Level 2 ASPs

What is happening?

To protect everyone’s health and safety, we’ll hold our next round of ASP engagement forums via Zoom, rather than face to face.

In this round, we’ll be covering a range of topics relevant to Level 1, 2 & 3 ASPs including connections, the Level 1 Agreement, CEOP2015, Standards and updates on BetterConnect and Power Lines Pro.

We encourage you to participate in these forums. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss our plans and initiatives, and to ask questions or raise issues with Essential Energy team members.

Dates and times

• Session 1: Wednesday, 4 November at 5.00pm
• Session 2: Thursday, 5 November at 12.30pm
• Session 3: Tuesday, 10 November at 5.00pm

All sessions will have the same content.

Please register your interest by emailing aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au with individual(s) email addresses and preferred session(s) by COB 30 October 2020.

Zoom details will be emailed directly to the participant two days prior to the to the event.

What do you need to do?

1. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
2. Attend the zoom session that suits you.

Further Information

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

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.

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.

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.

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 Fright 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.

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.

Essential Energy has retired form CEOF7633 Request for Sundry Invoice – Transformer Upgrade. The form is no longer available on the Document Library and will not be accepted by Essential Energy.

Customers who require a Transformer Upgrade to 25KVA from 16kVA for Lifestyle or other purposes will need to engage the appropriate level ASP and fund the augmentation works.

What do you need to do?

1. Destroy any printed copies and delete any saved copies you have of this form.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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

Essential Energy would like to share an Ausgrid Health and Safety Alert where an Ausgrid lineworker received an electric shock from an overhead streetlight conductor that was still ‘live’ within their work area.

The details of this incident are contained in the Ausgrid Health and Safety Alert that forms page 2 of Essential Energy’s Safety Brief which is available on the Document Library and on Essential Engagement/ASP.

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.

Background

During the investigation of an ASP incident it was highlighted that Essential Energy need to raise awareness of what the Yellow Tape around specific poles represents.

The use of Yellow PVC Tape was introduced into Essential Energy’s practices at the start of 2017 to help identify a “Danger Tag” placed on Essential Energy’s Network.

A specific reference to the use of the yellow tape can be found in Essential Energy’s Electrical Safety Rules CEOP8030 – section 4.13.

4.13 Danger Tagging

‘Danger - do not operate’ tags must be attached to the controls of operable electrical apparatus to warn persons against inadvertent or unauthorised operation (that would endanger the safety of persons or the reliability and quality of supply) unless attachment to the controls is impractical. In such instances danger tags must be attached in the next best locations to affect the warning.

Danger tags associated with poles shall be attached using high visibility yellow PVC tape. Multiple danger tags can be applied with a single tape.

Danger tags are also used to secure a customer’s installation in accordance with CEOP2018 – Polarity and Neutral Identification: Testing. ASP’s or CSP’s utilising an alternate industry standard may use alternate methods to secure a customer’s installation.

‘Danger - do not operate’ tags must only be installed, altered or removed by authorised persons.

‘Danger - do not operate’ tags must also be fitted to unserviceable equipment to warn against inadvertent energisation.

Persons shall not remove or alter in any way applied danger tags without consulting the System Operator or person who attached the danger tag.

What do you need to do?

1. Ensure you always look at the most recent version of the Electrical Safety Rules on the Document Library.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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