We recently conducted a review of our non-conformance process and identified several areas where the process could be strengthened. Following consultation with our Accredited Service Provider (ASP) focus group, we will be releasing the revised process on 1 October 2020.

There are two main areas of change:

• introduction of a non-conformance rectification plan and related timeframes, and
• introduction of an appeal process for ASPs to challenge non-conformances.

Non-conformance rectification plan

Our primary concern is to ensure network safety and integrity. To facilitate timely response, ASPs are to provide Essential Energy with a rectification plan within 7 days of a non-conformance notice being issued. Rectification plans for Major non-conformances must be provided within 48 hours. The plan should detail when and how the non-conformances will be resolved, and be e-mailed to the Network Assurance Facilitator in charge of the project with the subject line ‘Non-conformance rectification plan – project number’.

Non-conformances identified on projects not yet energised must be rectified within 30 days to secure network safety and reliability. Projects that are energised must have a CEOF6013 outage request form supplied as part of the paperwork.

Please note that, if the rectification plan and the supporting documentation are not supplied within the required timeframe, Essential Energy may undertake rectification at the expense of the Level 1 ASP responsible for the non-conformance.

An example of a rectification plan is available on the Document Library as a PDF form.

ASP appeals process

We recognise that there can be a level of subjectivity and inconsistency in determining non-conformances. To enable ASPs to challenge non-conformances, we are introducing a formal appeals process (which will be available in the next version of CEOP2015).

To dispute a non-conformance, please detail the facts upon which the appeal is based and attach any relevant information or supporting evidence with your appeal. Appeals should be sent to contestableworks@essentialenergy.com.au, with the subject line ‘Non-conformance appeal – project number’.

An appeals panel will meet weekly to review appeals in a timely manner, within 48 hours of your submission we will provide you with the date of the next meeting, requesting additional information, when required, or confirming that the appropriate evidence has been provided to review the appeal

CEOF6013 Request for Planned Outage, Connection or Work Live LV has been updated with an option for Non-Conformance Rectification (Access to Network).

If you have any questions or require assistance in relation to any aspect of our non-conformance process, please contact your local Network Assurance Facilitator.

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.

Further to our communication on 17 August 2020 we would like to provide an update on the ASP Connections and Quality Manager role.

Kevin Miller will continue as the Acting ASP Connections and Quality Manager until 1 March 2021. You can contact Kevin via email kevin.miller@essentialenergy.com.au.

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

Essential Energy has updated our Data Capture Forms for use by Accredited Service Providers (ASPs).

Each new form has been simplified, with dropdown boxes where possible and can be filled in either electronically or printed for completion.

The new forms are available in the Document Library. For ease of use, they have been placed under a new category - Data Capture Forms, which you can find by searching for Data Capture Forms or DCF.

Please continue to submit these forms through the contestableworks@essentialenergy.com.au email.

What do you need to do?

1. Please commence using the new Data Capture Forms.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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

Background

Recently we’ve experienced instances where redundant assets, including meters, have been returned to Depots without prior arrangement, causing significant delays for Depot workers and Accredited Service Providers (ASPs).

What is changing?

To comply with heightened social distancing and safety practices in our Depots the document “Warehouse Freight Protocol” (previously shared with Level 1 ASPs) has been updated.

An additional document, “Timber Pole Management COVID-19 Protocol”, has also been created to keep everyone safe.

It is important that all ASPs and Electrical Contractors (ECs) arrange a specific time to return any redundant materials as described in these documents. Scheduling an agreed time is necessary to protect the safety of both our ASP partners, ECs and our employees.

CEOP2015 Contestable work guidelines (available on the Document Library) details our requirements in the section “Return of redundant materials”. Please ensure that you follow these and other previously communicated guidelines.

What do you need to do?

1. Follow the protocols described in the beforementioned documents, which can be found on the Document Library.
2. Ensure that you arrange a return time with the relevant Depot Resource Supervisor or Regional Stores Officer.
3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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

Background information

As previously advised, from 1 December 2020, Level 1 Accredited Service Providers (ASP) will be required to enter a Level 1 ASP Authorisation Agreement with Essential Energy to continue to undertake and/or facilitate contestable works on or near our electricity distribution network.

Best contact email

Essential Energy will be emailing our authorisation pack commencing Monday 24 August 2020. If you would like your authorisation information to be sent to a specific email address please let us know by emailing aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au, otherwise it will be sent to the email we have on file. For new Level 1 ASP’s who would like to become authorised please email us at aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

Authorisation Agreement Pack

To become Authorised under the new framework, you will need to provide the below documentation:

All original documentation to be mailed via registered post to Essential Energy, Attention: David Wilson, PO Box 5730, PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444

• Completed application for Authorisation CEOF2568.01
• Signed Level 1 Authorisation Agreement CEOF2568
• Evidence of your accreditation with the Department
• Copies of your certificates of currency, and

This pack will also contain the value of your bank guarantee.

Following approval, we will counter-sign the agreement and return a copy to you.

If you require assistance from Essential Energy to organise your bank guarantee, or if you would like to talk to us about the bank guarantee requirement, including the process for releasing any existing bank guarantees please reply to this email with a preferred date and time to meet. Meetings will be facilitated either by phone or Zoom with our Revenue Assurance and ASP Compliance Managers. Please ensure you have spoken to your financial institutions about their specific process and requirements ahead of the meeting.

Please note, any Ancillary Network Service fee for initial Authorisation will be waived providing the Authorisation Agreement is executed prior to 1 December 2020. Following this, please refer to the Price Schedule for Ancillary Network Service section 17.1 Authorisation of Accredited Service Providers (ASPs). Initial Authorisation fees for new ASPs & renewal charges for current ASPs will apply and your Authorisation will occur every 12 months on your accreditation renewal date.

Further information

The associated documents and a short introductory video are available on Essential Engagement/ASP located under Company Authorisation.

If you have any questions please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

Following successful implementation of the first stage of automating the network connections process through our BetterConnect design portal, David Wilson will be acting in the Head of Commercial Services Role for a minimum of 12 months to allow Alistair Fletcher, Head of Commercial Service, to oversee roll-out of the new system across the end to end connections process.

To ensure continuing support for Accredited Service Providers and Electrical Contractors, our Network Assurance Supervisor, Kevin Miller, is now your point of contact as Acting ASP Connections and Quality Manager. Kevin’s email is kevin.miller@essentialenergy.com.au.

We will provide you with further information when it is available.

In the meantime, please continue to contact your local NAF/SNAF (Network Assurance Officer) and send any general enquiries to aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

Reminder – Cable Jointing Awareness Session must be completed by 15 August 2020

Below is a copy of the communication sent on 11 June 2020. Please action prior to 15 August 2020, if you do not complete the training described below your Level 1 Authorisation will be suspended.

What is happening?

From 15 August 2020, your employees with Class 1B – Underground Paper Lead and Polymeric and Class 1C – Underground Polymeric only Authorisations must have completed a Cable Jointing Awareness session in order to remain authorised to work on or near our network.

Please ensure that all of your employees who have these authorisations complete an online awareness session prior to that date.

The awareness session is available on Essential Energy Learning Management System. To be able to access this system, you will need to:

• Complete an online registration
  • The registration will require you to create a unique user ID (ie jsmith) and password.
• Email trainingservicesadmin@essentialenergy.com.au to request enrolment in CJA001 (CJ Awareness Session)

If you have any issues with your registration, please email ekas@essentialenergy.com.au.

What do you need to do?

1. Ensure that all employees with 1B and 1C authorisations complete the awareness session prior to 15 August 2020.
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 would like to share an Ausgrid Health and Safety Alert where an Ausgrid lineworker received an electric shock from an overhead streetlight conductor that was still ‘live’ within their work area.

The details of this incident are contained in the Ausgrid Health and Safety Alert that forms page 2 of Essential Energy’s Safety Brief which is available on the Document Library and on Essential Engagement/ASP.

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.

Reminder Confirmation of Company Safety for Live LV Work

As communicated on 17 June 2020 Level 1 ASP companies need to action the below before completing live low voltage work on the Essential Energy network. If you require the Learning Module code it is ASPLLV.

Background

Following multiple incidents relating to live low voltage (LV) work, including accidents involving actual and potential life-threatening injuries to electrical workers which raise concerns about safe work management of live work, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South Wales (IPART) issued four Safety Alerts during 2019. The three NSW distributors subsequently reviewed their related work practices, controls and the competency of their workers. Some live low voltage work activities were suspended while these reviews were undertaken.

Accredited Service Providers (ASPs) also undertake live low voltage work under the relevant Regulatory provisions for Network Operators, including the NSW framework for Contestable Work (the ASP Scheme Rules).

ASPs undertaking live LV work

Where it is appropriate for an ASP to undertake live low voltage work, you must:

• ensure that appropriate planning processes and procedures are in place to work safety in a live work situation
• have control measures incorporated into live work procedures
• identify live work responsibilities, accountabilities and authority levels of personnel or contractors, and
• ensure that anyone involved in planning or undertaking the work is trained and competent.

What your company needs to do?

• ASPs who undertake contestable work on our network are aware of their legislative obligations regarding live work
• ASPs have reviewed and updated their safe work practices and controls in line with IPART Safety Alerts regarding recent live low voltage work industry incidents, and
• ASP workers who plan and undertake live low voltage work are competent to do so.

If you have not previously accessed Essential Energy Learning Management System. You will need to create a unique user ID (i.e. jsmith) and password as part of your registration through the link above.

If you have any issues with your registration, please email ekas@essentialenergy.com.au.

What do you need to do?

1. The authorisation representative need to complete the confirmation section.
2. 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 comply with section 2.12 of CEOP2015, all contestable overhead and underground projects that include easements and/or allocations such as road reserves and nature strips require a surveyor’s letter stating that the network assets gifted to Essential Energy are in the locations indicated on the certified plan/s.

The surveyor’s letter must be submitted on your company letterhead with the project completion document. To assist, an example letter can be found on the Document Library.

What do you need to do?

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

Further Information

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