REMINDER:

Essential Energy strictly prohibits non-electrically qualified personnel authorised under Class 1X as Competent Assistants and Plant Operators from engaging in construction and installation of electricity network infrastructure.

Only appropriately qualified personnel who hold relevant 1A, 1B or 1C authorisation issued by Essential Energy can undertake the installation and construction of electricity network infrastructure.

Class 1X Competent Assistants and Plant Operators can provide assistance to the appropriately qualified personnel with the below tasks:

• conduit and duct installation
• underground cable hauling
• hard cover and soft tap installation
• pole and streetlight erection and removal.

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?

Essential Energy’s November ASP engagement forums will be held via Zoom. In this round, we’ll be covering a range of topics including:

• Safety
• Standards – Updates to the overhead and underground manuals, as well as Construction News and transitioning to composite poles
• Contestable Design – CEOM7001 Construction Plan Requirements, New Earthing Guide and tips for Neara
• Improvements to surveyor’s advice
• Updates to our easement policies
• Essential Connections –the platform, upcoming construction and commissioning roll out, next steps for CEOP2015 Terms and Conditions for Contestable Works (Guidelines) and process changes.

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

Dates and Times

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

What do you need to do?

1. Select the session time above that suits you and reserve your spot.
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 minimise the disruption to customers during the Christmas / New Year period, no planned interruptions with a customer impact will be scheduled from 18 December 2023 to the 1 January 2024 and will resume on 2 January 2024.  

We will have limited resources to undertake Contestable Works during the same period with business resuming as normal from 2 January 2024.  Essential Connections will still be available for submissions; however, limited resources will be available to process requests.

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.

What is Happening?

The following Essential Energy policies have been updated to reflect legislative changes, a general review of easement requirements and changes in easement document processing:

• CEOF9091 – Submission of Easement Documents includes the ECN or Case Number
• CEOF6274b – Creation of Easement Customer Deed includes electronic signature provisions
• CEOF6274c – Creation of Easement Landowner Deed includes electronic signature provisions
• CEOF6496 – Operational Form – Creation of Easements for Services refers to the Essential Connections Portal
• CERM8046.01 – Execution of easement documentation procedure guide reflects the new Essential Connections process
• CEOP8046 – Easement Requirements has various and significant amendments, including:
  • requirement to lodge easement documents via the Essential Connections Portal
  • removal of Clauses 5.2.2 e & d
  • removal of clause 5.5
  • amendment of Clause 5.2.2 to provide that easements are required irrespective of land size
  • inclusion of easement dimensions for a 33kv elongated pad mounted substation
  • updated landowner consent form requirements, and
  • removal of outdated references.

Please refer to each of the above documents to review the changes. Please also note that while CEOF6274b & CEOF6274c have been updated and are available for use, it is Essential Energy’s preference that CEOF6274f - Agreement for Creation of Easement is used where possible.

What do you need to do?

1. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
2. Update your templates via the Document Library.

Further Information

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

What is Happening?

Essential Energy’s November ASP engagement forums will be held via Zoom. In this round, we’ll be covering a range of topics including:

• Safety
• Standards – Updates to the overhead and underground manuals, as well as Construction News and transitioning to composite poles
• Contestable Design – CEOM7001 Construction Plan Requirements, New Earthing Guide and tips for Neara
• Improvements to surveyor’s advice
• Updates to our easement policies
• Essential Connections –the platform, upcoming construction and commissioning roll out, next steps for CEOP2015 Terms and Conditions for Contestable Works (Guidelines) and process changes.

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

Dates and Times

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

What do you need to do?

1. Select the session time above that suits you and reserve your spot.
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?

Essential Energy recognises the importance of incorporating management strategies crucial to mitigating the risk and impact of bush fire on the community and ensures that the effects of its work activities on bushfires are minimised and comply with the relevant legislation.

In response to past bush fire events which resulted in a devastating loss of life and property, the NSW Government introduced legislative changes to ensure bushfire matters are considered in the development and maintenance processes within our industry. At present, all new development on bush fire prone land must comply with Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019 which sets out the basis for all bushfire planning and bushfire protection measures.

The spring 2023 bushfire outlook issued by the Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) emphasises the need for immediate community and business preparedness. Australia's climate has changed since last spring, with a transition to higher temperatures and lower rainfall predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology. This shift follows years of above average rainfall during La Nina seasons.

Be Prepared

Each of us should have a bushfire survival plan in place and be ready, even if the time never comes. Download the Hazards Near Me app and be notified when fires occur within your area.

There may be a requirement for Essential Energy to review and possibly suspend requested outages in certain situations if bushfires hazards are severe.

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?

Essential Energy is no longer providing Accredited Service Providers (ASPs) with sealing pliers and seals.

ASPs can procure their own sealing equipment directly from suppliers. Consequently, Essential Energy will no longer be responsible for overseeing the supply of sealing equipment (which includes sealing pliers provided by Essential Energy and currently in the possession of ASPs).

What options do ASPs have?

For an ASP that has paid a security deposit for sealing pliers supplied by Essential Energy (pliers procured by HARCOR), Essential Energy requires the ASP to either:

Return those sealing pliers to Essential Energy before 30 June 2024, and Essential Energy will provide a refund* of the security deposit paid by the ASP in respect of those sealing pliers.

Sealing Plier Return Postal Address

Network Authorisations

Essential Energy

122 Queen Street Grafton NSW 2460

Please provide bank account details for security deposit refund.

OR

Advise Essential Energy that the ASP wishes to keep the Essential Energy supplied sealing pliers, and Essential Energy will retain the ASP’s security deposit as payment for the sealing pliers.

*For an ASP to receive a refund of their security deposit from Essential Energy, the sealing pliers must be returned to Essential Energy in a sound useable condition with all dies present (as per Essential Energy’s Operational Procedure: Electrical Inspection: Distribution and Maintenance of Sealing Pliers and Security Seals (CEOP2031) can be downloaded from Essential Energy Document Library.

Any ASP who does not return their sealing pliers supplied by Essential Energy before June 30 2024 will forfeit their security deposit paid to Essential Energy, and the sealing pliers in the ASP’s possession will transfer to the ASP’s ownership and be at the ASPs risk.

What isn’t changing?

Please note that the requirement to seal components of an electrical installation remain unchanged, and ASPs need to ensure the sealing of installations are compliant as per the relevant rules and regulations (including ensuring sealing equipment is of quality and die numbers are clearly visible on the seal). Essential Energy will continue to record sealing plier numbers (of the sealing pliers ASPs own or use) as part of an ASP’s authorisation, and details of those sealing pliers are to be provided by the ASP on the appropriate authorisation form.

What do you need to do?

Please share this communication with relevant people in 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.

What is Happening?

We have received feedback on the challenges being faced when a job requires surveyor's advice. As a result, we have undertaken working groups with ASPs and Surveyors and shared the first steps on 9 October 2023. To recap we have updated the CEOF2579 - Surveyor’s Advice, surveyors now have the option to provide a stamped asset location survey plan instead of a letter.

To further assist we would like to suggest that you consider the following to help you commence construction within the desired timeframe:

• Customer or ASP engages the Surveyor early in the project.
• Surveyor pegs out the boundaries and asset locations for the constructor.
• Construction works are completed within the pegged boundaries.
• When practicable for underground assets, the trench is left open until the Network Assurance Facilitator (NAF) can visually sight the cable/conduits and confirm the assets are being constructed within the pegged boundaries/easement at mid-construct (where applicable.
• Arrange for the Surveyor to attend site (prior to backfilling) to sight and confirm location of installed assets.
• Provide detailed photos that clearly show peg locations relative to the trench or cable installation – use a measuring device to provide scale in the photo.

As a reminder, it is a requirement of CEOP2015 - Contestable Works Guidelines that asset locations are confirmed by survey to be located within an easement area, or within the road reserve and Essential Energy’s asset allocation. It is very important that the assets are installed as per the certified design so as to avoid safety issues or legal disputes in the future. To ensure a safe, reliable distribution network, our assets need to be protected.

If you are unable to engage a surveyor for a specific job, please speak to your local Network Assurance Facilitator (NAF) to discuss exceptional circumstances, this will be escalated and considered on a case-by-case basis.

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’s Happening?

Essential Energy has made changes to Asset Testing and Commissioning. These changes impact Level 1 ASPs who complete asset testing as part of customer connections.

These changes include:

• Updated Testing and Commissioning Manuals (CEOP5125 / CEOM5125).
• Newly developed assistance guides such as user guides and videos.
• Digital test forms for field completion (integrating into Essential Energy Connections Portal).
• Refresher training package available for qualified ASP staff.

Information Sessions

Three online information sessions have been scheduled for ASPs who would like to attend, the sessions will run for approximately 1-1.5 hours.

The sessions aim to provide an in-depth overview of the changes through a presentation and live demonstrations, and there is also opportunity to ask questions and delve deeper into the discussion topics.

Session Dates / Times

• Thursday 26 October 12.00 – 1.30pm
• Tuesday 31 October 9.30 – 11.00am
• Wednesday 1 November 3.00 – 4.30pm
  

For those who cannot attend, there will be a recorded session made available for you after the last session date on Essential Engagement to be viewed at you connivence.

What do you need to do?

If you are interested in joining one of the information sessions:

1. Select the session time above, register and then add the invitation to your calendar.
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 minimise the disruption to customers during the Christmas / New Year period, no planned interruptions with a customer impact will be scheduled from 18 December 2023 to the 1 January 2024 and will resume on 2 January 2024.  

We will have limited resources to undertake Contestable Works during the same period with business resuming as normal from 2 January 2024.  Essential Connections will still be available for submissions; however, limited resources will be available to process requests.

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.