What is Happening?

Essential Energy’s November ASP engagement forums will be held via Zoom. In this round, we’ll be covering a range of topics including:

• Safety
• Standards – Updates to the overhead and underground manuals, as well as Construction News and transitioning to composite poles
• Contestable Design – CEOM7001 Construction Plan Requirements, New Earthing Guide and tips for Neara
• Improvements to surveyor’s advice
• Updates to our easement policies
• Essential Connections –the platform, upcoming construction and commissioning roll out, next steps for CEOP2015 Terms and Conditions for Contestable Works (Guidelines) and process changes.

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

Dates and Times

A confirmation email will be sent to you with the Zoom meeting link once you have registered.

What do you need to do?

1. Select the session time above that suits you and 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.

What is Happening?

Essential Energy recognises the importance of incorporating management strategies crucial to mitigating the risk and impact of bush fire on the community and ensures that the effects of its work activities on bushfires are minimised and comply with the relevant legislation.

In response to past bush fire events which resulted in a devastating loss of life and property, the NSW Government introduced legislative changes to ensure bushfire matters are considered in the development and maintenance processes within our industry. At present, all new development on bush fire prone land must comply with Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019 which sets out the basis for all bushfire planning and bushfire protection measures.

The spring 2023 bushfire outlook issued by the Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) emphasises the need for immediate community and business preparedness. Australia's climate has changed since last spring, with a transition to higher temperatures and lower rainfall predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology. This shift follows years of above average rainfall during La Nina seasons.

Be Prepared

Each of us should have a bushfire survival plan in place and be ready, even if the time never comes. Download the Hazards Near Me app and be notified when fires occur within your area.

There may be a requirement for Essential Energy to review and possibly suspend requested outages in certain situations if bushfires hazards are severe.

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 is no longer providing Accredited Service Providers (ASPs) with sealing pliers and seals.

ASPs can procure their own sealing equipment directly from suppliers. Consequently, Essential Energy will no longer be responsible for overseeing the supply of sealing equipment (which includes sealing pliers provided by Essential Energy and currently in the possession of ASPs).

What options do ASPs have?

For an ASP that has paid a security deposit for sealing pliers supplied by Essential Energy (pliers procured by HARCOR), Essential Energy requires the ASP to either:

Return those sealing pliers to Essential Energy before 30 June 2024, and Essential Energy will provide a refund* of the security deposit paid by the ASP in respect of those sealing pliers.

Sealing Plier Return Postal Address

Network Authorisations

Essential Energy

122 Queen Street Grafton NSW 2460

Please provide bank account details for security deposit refund.

OR

Advise Essential Energy that the ASP wishes to keep the Essential Energy supplied sealing pliers, and Essential Energy will retain the ASP’s security deposit as payment for the sealing pliers.

*For an ASP to receive a refund of their security deposit from Essential Energy, the sealing pliers must be returned to Essential Energy in a sound useable condition with all dies present (as per Essential Energy’s Operational Procedure: Electrical Inspection: Distribution and Maintenance of Sealing Pliers and Security Seals (CEOP2031) can be downloaded from Essential Energy Document Library.

Any ASP who does not return their sealing pliers supplied by Essential Energy before June 30 2024 will forfeit their security deposit paid to Essential Energy, and the sealing pliers in the ASP’s possession will transfer to the ASP’s ownership and be at the ASPs risk.

What isn’t changing?

Please note that the requirement to seal components of an electrical installation remain unchanged, and ASPs need to ensure the sealing of installations are compliant as per the relevant rules and regulations (including ensuring sealing equipment is of quality and die numbers are clearly visible on the seal). Essential Energy will continue to record sealing plier numbers (of the sealing pliers ASPs own or use) as part of an ASP’s authorisation, and details of those sealing pliers are to be provided by the ASP on the appropriate authorisation form.

What do you need to do?

Please share this communication with relevant people in your organisation.

Further Information

For any assistance or enquires regarding this new process please contact the network authorisations team via email authorisations@essentialenergy.com.au.

What is Happening?

To minimise the disruption to customers during the Christmas / New Year period, no planned interruptions with a customer impact will be scheduled from 18 December 2023 to the 1 January 2024 and will resume on 2 January 2024.  

We will have limited resources to undertake Contestable Works during the same period with business resuming as normal from 2 January 2024.  Essential Connections will still be available for submissions; however, limited resources will be available to process requests.

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 aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

What is Happening?

Essential Energy has listened to feedback from ASPs and EC and has created a Submit button for applications with a ‘Draft’ status.

You can now resume, complete, and submit draft applications by clicking on the new Submit button.

If you continue to experience any issues, please contact aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

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?

On the 5 September 2023 Essential Energy communicated that we would be transitioning from physical identification cards to a fully Digital ID solution.

We are now communicating to you to announce the solution will be implemented and going live on the 4 October 2023 from 10am.

The Digital ID solution will enable individuals to authenticate their identity online without the time and effort required to physically collect, handle, and store important documents. Once verified, this will allow Essential Energy to issue individual Digital ID’s more efficiently and securely.

The solution is a 3-part application:

1. IdentityONE – solution for issuing digital IDs.
2. CaptureME – integrates with IdentityONE where users will upload their photo id and verification documents.
3. IDmobile – installed on your smartphone, providing a digital version of your traditional card.

What to except

• From 4 October 2023, Essential Energy will issue individuals with a One Time Password and instructions to self-enrol in in the Digital ID using CaptureMe. The email will be sent from: idmodle.support@uniocard.com.au. As of Monday 9th October they will start coming from captureme@essentialenergy.com.au.
• On receipt, individuals are to follow the instructions on how to upload individual identification and photo and submit the request.
• Essential Energy will action the request and issue an email with instructions on how to install IDmobile App and the Digital ID.
• Individuals will need to download ID mobile app onto their device and access their digital credentials.
• Once you have your Digital ID, existing physical cards are to be returned to Essential Energy Security, PO Box 5730, PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444 for secure destruction.

We understand that transitioning to the new system will require adjustments and we appreciate your support and cooperation during this process. We believe the new solution will significantly enhance Essential Energy’s ability to manage authorisation when working on or near Essential Energy's network.

Privacy

• Essential Energy is mandated to meet strict compliance requirements to protect users’ privacy and security, and control against fraud.
• All information and data collected by Essential Energy is classified as ‘Protected Data’. All protected data will be stored on IT infrastructure that is physically located in Australia. The data is only accessible from within Australia, by authorised personnel, and will not be exported outside Australia. The Digital ID solution meets Australian legislation requirements for data storage and Essential Energy own the IdentityONE Server. Users' personal information is not held by identityONE.
• Once verified, all identity documents are disposed of securely by Essential Energy and in accordance with Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998.
• For more information, refer to the Essential Energy Privacy Policy.

What do you need to do?

1. Expect an email from idmodle.support@uniocard.com.au. As of Monday 9 October they will start coming from captureme@essentialenergy.com.au.
2. A ‘How to guide’, Digital Identification User Guide is available to assist you with transitioning to the new way of doing business.
3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

If you need further information, please email Essential Energy Security at eesecurity@essentialenergy.com.au.

What is happening?

On the 5 September 2023 Essential Energy communicated that we would be transitioning from physical identification cards to a fully Digital ID solution.

We are now communicating to you to announce the solution will be implemented and going live on the 4 October 2023 from 10am.

The Digital ID solution will enable individuals to authenticate their identity online without the time and effort required to physically collect, handle, and store important documents. Once verified, this will allow Essential Energy to issue individual Digital ID’s more efficiently and securely.

The solution is a 3-part application:

1. IdentityONE – solution for issuing digital IDs.
2. CaptureME – integrates with IdentityONE where users will upload their photo id and verification documents.
3. IDmobile – installed on your smartphone, providing a digital version of your traditional card.

What to except

• From 4 October 2023, Essential Energy will issue individuals with a One Time Password and instructions to self-enrol in in the Digital ID using CaptureMe. The email will be sent from: captureme@essentialenergy.com.au.
• On receipt, individuals are to follow the instructions on how to upload individual identification and photo and submit the request.
• Essential Energy will action the request and issue an email with instructions on how to install IDmobile App and the Digital ID.
• Individuals will need to download ID mobile app onto their device and access their digital credentials.
• Once you have your Digital ID, existing physical cards are to be returned to Essential Energy Security, PO Box 5730, PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444 for secure destruction.

We understand that transitioning to the new system will require adjustments and we appreciate your support and cooperation during this process. We believe the new solution will significantly enhance Essential Energy’s ability to manage authorisation when working on or near Essential Energy's network.

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• Essential Energy is mandated to meet strict compliance requirements to protect users’ privacy and security, and control against fraud.
• All information and data collected by Essential Energy is classified as ‘Protected Data’. All protected data will be stored on IT infrastructure that is physically located in Australia. The data is only accessible from within Australia, by authorised personnel, and will not be exported outside Australia. The Digital ID solution meets Australian legislation requirements for data storage.
• For more information, refer to the Essential Energy Privacy Policy.

What do you need to do?

1. Expect an email from captureme@essentialenergy.com.au from 4 October 2023.
2. A ‘How to guide’, Digital Identification User Guide is available to assist you with transitioning to the new way of doing business.
3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

If you need further information, please email Essential Energy Security at eesecurity@essentialenergy.com.au.

Information and help zoom sessions.

Schedules information and help zoom sessions are below. You can register to join any session. Click the ‘Registered here’ link for the session that suits you. Tip! Save in your calendar or note done the joining details (Meeting ID and passcode).

Links to video guides and step-by-step guides for all key basic connections activities in Essential Connection are below.

More help options:

• Essential Energy Contact Centre Call 13 23 91 (General Enquiries).
• Contact aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

What do you need to do?

1. Please use the self-help materials.
2. Ensure you are registered to use Essential Connections Registration.
3. 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?

At Essential Energy, we look after the poles and wires that deliver electricity to 95 per cent of New South Wales and parts of southern Queensland. The electricity we deliver powers essential services such as hospitals and schools as well as the homes, businesses and services that form your community.

It is no surprise that in today’s environment, security is one of the major challenges faced by every organisation and community. At Essential Energy, we are enhancing our personnel, cyber and physical security by transitioning to Digital IDs.

The transition from physical identification and authorisation cards to a fully Digital ID solution is similar to the way NSW Government digital driver licences are issued.

Essential Energy Digital ID will enable an individual to authenticate their identity online without the time and effort required in physically collecting, handling, and storing your important documents. Once verified, this will allow Essential Energy to issue an individual a Digital ID and network authorisation more efficiently and securely.

Digital ID’s will provide positive benefits including:

• Simplify the way ‘Authorised Service Providers’ cards are issued by creating a unique and secure Digital ID credential that is downloaded to your mobile device.
• Digital IDs which can be used in real world environments wherever physical IDs are required, ensuring information is stored in a secure environment instead of on a physical card.
• Updates in real time. Individuals will not need to wait for a physical authorisation card to be issued - either at the initial application, to replace a lost card, or when there is a change in your details. This will make the process simpler, safer, and more secure.
• Digital ID will work and can be viewed even when there is no phone data coverage available.
• As opposed to a physical card, you can manage the security and access to your Digital ID by changing your PIN or password and enabling Face ID if your smart device has this feature.

What do you need to know?

Effective 30 September 2023, the process for individuals who require a ‘Authorised Service Providers card’ will be modified to enhance security and streamline processes.

The solution is compatible with all smartphone devices (iPhone, Android and HHU devices). Essential Energy is mandated to meet strict compliance requirements to protect users’ privacy and security, and control against fraud. For more information, refer to the Essential Energy Privacy Policy.

The solution is a 3 part application:

1. IdentityONE – solution for issuing digital IDs.
2. CaptureME – integrates with IdentityONE where users will upload their photo id and verification documents.
3. IDmobile – installed on your smartphone, providing a digital version of your traditional card.

Individuals will need to supply their personal email address, mobile number, and upload their proof of ID information (identification photo and verification document) via the online application CaptureME.

Next Steps:

Essential Energy will provide more information including training materials, FAQs, and user guides closer to go live date.

We kindly request you notify your contractors, employees and individuals contracted to do work on behalf of Essential Energy of this upcoming change.

We greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this transition. Thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring a reliable network for our customers and local communities.

What do you need to do?

1. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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

Notice of Arrangement (NoA) – August 2023

A Notice of Arrangement (NoA) confirms that a subdivision has adequate electrical infrastructure to:

• Supply electricity to every lot; and
• Provide public lighting (if applicable)

The process for applying for a NoA differs depending on whether your development is part of a contestable works project (i.e., has been given a standard connection offer and requires a Level 1 ASP to upgrade or extend the local network) or not. We are still transitioning across previous processes and systems so please review the options below and follow instructions for your scenario.

Regardless of the process for applying, several documents will be required to support your NoA request – please ensure these documents are included with your application to avoid any additional processing fees and delays:

• A copy of the final surveyors plans that will be submitted to the Land Registry Services (LRS) for registration of the subdivision. Please ensure it includes the surveyor’s reference number.
• A copy of the Council Notice of Determination
• A detailed drawing showing the point of attachment to Essential Energy’s network, service mains location, and the location of the metering / Master Switchboard (MSB) on the lot (mandatory for all new Strata and Community title developments, and Torrens title developments where there is an existing service main and MSB currently installed); and
• Copy of easement documents executed by Essential Energy (if applicable)

Please note: If your project is part of a contestable works project you will not be able to submit a NoA request until:

• The Certificate of Practical Completion has been issued to the Level 1 ASP (this is issued after construction has been completed, inspections undertaken, and all defects rectified); and
• If easements are required, all easement cases relating to the project are in a status of ‘Issued’ or ‘Completed’.

Easements - If you have an easement case in Essential Connections, you must reference your Easement Case number in your NOA Application.

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.