Level 2 ASPs

What is happening?

The Essential Energy Connections virtual forum was held on 21 October 2026, here is a link to supporting slide deck.

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 has published a new Division Procedure: CEOP2499 Customer Installation Guidelines (Terms and Conditions for Customer Installations), providing Electrical Contractors, including solar installers, with a single source for customer installation and connection requirements on Essential Energy’s network.

It consolidates installation obligations, Consumer Energy Resources (CER), testing and commissioning requirements, support pathways and related guidance.

Industry stakeholders should use CEOP2499 Customer Installation Guidelines (Terms and Conditions for Customer Installations) alongside existing Essential Energy procedures when undertaking customer installation and connection activities.

Level 2 Accredited Service Providers (ASPs) should read CEOP2499 Customer Installation Guidelines (Terms and Conditions for Customer Installations) in conjunction with CEOP2015 Contestable Works Guidelines (Terms and Conditions for Contestable Works), as both procedures contain requirements relevant to customer connection and contestable works activities.

What do you need to do?

1. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
2. Review CEOP2499 Customer Installation Guidelines (Terms and Conditions for Customer Installations) on the Document Library and ensure affected personnel understand the requirements applicable to their work activities.
3. Review any associated support materials, guidance documents and support resources referenced throughout the procedure.

Further Information

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

Construction News Engineering

The latest issue of Essential Energy Construction News 26-13 - Changes to Neutral Terminal Bars for Substation Poles is now available, click here to view.

What do you need to do?

1. Please read and familiarise yourself with the content.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. View this communications via Essential Engagement under Construction News.

Further Information

If you need further information, please contact Brett Atkinson or James Baker via email.

Construction News Engineering

The latest issue of Essential Energy Construction News 26-12 - Low Voltage Switchboard Neutral Bar Extension for 750kVA, 1000kVA and 1500kVA Units is now available, click here to view.

What do you need to do?

1. Please read and familiarise yourself with the content.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. View this communications via Essential Engagement under Construction News.

Further Information

If you need further information, please contact Dave Shephard or Aaron Green via email.

What is Happening?

To minimise disruption to customers during the Christmas / New Year period, we would like to advise you of the following impacts to Essential Energy services:

• No planned outages with a customer impact will be scheduled from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
• Our Contestable Works office will have reduced staff from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. During this period, minimal Essential Connections cases, enquiries, emails and documentation will be processed, and limited asset labels will be issued.
• The Grafton and Wagga Wagga warehouses will be closed from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
  • Standard orders should be submitted by 12 November 2026.
  • Allow additional time for order processing, supplier lead times and warehouse operations due to reduced staffing and increased demand in December and January.

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 techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au.

Construction News Engineering

The latest issue of Essential Energy Construction News 26-11 - Discontinuation of Schneider Flair 21D Fault Indicator Relays is now available, click here to view.

What do you need to do?

1. Please read and familiarise yourself with the content.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. View this communications via Essential Engagement under Construction News.

Further Information

If you need further information, please contact Dave Shephard or Aaron Green via email.

What is happening?

From November 2026, solar businesses must use the NSW CER Installer Portal for new and upgraded rooftop solar and home battery installations. The Emergency Backstop Mechanism will also begin rolling out in selected NSW postcodes.

To help industry prepare, the NSW Government and NSW electricity networks will host a webinar on Wednesday 14 October 2026, from 4:30 pm to 5:15 pm. Click here to register.

What do you need to do?

1. Register for the webinar.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. Visit the DCCEWW website for more information.

Further Information

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

What is happening?

Essential Energy’s Biannual Connections forum will be held on Wednesday 21 October 2026 via Microsoft Teams. In this round, we’ll be covering a range of topics including:

• Safety – what are we seeing
• Network Assurance – what are we seeing and how you can help us
• Protection Settings and Switchboard Reviews
• Transition to composite poles
• Easements and crown land
• Contestable Network Solutions update
• Environmental Impact Assessment transition to easyeia
• Changes to Earthing reports and software
• Update on CEOM7001 – Construction Plan Requirements
• Public Lighting – nomination of road categories
• NSW CER Installer Portal and Backstop rollout
• Introducing CEOP2499 – Customer Installation Guidelines
• Scheme rules review update from the Department of Climate, Energy, the Environment and Water
• Ask us anything Q&A session

We encourage you to participate in this forum. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss our plans and initiatives, and to ask questions or raise issues with Essential Energy team members This includes time allocated for you to ask us anything.

To help us better respond to your questions on the day, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au with the topics or issues you would like addressed.

Note: this is a live session, and a recording will not be shared.

Registration

The forum will be held on Wednesday 21 October 2026 from 9.00 am to 12.00 noon – please click here to register.

What do you need to do?

1. Click on register to 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.

Construction News Engineering

The latest issue of Essential Energy Construction News 26-10 - Double Bolted Neutral Connectors is now available, click here to view.

What do you need to do?

1. Please read and familiarise yourself with the content.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. View this communications via Essential Engagement under Construction News.

Further Information

If you need further information, please contact Brett Atkinson or Andrew Pratt via email.

What is happening?

Essential Energy has updated two Model Standing Offers (MSOs) for immediate use. The revised documents are now available on Essential Energy’s website.

• CECP2582: Model Standing Offer for Basic Connection, effective 7 September 2026
• CECP2583: Model Standing Offer for Standard Connection, effective 7 September 2026
• Unchanged: CECP2584 Model Standing Offer for Standard Connection (Subdivision), effective 1 July 2024.

What do you need to do?

1. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
2. Review the updated MSOs on Essential Energy’s website.

Further Information

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