You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
On 15 May 2025, Essential Energy applied for a ring-fencing waiver to establish a training academy with hubs in Goulburn, Grafton, Orange, Parkes, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga and deliver contestable technical and safety training courses to the electricity industry.
The facility will aim to provide accredited training to future-proof internal workforce sustainability and, through commercial course offerings, address existing skills shortages and evolving training needs across the broader energy sector.
The waiver (from clauses 3.1(b), 4.2.1, 4.2.2 and 4.2.3 of the Ring-fencing Guideline (electricity distribution), would enable Essential Energy to offer two certificate IV courses from 2025 to meet current industry demand, ahead of establishing a full training academy by 2027.
Your input is welcomed
The AER will be interested to hear from third parties supporting the waiver on:
- Need for skilled workforce in regions for energy projects out to 2050 (project proponents)
- What is the current availability of training services in regions for energy projects and where lack of availability, what is the impact on project economics and delivery (project proponents) Benefits to projects and regional economic development of having regionally based workforce training (project proponents, regional councils-business community) in the short and longer-term
- Benefits to safety and overall workforce capability in underserved areas.
You can lodge your written submission through the AER website here - Initiation | Australian Energy Regulator (AER), via e-mail to AERringfencing@aer.gov.au.
Submissions must be lodged by close of business on 5 September 2025.
What do you need to do?
- Find further information, including the initiation notice, on the AER website, click here to view.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
Essential Energy will be hosting an opt-in support session for Level 2 ASPs and Electrical Contractors with questions relating to the Essential Connections Portal. The session will run for 1 hour – please drop in anytime, you can ask a quick question or stay as long as you choose.
The opt-in support session will be held on Wednesday 27 August 2025 from 8 am to 9 am - please click here to register.
What do you need to do?
- Ensure you are registered to attend the support sessions.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
On 22 July 2025, Essential Energy announced it had moved the timing for submission of Protection Settings and Switchboard Review requests to assist with lead times on standard connection projects. To further improve this process, we have also removed the requirement of an Intent to Connect (ITC) case being submitted prior to Protection Settings or Switchboard Review requests.
Key Changes:
- Any registered Essential Connections user can submit Protection Settings and Switchboard Review requests directly.
- There is no need for a Level 2 ASP or Electrical Contractor to first submit an ITC.
Submission Timing Remains Unchanged:
- Basic Connection Projects – After Connection Offer is issued.
- Standard Connection Projects – After Design Information Pack has been issued.
Compliance Item Completion:
- NOSW and CCEWs can only be submitted once all compliance items (Protection Settings and Switchboard Review) are completed.
- These must be submitted by a Level 2 ASP or Electrical Contractor.
- NOTE: It is the responsibility of the Connection Applicant (or their nominated representative) to ensure the engaged Level 2 ASP or Electrical Contractor are aware of all compliance items and any related site-specific conditions.
What do you need to do?
- Continue to submit your requests through the Essential Connections Portal.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
We are aware that some users have recently experienced issues with the IdentityONE app. Specifically, the app may not allow access to sites, and the Home Page may not display the usual information.
Please do not delete the app.
App needs to refresh. The solution is to swipe and force the app to fully close, then re-open, which will refresh the app. We recommend you try this option first.
- Click here to view how to swipe close an app on iPhone.
- Click here to view how to close an app on Android phone.
As a last check, try turning your phone off and back on.
Additionally, we have made the following improvements to the app:
- Users will no longer receive emails or notifications to approve or reject updated authorisations. This process is now automated.
- The IdentityONE app has adopted the new Essential Energy branding and colours.
Thank you for your attention and understanding.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email Essential Energy Security at eesecurity@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
The Essential Connection Information Session with Level 2 ASPs and Electrical Contractors was held on 30 July 2025. To view the slide deck, click here and the recording click here.
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.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
Essential Energy will be hosting an opt-in support session for Level 2 ASPs and Electrical Contractors with questions relating to the Essential Connections Portal. The session will run for 1 hour – please drop in anytime, you can ask a quick question or stay as long as you choose.
The opt-in support session will be held on Wednesday 27 August 2025 from 8 am to 9 am - please click here to register.
What do you need to do?
- Ensure you are registered to attend the support sessions.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
Essential Energy will be hosting opt-in support session for Level 2 ASPs and Electrical Contractors with questions relating to the Essential Connections Portal. The session will run for 1 hour – please drop in anytime, you can ask a quick question or stay as long as you choose.
The opt-in support session will be held on Wednesday 30 July at 8 am to 9 am - please click here to register.
What do you need to do?
- Ensure you are registered to attend the support sessions.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
Some individuals are experiencing issues with the IdentityONE app on their mobile devices preventing the usual information from being displayed on the Home Page, showing an orange screen requesting an invitation code instead.
There are two causes of this:
- App needs to refresh. The solution is to swipe and force the app to fully close, then re-open, which will refresh the app. We recommend you try this option first.
- Credential expired. Where a credential has expired, it will require support from your Essential Energy contract management team who will be able to assist.
The IdentityONE app is also transitioning to the new Essential Energy branding. The app will reflect the new branding for new users and for new credentials. Everyone else will have the old branding until the app is updated in due course. Further communication will be delivered at this point.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email eesecurity@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
Essential Energy has brought forward when you can request protection settings and switchboard review for a standard connection project. Starting today you can commence the switchboard review process after the Design Information Pack has been issued, and a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider or Electrical Contractor has submitted an Intent to Connect for the related connection project. This will allow you to request protection settings followed by a switchboard review in parallel with the Level 3 design work.
The following disclaimer has been added to the Essential Connection Intent to Connect process to ensure you understand the additional risk for requesting this earlier.
If design requirements for connection project works change between the date of this [submission / response] and the scheduled energisation, it is the responsibility of the Connection applicant or their representative to assess if new Protection Settings and Switchboard Compliance Review are needed. These requests must be initiated well before the planned energisation date to avoid delays or cancellation. Essential Energy will not be liable for any time or financial loss due to changes in the customer’s design requirements.
Thank you to the Accredited Service Providers and customers who provided feedback on the challenges being faced with switchboard lead times with hope this change assists your projects.
What do you need to do?
- Continue to submit your requests through the Essential Connection Portal.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
The Essential Connection Information Session with Level 2 ASPs and Electrical Contractors was held on 25 June 2025. To view the slide deck, click here and the recording click here.
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.
IS-041 Private pole failure during pole replacement work_ ASP (264 KB) (pdf)