Background

Following recent questions, we have outlined below what Essential Energy requires to accept requests for variations to CEOM7206.04 streetlight footing designs.

Certification of variations

Prior to submitting a streetlight footing design to Essential Energy that varies from CEOM7206.04 (e.g. with alternative cage designs, depth, etc), Level 3 ASPs must ensure the design has been certified by a suitably qualified civil engineer, and provide a copy of this certification to Essential Energy as an accompanying letter. The alternative design can then be certified with the original submission.

At the time of construction, if a Level 1 ASP requests a variation to a plan certified by Essential Energy, variations will need to be resubmitted for re-certification by the Level 3 ASP. Any variations will incur the standard fees charged by Essential Energy.

Please also note that variations identified within ‘As-Built’ drawings or designs may not be accepted by Essential Energy.

Future improvements

If you have any feedback about our existing Standard/s, or suggestions for future improvement, such as potential cost reductions or efficiency gains that could be achieved without impacting quality or safety, please send them to aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au for consideration on future revisions.

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.

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 19 December 2020 to 3 January 2021.  

Also Contestable Works will be closed during the same period with business resuming as normal from 4 January 2021. 

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.

Further Information

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

Essential Energy is currently experiencing an increase in the volume of low voltage connection applications. This may result in our Connection Application processing being delayed by a few days. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and will endeavour to limit this delay.

Further Information

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

As part of Essential Energy’s commitment to continuous improvement, we would like to receive your feedback on how easy you find it to do business with us.

As a key stakeholder we work with, your feedback will assist us in making sure that the capabilities and quality of our products and services are meeting your expectations now and into the future.

Over the next few weeks, a representative from Woolcott Research & Engagement may contact you to participate in a survey that will assess your satisfaction with our service and operational performance. We greatly value your input as this will help us to make improvements where there are opportunities to do so.

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 relevant to Level 1, 2 & 3 ASPs including connections, the Level 1 Agreement, CEOP2015, Standards and updates on BetterConnect and Power Lines Pro.

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

• Session 1: Wednesday, 4 November at 5.00pm
• Session 2: Thursday, 5 November at 12.30pm
• Session 3: Tuesday, 10 November at 5.00pm

All sessions will have the same content.

Please register your interest by emailing aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au with individual(s) email addresses and preferred session(s) by COB 30 October 2020.

Zoom details will be emailed directly to the participant two days prior to the to the event.

What do you need to do?

1. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
2. Attend the zoom session that suits you.

Further Information

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

On 22 September 2020, Essential Energy advised you that our data capture forms can be filled out on an electronic device or printed and completed.

We would like to confirm that you only need to provide the data once – either electronically or via paper forms and not on multiple forms, i.e. if you fill in the earthing details on the pole form you do not need to fill them in on the earth site form.

We would also welcome your ideas for potential improvement to any of our forms. Please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au with your suggestions and, where possible, we will work with you to implement a solution.

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.

Essential Energy will be removing the regional exempt areas from the Provider of Last Resort process for Level 1 and 3 Accredited Service Providers (ASPs), this will ensure that you have every opportunity to quote for Contestable Work jobs.

These will still be advertised on Essential Energy’s Document Library and there will be no change to the regionally exempt areas for Level 2 ASPs.

For more information please visit our Provider of Last Resort page on Essential Energy’s website.

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.

Accredited Service Providers (ASPs) have brought to our attention phishing emails that appear to have been sent by Essential Energy’s BetterConnect Project email address.

Valid email addresses that our Network ASP team use to share communications with you are:

• Essential Engagement ;
• aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au;
• contestableworks@essentialenergy.com.au.

To maintain your cyber security, please check that any emails that appear to be from Essential Energy are valid.

What is a phishing email?

A phishing email is a fraudulent attempt to obtain your sensitive information by a sender disguising themselves as a trustworthy entity.

If you receive a phishing email, please take the following actions:

• Delete the email
• Do not open it and do not click on any links
• If you click on a suspicious link, we recommend you change all your passwords
• Do not forward the email.

You can also find more information on the Australian Cyber Security Centre: (https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/view-all-content/threats/phishing)

What do you need to do?

1. Review the above and remain vigilant for phishing emails.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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

Background

On 6 August Essential Energy shared a communication advising that to ensure project compliance a surveyor’s letter would need to be provided for projects that include easements and/or allocations. After feedback from ASPs we would like to provide some additional information.

Below are the conditions for when a surveyor’s letter is required and when it is not.

Projects affected by easements:

When installing new network infrastructure you are required to submit a surveyor’s letter as part of the project completion documentation. The newly installed network should be centered within the easement.

If you are replacing like for like and/or additional construction on the network, with no variation or addition to existing network, or network installed prior to 26 May 2006 a surveyor’s letter is not required. Please Note: Depending on the type of work undertaken an easement may need to be created.

Projects affected by allocation zones (Council public road reserves):

All new network infrastructure installed within the allocation zone classified as council public road reserves require a surveyor’s letter supplied as part of your completion documentation.

Like for like network infrastructure replacements at the same location and additional construction of new network that is constructed in line and without deviation to the existing network does not require a surveyor’s letter.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the above and ensure that these requirements are met.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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

A new low voltage four core breakout kit (Essential Energy Catalogue Number 286 296) has been added to CEOM7004 Standard Contestable (Approved) Materials List for use on the Essential Energy network. It includes a non-glue lined breakout boot and mastic that provides a better moisture seal on the connection.

The relevant CEOM7202 Underground Manual drawings have been updated to reflect the new kit details.

As with most changes to CEOM7004 Standard Contestable (Approved) Materials List there is a 12 month grace period for you to deplete your stock.

What do you need to do?

1. Familiarise yourself with the new kit and drawings.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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