th October 2022. See the below image for detail.

Easements

The following information will be sent to law societies and frequent legal representatives that submit easement cases. A user guide will be uploaded to the website and shared with you prior to go-live.

Essential Energy is introducing the Essential Connections Portal, a self-service portal for all customers and their representatives to:

• Submit documentation for Easements.
• Make upfront payments with the easy-to-use online payment gateway.

Before you can access the portal, make an enquiry, submit information, or submit easement documents, you will be required to register and activate an account with Essential Energy.

To create a new account, head to the Essential Connections Registration page on the Essential Energy website. How to Video Guide will assist you – follow the ‘Customers’ menu.

Readiness Survey

A reminder: Please complete the readiness survey. This helps us to understand how confident you are feeling in using the new system and ways of working. Access the survey readiness survey. It only takes 2 minutes!

What do you need to do?

1. Review the transition information and ASP session information pack and recording.
2. Complete the readiness survey.
3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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