Level 3 ASPs

Background

On 15 July 2020 Essential Energy shared a communication advising that to ensure project compliance a surveyor’s letter would need to be provided for projects that include easements and/or allocations. After feedback from ASPs we would like to provide some additional information.

Below are the conditions for when a surveyor’s letter is required and when it is not.

Projects affected by easements:

When installing new network infrastructure you are required to submit a surveyor’s letter as part of the project completion documentation. The newly installed network should be centered within the easement.

If you are replacing like for like and/or additional construction on the network, with no variation or addition to existing network, or network installed prior to 26 May 2006 a surveyor’s letter is not required. Please Note: Depending on the type of work undertaken an easement may need to be created.

Projects affected by allocation zones (Council public road reserves):

All new network infrastructure installed within the allocation zone classified as council public road reserves require a surveyor’s letter supplied as part of your completion documentation.

Like for like network infrastructure replacements at the same location and additional construction of new network that is constructed in line and without deviation to the existing network does not require a surveyor’s letter.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the above and ensure that these requirements are met.
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 stockmost

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.

We recently conducted a review of our non-conformance process and identified several areas where the process could be strengthened. Following consultation with our Accredited Service Provider (ASP) focus group, we will be releasing the revised process on 1 October 2020.

There are two main areas of change:

• introduction of a non-conformance rectification plan and related timeframes, and
• introduction of an appeal process for ASPs to challenge non-conformances.

Non-conformance rectification plan

Our primary concern is to ensure network safety and integrity. To facilitate timely response, ASPs are to provide Essential Energy with a rectification plan within 7 days of a non-conformance notice being issued. Rectification plans for Major non-conformances must be provided within 48 hours. The plan should detail when and how the non-conformances will be resolved, and be e-mailed to the Network Assurance Facilitator in charge of the project with the subject line ‘Non-conformance rectification plan – project number’.

Non-conformances identified on projects not yet energised must be rectified within 30 days to secure network safety and reliability. Projects that are energised must have a CEOF6013 outage request form supplied as part of the paperwork.

Please note that, if the rectification plan and the supporting documentation are not supplied within the required timeframe, Essential Energy may undertake rectification at the expense of the Level 1 ASP responsible for the non-conformance.

An example of a rectification plan is available on the Document Library as a PDF form.

ASP appeals process

We recognise that there can be a level of subjectivity and inconsistency in determining non-conformances. To enable ASPs to challenge non-conformances, we are introducing a formal appeals process (which will be available in the next version of CEOP2015).

To dispute a non-conformance, please detail the facts upon which the appeal is based and attach any relevant information or supporting evidence with your appeal. Appeals should be sent to contestableworks@essentialenergy.com.au, with the subject line ‘Non-conformance appeal – project number’.

An appeals panel will meet weekly to review appeals in a timely manner, within 48 hours of your submission we will provide you with the date of the next meeting, requesting additional information, when required, or confirming that the appropriate evidence has been provided to review the appeal

CEOF6013 Request for Planned Outage, Connection or Work Live LV has been updated with an option for Non-Conformance Rectification (Access to Network).

If you have any questions or require assistance in relation to any aspect of our non-conformance process, please contact your local Network Assurance Facilitator.

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.

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.

Essential Energy has made improvements to Power Lines Pro to enhance the user experience for those Accredited Service Providers (ASPs) utilising it.

A technical update is available on Essential Engagement under Digital Asset Management, outline four additions being added to Power Lines Pro at 5pm on Wednesday 23 September 2020.

• Automation of ambient temperature for each span
• Pole mapping
• Conductor mapping
• Warning reports.

We have also developed a how to guide on Foundations to further support you.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the above documentation available on Essential Engagement under Digital Asset Management.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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 Freight 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.

Update – Installation of Spare Conduits in New Installations

On 18 June 2020, Construction New 20-03 Installation of Spare Conduits in New Installations was released.

After receiving feedback, Essential Energy has amended underground drawings CEOM7201.02 and CEOM7201.11 to clarify that installation of 25-50mm² supply cables is permitted in 50mm HD orange conduit. Any spare conduit that is required to be run with the supply cable must be a minimum of 125mm orange conduit.

Please refer to the drawings for conduit part numbers for the installation type.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the Construction New 20-03 Installation of Spare Conduits in New Installations, available 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.

Following Essential Energy’s recent series of online training modules on Power Lines Pro and 3D modelling, our training materials are now available on Essential Engagement for you and your colleagues to access.

Training Material

The following training material is now available on Essential Engagement under Digital Asset Management:

• How to Guides for Modules 2 & 3
• Example .Power Files
• Power Lines Pro One Pager Information Sheet
• Frequently asked Questions and Answers Q&As
• Recorded training sessions (will also be added in the future).

Requesting Training Feedback

Please click on Essential Energy Training Survey Feedback to complete a short survey. It will only take a few minutes and will provide us with valuable information to help us create the content you want in the future.

Access to Essential Energy’s 3D model

If you haven’t already submitted your request to access our 3D model, construction libraries and LiDAR data please complete the access form which is available on Essential Engagement under Digital Asset Management and email the completed form to aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au by close of business Friday 14 August 2020. Once we receive your request it will be processed as soon as possible.

Future training – online sessions

To further support you with Power Lines Pro and our 3D model, drop-in zoom sessions will be held between the 18 – 20 August 2020. There will be no agenda for these sessions as they are aimed at supporting the ASPs who attended the training and who would like to ask further questions. Invites will be sent out shortly via email.

What do you need to do?

1. Click on Essential Energy Training Survey Feedback to complete the feedback survey.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. You may also wish to take advantage of a free trial and browse the support files at the Powerlines Pro website – if so, please sign up using the same email address as your Okta account.

Further Information

Further information on Power Lines Pro and the 3D Model can be found on Essential Engagement, under Digital Asset Management.

Visit the Power Lines Pro website - especially their support pages, for further information, FAQs, tutorials, troubleshooting and access to the community forums at: https://www.powerlinespro.freshdesk.com/support/home.

Additional resources newly available from Power Lines Pro are listed below, with relevant links.

• Sidewalk stay forum
• Customising your layout
• modelling with LiDAR

If you would like to ask anything or require further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

LV Drop Parameters

Following changes to requirements for underground LV distribution cable installation and requests for review from software users, Essential Energy has reviewed LV drop parameters and reduced the confidence factor. The value is now 2 for all fields. We anticipate that the software will be updated and provided to all users. In the meantime, please manually adjust the values.

Additionally, from 24 August 2020 Essential Energy requires the LV drop model file to be included with all submissions – further details are in the LV Drop Parameter document.

Update to CEOM7001

CEOM7001 ground clearance requirements has been updated to include conductor minimum ground clearance and thermal rating. For overhead conductors being modelled within a construction plan, the overhead conductor schedule needs to reference:

• Minimum Design Ground Clearance @ Maximum Operating Temperature

This can be taken from the overhead design manual (CEOP7097).

From 24 August 2020, please submit overhead conductor schedule and construction plans with this new requirement – further details are in the LV Drop Parameter document.

What do you need to do?

1. Review full details of the above two changes in the LV Drop Parameter document which can be found on Essential Engagement’s Level 3 ASP page under Information and on the Document Library.
2. From 24 August 2020, commence sending the requested information to Essential Energy.
3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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