Level 1 ASPs

What is happening?

Essential Energy is committed to providing customers who wish to install low-voltage embedded generation access to the network where it does not compromise quality, safety and reliability of supply to other network users.

To facilitate this, we have revised our assessment criteria for connection of embedded generators to the low-voltage network.

Effective Monday 15 June 2020 our revised criteria requires that voltage rise on Service Mains is maintained within 1% (in accordance with clauses '1.12.3.4' & '8.6.13' of the NSW Service Installation Rules). This will enable Essential Energy to maintain voltage at the point of connection at 253V.

Exemptions

Application of exemption clause '8.6.13.1' will not be accepted when it results in an increase of voltage on the Service Mains greater than 1%. We will consider exemption where combined voltage in the Consumer Mains and Sub Mains is limited to 2% (as per clause '3.3.3' of AS/NZS4777.1-2016).

Alternative compliance mechanisms may include applicants proposing Service Mains augmentation or imposing export limits to their generator systems in order to maintain the voltage rise within the Service Mains to 1% (as per clause '8.6.3' of the NSW Service Installation Rules, and noting that export limits will not impose a limit on the capacity of generator systems for self-consumption).

At this time, the standing automatic approval for energy export of 5kW per connection point for urban, and 3kW per connection point for rural customers remains in place.

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.

Background

A recent incident occurred while Essential Energy workers where in the process of commissioning a new Tyree Pad Mounted Substation.

After the High Voltage (HV) EFACEC switchgear was energised, field workers were at the Low Voltage (LV) switchgear carrying out phasing tests when they identified unusual voltages.

They returned to the HV switchgear and under access permit conditions carried out investigations and found the pig tails on the fuse holders were jammed into the fuse canisters which had caused the HV fuses to operate

What happens now?

All EFACEC pig tails on the HV fuse holders must be checked prior to commissioning to ensure they are free from obstruction, in a normal designed position and are not jammed into the fuse canister.

Safety Brief 914 - Pig Tail Crush in Fuse Canister of EFACEC Switchgear is being shared for your information and can be accessed from Essential Energy’s Document Library or Essential Engagement .

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

Background

Following the initial feedback we received from ASPs and internal stakeholders, Essential Energy has significantly amended CEOP2015 General Terms and Conditions for Contestable Works.

The document has been renamed CEOP2015 Contestable Work Guidelines and the revised version and a content variation document are available on the Document Library .

Seeking Feedback

We are now seeking your further input to ensure that the updated document is easy to use and has the information you require to undertake contestable work on or near our network. A review and feedback form are available in the information folder on Essential Engagement.

Please review the updated document and send your suggestions and feedback to aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au by 31 August 2020. This information will then be reviewed and, where practical, incorporated into the next version.

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

Background

On 4 April 2019 Essential Energy placed temporary restrictions on all live low voltage pole and / or cross arm replacements involving open wire exposed conductors. This briefing is a reminder that these restrictions remain in place until further notice.

Essential Energy are working on control measures that will enable us to lift these restrictions and will be communicating with Level 1 ASPs in the coming weeks seeking confirmation that your company has implemented appropriate safety systems and confirmed relevant employees are competent to perform live work prior to these restrictions being lifted.

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

Background

The NSW Service and Installation Rules stipulate that low voltage connections greater than 100 Amps must be reviewed by the electricity distributor.

To facilitate compliance and ensure consistency, Essential Energy is centralising our review process.

What is changing?

From today, all connection applications for low voltage customer switchboards with ratings of more than 100 Amps per phase (new/modified and with or without CT metering) are to be submitted with a proposed load, single line diagram and power factor correction details (if applicable), and a completed “Switch Board Compliance Statement”, CEOF7819 can be found on the Document Library.

All requests must be submitted via switchboard.review@essentialenergy.com.au, using the standard naming convention – Address_Customer Name_Submitting Company Name_Submission Version (Example - 2 Southern Cross Dr Ballina_ Marelex_V1).

Following receipt of your submission, Essential Energy will assess the documentation and respond as ‘appears compliant’ or if non-compliant, as ‘rejected’.

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

As part of Essential Energy’s commitment to continuous improvement, we are seeking feedback from our customers and business partners about how easy we are to do business with.

Feedback received from ASPs and Electrical Contractors to date has assisted us in ensuring 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 delivery and operational performance. Your input is needed to help Essential Energy optimise customer outcomes and ensure our operations are aligned to your needs.

Further Information

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

Essential Energy launched our Level 1 ASP Authorisation Agreement on 5 February 2020. Thank you to those ASPs who have submitted applications.

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues and necessary restrictions are in place to minimise its spread, we want to ensure the wellbeing of our ASP partners. As such, we are deferring the due date for entering into the Level 1 ASP Authorisation Agreement from 1 September 2020 to 1 December 2020.

We are planning on sending each Level 1 company / entity authorised to work on our network an email with the Level 1 Authorisation Agreement, application for Authorisation and the bank guarantee value in August/September 2020.

What do you need to do?

Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further information

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

What is happening?

The Electrical Safety Office (ESO) has completed a minor review and update of CEOP8030 Electrical Safety Rules that is now available on Essential Energy’s Document Library as Issue 17. Details of the changes are listed in the revisions section of the document.

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 changing?

Essential Energy is committed to continually improving our services to Accredited Service Providers (ASPs). As part of these improvements, under our BetterConnect Program, we will be changing the way we provide Design Information.

If you require a map of Essential Energy’s network for planning purposes relating to new a network extension or a network alteration, you can request this through Essential Energy’s website – Request Overhead Electricity Map.

If you require any additional network information, please submit a Constable Work Design Information Application (CEOF6010) to contestableworks@essentialenergy.com.au and a Design Information Pack will be provided.

From 1 May 2020 Essential Energy’s Technical Enquiries team will be focusing on processing LV connection applications and providing technical advice to customers.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the above and follow the process for Design Information Requests
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?

From 1 July 2019, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) introduced new regulatory charges for Ancillary Network Services. As an Accredited Service Provider (ASP), Authorised Person (AUP) or Electrical Contractor (EC), you would be aware of the current Ancillary Network Services charges applicable to services you provide to your customers.

Effective 1 July 2020, there will be a price increase of approximately 2.6 per cent on all Ancillary Network Services.

You can read more about Essential Energy’s draft pricing for Ancillary Network on our website at: Essential Energy > Our Network > Network Pricing and Regulatory report > Network Pricing. Additional information will be made available once the 2020-21 pricing schedules have been finalised and approved by the AER.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the 2020-21 ‘draft’ Pricing Schedules for Ancillary Network Services available on the Essential Energy website
2. Accredited Service Providers, Authorised Persons and Electrical Contractors should consider pricing changes when preparing quotations for customers regarding future work
3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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