Level 1 ASPs

Background

Essential Energy is making changes to the approval process for all single phase urban domestic embedded generation connection applications. These changes will improve compliance and turn-around times and, where certain criteria are met, eliminate the need to manually sign and return connection offers.

What is changing?

Under the NSW Service and Installation Rules (section 8.6.8 – maximum phase imbalance requirements), all single phase urban domestic embedded generation systems connected to a three-phase network must be export-limited to 5kW.

To comply with this requirement, from 1 March 2021 all connection applications received for single phase embedded generation systems greater than 5kW and equal to or less than 10kW in an urban domestic area will be expedited and a connection offer will be provided with a 5kW export limit condition.

What do you need to do?

If you are installing a single phase embedded generation system in an urban domestic location, please ensure that all details within the application are completed correctly, including the premises type in section 2.0. A single line diagram will still be required within the application documents, together with a voltage rise calculation for any urban systems greater than 5kW.

Ensure that the connection offer provided by Essential Energy is thoroughly reviewed, and any site-specific conditions or export limits are understood prior to commencing the installation.

If you are installing a three phase embedded generation system and would like an assessment completed for export availability above 5kW, please deselect the ‘request to expedite’ option in section 5.0 of the application form and the application will be reviewed by Essential Energy’s connections team.

Please communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Questions and Answers

Q. What will happen if I forget to deselect the expedite button in section 5.0 of the application form for an urban domestic embedded generation site?

A. Your application will be processed and a 5kW export limit applied.

If your connection application is for a three phase embedded generation system and you would like an assessment completed for the export availability above 5kW, please resubmit the application and deselect the expedite option in section 5.0. The application will be reviewed by Essential Energy’s connections team.

Q. Will I receive a greater export capability if a premises is converted to three phase?

A. Three phase embedded generation systems will be reviewed by Essential Energy against the existing distribution network capacity. If an export greater than 5kW can be accommodated without distribution network augmentation, details will be provided in the connection offer. In some cases, 5kW is the maximum export available at premises regardless of the number of phases specified. A connection application must be submitted to initiate the review process.

Q. How can I confirm if a customer’s premises is urban or rural?

A. Land zoning information can be confirmed using the NSW planning portal by click on the link https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/spatialviewer/#/find-a-property/address.

Q. I have received a connection offer with a 5kW export limitation. What does this mean?

A. The total solar export for this premises, including all combined connected solar systems must be export limited to 5 kW. If a connection offer relates to a three-phase system, 5kW is the total export at site balanced across 3 phases (e.g. 1.67kW per phase).

Q. What if I am installing a single phase embedded generation system greater than 5kW and equal to or less than 10kW system within an urban domestic embedded network (e.g. townhouse complex, lifestyle village)?

A. The application must include details of all the embedded generating systems within the embedded network connected to the same low voltage connection point, and the voltage rise calculations with all generating systems. The application will be reviewed by Essential Energy’s connection team, with consideration given to all existing and proposed generation at the connection point.

Further Information

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

Background

Currently, Essential Energy allows Accredited Service Providers (ASPs) to undertake ‘knowledge only’ refresher training as part of adapting to working under COVID-19.

What is changing?

From 1 December 2020, all ASPs who are due for annual Refresher re-assessment will be required to undertake the full Annual Refresher Assessments (knowledge and practical) appropriate to their ASP Level and requirements.

The list of providers below are endorsed to deliver Essential Energy’s Electrical Safety Rules (ESRs) training, and offer the majority of training undertaken by ASPs:

• CTC - 07 3216 6711 https://ctc.qld.edu.au/
• EnerSafe - 02 8602 2000 https://www.enersafe.com.au/
• TAFE NSW - 131 225 https//:www.tafensw.edu.au/asp
• IAC Safety Services - 1300 887 317 https://www.iacsafetyservices.com.au/
• Interlink - 1300 731 669 https://interlinktraining.com.au/
• Intuitive Training - 0405 103 690 https://intuitivetraining.com.au
• JB Hunter - 1800 672 933 https://www.jbhunter.edu.au/
• NECA Training - 02 9188 4424 https://skills@neca.asn.au
• Power Safety Training - 07 3288 8800 https://www.powersafetytraining.com.au
• Thomson Bridge 1300 15 66 85 https://www.thomsonbridge.com

Essential Energy will run Annual Fresher Assessments as a ‘provider of last resort’ only. This means we will be offering limited sessions in 2021, which will be published on our website in mid-December under training.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the above communication, information on the training page of our website and attend refresher training
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. View this communication via Essential Engagement at engage.essentialenergy.com.au/ASP

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.

Submissions made after 1 December 2020 will incur the relevant fees.

Authorisation accreditation pack

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

• your completed application for Authorisation CEOF2568.01
• your signed Level 1 Authorisation Agreement CEOF2568
• evidence of your accreditation with the Department
• copies of your certificates of currency, and
• the value of your bank guarantee.

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

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

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.

Bank guarantees

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 email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au 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.

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.

Essential Energy has recently undertaken reviews into several electrical safety related policy and procedures, Safety Brief 943 Recent Procedural updates, outlines the changes to CEOP2422 Safe Approach and CEOP2377 Equipotential and Personal Protective Bonding and is available on the Document Library and Essential Engagement/ASP.

What do you need to do?

1. Familiarise yourself with the procedural changes.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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

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.