Level 1 ASPs

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.

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.