Getting ready for basic connection Changes.

Getting ready for basic connections: Ceasing forward drafts of CCEWs (Certificates of Compliance for Electrical Works) or NOSWs (Notices of Service Works) Switchboard review approach and Non-standard approval fee.

Here’s our latest action and information update.

Please don’t draft Certificates of Compliance for Electrical Works or Notices of Service Works in Secure Web Form for works after 20th June 2023.

Essential Connections will replace Secure Web Forms and emails for basic connections activities from mid 2023. This will include submission of CCEWs (Certificates of Compliance for Electrical Works) or NOSWs (Notices of Service Works).

Your action: With this in mind, please do not draft Certificates of Compliance for Electrical Works or Notices of Service Works in Secure Web Form for works that will be completed on or after 20th June 2023. These will not be copied across to Essential Connections and will result in you needing to redo them.

How will Switchboard Reviews be done?

Approval to connect new and upgraded electrical installations greater than 100 Amps is dependent on provision of main switchboard information as set out in the Service and Installation Rules of NSW (Section 4, 4.15 LV Services > 100 amps).

The switchboard review process involves two steps:

1. Protection Settings Request for Switchboards to be used in the design of the switchboard.
2. Request for a Switchboard Review.

Both of these steps will be undertaken in the Essential Connections Portal by a registered user.

You will not be able to submit a protection settings request unless you have an approved connection offer . In addition, you will not be able to submit a Certificates of Compliance for Electrical Works or Notices of Service Works until the Protections Settings Request and Switchboard Review are completed/ approved.

Closer to go live, we will share a short demonstration video and a step-by-step guide to show you how to submit protections settings requests and switchboard reviews. We will also cover what you need to do for a like-for-like replacements.

What’s new with non-standard approvals for basic connections: submission in Essential Connections and a new fee.

A non-standard approval is required where you seek to vary from our construction standards, the Australian / New Zealand wiring rules (AS/NZ 3000) and the NSW Service and Installation rules.

From mid 2023, basic non-standard approval will be done in the Essential Connections portal. Previously they were managed via email or phone. This will ensure a more consistent, timely response and visibility of all requests. Essential Energy will respond to a non-standard approval within 15 business days.

We are introducing a fee for basic non-standard approvals. Under the Regulatory Framework, Essential Energy is obliged to recover costs we incur during the connections process from the customers requiring the service – this includes the costs of assessing non-standard approval requests. We have been charging Level 3 ASPs this fee for several years and we are now extending this fee to cover L2 ASPs and ECs requests.

The non-standard design approval fee is an hourly rate. On average it takes approximately 30 mins to process a basic connection non-standard approval request. The fee has been approved by the Australian Energy Regulator following a thorough assessment of the costs involved in performing such services.

Closer to go live, we will share a short demonstration video and a step-by-step guide to show you how to submit a non-standard approval.

What do you need to do?

1. Please do not draft Certificates of Compliance for Electrical Works or Notices of Service Works in Secure Web Forms for works that will be completed on or after 20th June 2023.
2. Keep reading our emails about basic connections coming into Essential Connections.
3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
4. View this and past communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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