Level 2 ASPs

Basic Connections Information sessions and help available:

We’re working to improve Essential Connections for you.

• We have added a ‘Submit Intent to Connect’ button to completed Application Cases to make this even faster. The button is underneath the Application Case details.
• Click the button to launch the Intent to Connect form.
• You will not need to enter the ECN or Application case number when you launch an ITC from the Application case.

Coming soon: We are changing permissions to allow company admins to submit Intents to Connect (ITCs) for work completed by their company.

This week’s information & help zoom sessions.

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

Links to Video guides and step-by-step guides for all key basic connections activities in Essential Connections 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.
4. View this and past communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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

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Reminder! Secure Web Forms closes for CCEWs and NOSWs at 5pm on Monday 3 July 2023.

Submission of CCEWs and NOSWs is fee-free in Essential Connections until 5pm Monday 3 July 2023.

• You will need to submit an Intent to Connect before you can submit a CCEW/NOSW, where there is a Connection Application offer.

What’s going on? My past cases have a status of “Pending ITC” (Intent to Connect)

When basic connections came into Essential Connections, the status of past applications changed to ‘Pending ITC’. This is the system working as expected but because it does not link back to Secure Web Forms, it does not recognise that any CCEWs or NOSWs have already been submitted.

If you have already submitted CCEWs and or NOSWs for past applications, you don’t need to do anything. We will apply a fix in the background to rectify this soon.

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

Links to Video guides and step-by-step guides for all key basic connections activities in Essential Connections 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.
4. View this and past communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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

Basic Connections is now live in Essential Connections. Here's what's available to help you.

Basic Connections video guides and step-by-step guides.

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

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

At our recent forums, you asked for a session on what is changing in version 9 of CEOP2015 – Contestable Works Guidelines, due to be published on 1 July 2023.

We’re offering an optional session on 22 June 2023 from 10.30am – 12.00 noon.

If you would like to attend, you can click below to register, enter your details and add the invitation to your calendar:

Register Here

What do you need to do?

1. Click on ‘Register now’ and add your details to attend the information session.
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.

What is Happening?

In preparation for basic connections coming into Essential Connections from 19 June 2023, there will be the following system outages:

1. 5 pm Thursday 15 June 2023 to 7am Friday 16 June 2023.
2. 5 pm Friday 16 June 2023 to 7am Monday 19 June 2023.

Essential Connections will not be available during these outage times.

Good news!

• Essential Connections portal passwords will now last 1 year/ 365 days before needing to be changed.
• You will receive a reminder 5 days before your password expires.
• This change is effective immediately and the 365 days applies from your last password change.

What do you need to do?

1. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
2. View this communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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

Please note: ESSENTIAL CONNECTIONS – SYSTEM OUTAGES

In preparation for basic connections coming into Essential Connections from 19 June 2023, there will be the following system outages:

1. 5 pm Thursday 15 June 2023 to 7am Friday 16 June 2023.
2. 5 pm Friday 16 June 2023 to 7am Monday 19 June 2023.

Essential Connections will not be available during these outage times.

Basic connections is coming into Essential Connections from 19 June 2023.

Basic Connections video guides.

Video guides for all key basic connections activities in Essential Connections are below. Next week, we will publish the step-by-step guides.

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

The go live date for basic connections coming into Essential Connections is 19 June 2023.

To encourage you to quickly switch across, there will be no fees for CCEWs and NOSWs submitted in Essential Connections from 19 June to 3 July. (Don’t forget, you need to submit the Intent to Connect first).

Secure Web Forms will be closed from 4 July for CCEW & NOSW submissions.

• Previous forms will still be accessible.
• Request for Service Work (ROSW) and Requisition for supply of Frequency Injection Relays (FIRs) will continue to be submitted through Secure Web Forms.

CCEWs and NOSWs will need to be submitted by the authorised/ licenced installer who tested the installation works.

You will need to be individually registered to use the portal.

• Please activate your account if you received a Welcome email from OKTA, Essential Energy’s security platform.
• Please go to Essential Connections Registration and register if you are a new user.

Intent to Connect is new. It’s the bridge between approved applications and service and/or electrical works. It will be submitted by the authorised Level 2 ASP or licenced Electrical Contractor doing the works.

Please note that customers will receive some notifications from now on so it will be important to enter customer details correctly.

Protection Settings Requests and Request for a Switchboard Review >100amps will be done in Essential Connections.

Non-standard approvals (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 (SIRs)) will be submitted in Essential Connections. A fee, approved under the Regulatory Framework, will apply to non-standard approvals from 19 June 2023.

Need help? Here’s what’s available.

Self-help resources:

We will share all the links next week.

• Short videos for every activity/ form.
• Step-by-step guides.

Drop-in sessions.

We will hold information and help sessions from 13 June until late July, at 7:30am, 12 noon and 5pm. You can join a session and ask questions and get help. We will share the schedule for this next week.

Essential Energy Contact Centre.

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

Payment options.

Fees are still required to be paid upfront but there are two options:

1. The person submitting the CCEW and/ or NOSW can pay using a credit card at the time of submission.
2. The person submitting the CCEW and/ or NOSW can exit the form once they reach the payment page and have the payment made by a company administration/office employee, or by an employee of a different business, using the payment reference number found on the invoice (beginning with ‘EEI-‘). The person paying the invoice does not need to be a registered user of Essential Connections to make this payment. The case will remain in a status of ‘Draft’ and is not considered submitted until payment is made. The invoice can be found within the relevant case. The process for making a payment using this method can be found at Essential Connections Support

What do you need to do?

1. Re-read previous information to ensure you’re as ready as possible.
2. Ensure you are registered to use Essential Connections Registration.
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.

Here’s our latest action and information update about basic connections coming into Essential Connections Portal.

The go live date for basic connections coming into Essential Connections Portal is 19 June 2023, pending no technical challenges.

Secure Web Forms (SWF) will remain open for Certificate Compliance Electrical Works (CCEW) and/or Notification of Service Work (NOSW) 19 June 2023 - 3 July 2023 following Go-Live to give you time to submit your ITC for works beyond the end of June 2023.

But please note: To encourage you to quickly switch across to Essential Connections, there will be no fees for CCEWs and NOSWs submitted in Essential Connections Portal for the first 2 weeks. (Don’t forget, you need to submit the ITC first if the works relate to an approved connection offer).

How you’ll transition these and other basic activities from Secure Web Forms (SWF) and emails into Essential Connections Portal is set out below.

If you are doing service or electrical works between 19 June 2023 and 3 July 2023.

Works where no connection offer required.

• Complete the works submit CCEW and/or NOSW in Essential Connections Portal, Select CCEW / NOSW for ‘works where no Connection Application Required’.

Connection offer received.

• Submit Intent To Connect (ITC) for all upcoming works in the Essential Connections Portal and submit CCEW and/or NOSW in the Essential Connections Portal. There will be no fees for CCEWs and NOSWs submitted in the Essential Connections from 19 June to 3 July.
• You will need the Application case number and Essential Connections Number (ECN) to submit the ITC.
• If you did not submit the application, please ask your customer for those details (Application case number and ECN).
• Alternatively, during the period of 19 June 2023 and 3 July 2023, you can still submit CCEW and/or NOSW in Secure Web Forms (SWF). Fees still apply.

From July 4, Secure Web Forms will be switched off for CCEWs and NOSWs.

Will be read-only for access to previous records. All CCEWs and NOSWs will need to be submitted in Essential Connections Portal from 4 July.

You will need to:

1. Submit the Intent to Connect (ITC).
2. Complete other pre-installation checks if required e.g., Protection Settings & Switchboard Review Requests (switchboards >100amps) Non-Standard Approval Request.
3. Complete the works and submit CCEW and /or NOSW.

For defect rectification (including safety and private asset defects)

If your CCEW and / or NOSW was submitted in Secure Web Forms:

• During the period of 19 June 2023 and 3 July 2023 please re-submit CCEW/ NOSW in Secure Web Forms.
• After July 3, 2023, please complete and return paper copies to eir.info@essentialenergy.com.au. We will provide additional communications after Go-Live on 19 June 2023 on where to find a copy of the CCEW form to be completed.

If your CCEW and / or NOSW was submitted in Essential Connections Portal, please re-submit in Essential Connections Portal (select appropriate defect category).

NOTE:

For applications submitted in the old NECF portal (these projects have a 6-digit connection offer number as opposed to the ‘ECN-xxxxxx’ format connection offer in Essential Connections), please contact 13 23 91 and provide us the details of the NECF connection offer and we will advise you of your next steps.

What do you need to do?

1. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
2. View this and past communication via Essential Engagement.

Further Information

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

The go live date for basic connections coming into Essential Connections Portal is 19 June 2023, pending no technical challenges.

From 19 June, Protection Settings Requests for Switchboards, Switchboard Review Requests and basic Non-Standard Approval requests will be managed in Essential Connections.

You will need to complete these where relevant before you can undertake works and submit a Certificate Compliance Electrical Works (CCEW) and / or Notification of Service Work (NOSW) via Essential Connections Portal.

Here's what to do:

I need to get Protections Settings for a Switchboard >100amps.

• Submit a Protection Setting Request for Switchboards via Essential Connections Portal.
• You will need the Essential Connections Number (ECN) and Application case number.
• If you did not submit the application, please ask your customer for those details.
• For applications submitted in the old NECF portal, please contact 13 20 80 and ask for your reference numbers so you can submit the Protection Setting Request.

I need to submit a Switchboard Review Request.

• Submit a Switchboard Review Request via Essential Connections Portal.
• You need approved Protections Settings before you can submit a Switchboard Review Request. You will need the ECN and Protection Setting Case Number to submit this form.
• All Switchboard review requests that have been submitted via email before 19 June will be processed by email. No new submissions will be accepted in the mailbox from 19 June.

I am planning works that vary from design and construction standards and the rules. I need to submit a Non-Standard Approval Request.

• Submit a Non-Standard Approval Request via Essential Connections Portal.
• You will need the Application reference numbers to submit the Non-Standard Approval (NSA). If you did not submit the application, please ask the customer for those details (Application number and ECN).
• For applications submitted in the old NECF portal, please contact 13 20 80 and ask for your reference numbers so you can submit the ITC.

Clarifying requirements for like-for like switchboard replacements >100amps: Connection application required.

Connection applications are required for replacements of any switchboards over 100amps.

This requirement aims to resolve confusion around this topic. For example, in the past some contractors / ASPs requesting switchboard reviews have found that they need to submit a connection application before they can have their switchboard reviewed due to the potential impacts of changes to electrical protection or earthing even where there is no load change.

To ensure all >100amp switchboard replacements are properly assessed as to their potential impact on our network, we will be requiring a connection application for all replacements of switchboards over 100amps. This change will come into immediate effect.

What do you need to do?

1. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
2. View all communications via Essential Engagement

Further Information

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