Procedure for bypassing flood-impacted meters and Frequency Injection Relays

Procedure for bypassing flood-impacted meters and Frequency Injection Relays

All meters and Frequency Injection Relays (FIRs) that have been submerged in water must be bypassed prior to re-energisation. This includes General Supply, Controlled Load Meters and Controlled Load Supply.

Please follow the procedure below to safely bypass meters and Frequency Injection Relays (FIRs) that have been impacted by the 2022 NSW floods. If a situation arises where you are unsure how you should proceed, stop, and call Essential Energy for assistance (see Essential Energy contacts listed on page 4).

Before commencing a bypass

Safety – At all times consider your own and the customer’s safety when bypassing meters. Ensure you have isolated all incoming supplies – even if the network is de-energised – and follow your own safety management systems and safe work methods. No electrical equipment should be assumed to be de-energised after disconnection or isolation. ALWAYS TEST PRIOR TO TOUCHING.

Types of meters – This guide applies to types 4, 5 & 6, whole current meters, and FIRs only. Current Transformer (CT) metering is excluded. Please contact Essential Energy for CT metering.

Assessing the situation – There are many different meter wiring configurations. Carefully check wiring before disconnecting meters. Ensure that you understand the wiring configuration. If you are unsure, call the Essential Energy contacts listed on page 4 to assist you.

A fuse or circuit breaker must never be bypassed. If an SPD or MPD has been damaged, it must be replaced before the meter can be bypassed and the installation re-energised. Do not use solid service fuse elements when reconnecting customers at the SPD/MPD. Essential Energy service mains are not fused at the pole top.

Meter Neutrals - In some installations you may find the main neutral terminates in the meter terminal and there is no Service Neutral Link. This neutral may daisy-chain to other meters, or there may be two or more neutral cables joined together in a meter terminal to supply a neutral to other meters, FIRs or timeclocks. The approved methods noted below can be used to join two or more neutrals together.

Neutral integrity – An open circuit in a neutral can lead to electrocution. If you are not sure of what you need to do, call the contacts listed on page 4 and ask for assistance.

IMPORTANT: Solar systems must be completely isolated if any component has been submerged or damaged. Care must be taken when isolating at the DC isolators, which may still be live, and isolation taken at the rooftop isolator first.

Use one of the following methods to bypass a meter

Method 1 – Insulated 2 screw connector may be used to join 2 or 3 cables together to get domestic and hot water working if there is room behind the board/panel. These will accommodate 2 x 35mm² cables and will not damage the cable as much as an HSC.

Method 2 – House Service Connector (HSC). In situations where the cables cannot be moved into the same terminal and you do not have any insulated 2 screw connectors, a HSC can be used to connect the cable behind the meter panel if there is room.

Method 3 – 4-way underground connector may be used to join 3 or 4 cables together to restore domestic and hot water supply if there is enough room behind the board/panel.

Bypassing Frequency Injection Relays (FIRs)

Remove 4mm or 6mm line side active from 40A single phase relay switch and load side active and twist together and connect with suitably rated single screw BP connector rated at least 20Amps. Put both lower and upper covers back on receiver so no wiring is exposed.

Normal wiring

Bypassed

Advanced multi-element meters

Most retailer-owned meters have more than one element available and may measure general rate, hot water, and solar export in the same meter. If you are unsure of the wiring configuration, do not bypass and call for assistance.

DO NOT USE:

• Line taps and tape. A line tap must not be used to join cables to bypass a meter.
• An IPC used for OH connections must not be used to join cables to bypass a meter.

Labelling switch boards

After bypassing meters and testing the premises, please label the meter and FIR ‘Bypassed’. Isolate and remove load side of CB/RCBO/fuse, install a connector and danger tag or tape any isolated circuits as shown below.

Recording bypassed meters and FIRs

Please record bypass information to ensure Essential Energy has the necessary information to arrange meter and FIR replacement. Once bypasses have been completed and the premises has been thoroughly checked and tested as safe to be energised as per normal procedures:

• Submit a CCEW via Essential Energy’s Secure Web Form (SWF) portal.
• For consistency and clarity, in the Switchboard Particulars field make the following notes:
  • For sites with meters only note ‘ALL METERS BYPASSED’
  • For sites with meters and an FIR note ‘ALL METERs AND FIR BYPASSED’

Re-energisation by Level 2 ASPs following meter and FIR bypasses

When re-energising a premises with flood-impacted meters and FIRs:

1. Ensure that meters and FIRs have been bypassed in accordance with these instructions.
2. Confirm that a CCEW has been submitted and the customer’s electrical system has been thoroughly checked and tested as safe to be energised.
3. Submit a Notification of Service Work (NOSW) through SWF. For consistency and clarity, in the ‘Comments’ field in Section E make the following note:
   1. For sites with meters only note ‘ALL METERS BYPASSED’
   2. For sites with meters and an FIR note ‘ALL METERs AND FIR BYPASSED’

Essential Energy contacts

Please contact Essential Energy contacts for assistance, CT metering and FIR enquiries

• Lismore Hub - Rob Nash, 0437 927 163
• Ballina/Coraki Hub – Billy Holm, 0427 441 556
• Woodburn Hub – Mark Williams, 0408 639 488
• North Coast Regional Coordinator – Darren Butler, 0427 414 068
• Network Assurance Manager – Kevin Miller, 0407 784 701
• Essential Energy General Enquiries – 13 23 91 https://www.essentialenergy.com.au/our-network/floods/flood-reconnecting

What do you need to do?

1. Review the above information and refer to the ASP & Electrical Contractor Briefing.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. View this communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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