What is happening?

A new guideline for connection of multiple points of supply is now available on our Connections webpage. Click here to download a copy.

The new guideline outlines Essential Energy’s requirements and processes for multiple points of supply to a single Lot from our distribution network, clarifying when the arrangement may be allowed, the necessary documentation required and the steps to lodge a request or application.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the Multiple Points of Supply Guideline. Click here to download a copy.
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 consultation and collaboration with Accredited Service Providers and Electrical Contractors working on and around our network and have held regular Focus Group session since 2018. This year we are seeking volunteers to join the Focus Group for a 12 month period. This will include attending a one hour virtual session once a month, and if required attending workshops. If you would like to make a difference and be a voice for your peers, then we want to hear from you.

If you would like to express your interest in being part of the Connections Focus Group for 2025 please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au, the group will be limited to 20 people. The Terms of Reference can be found in the annexture of CEOP2015, Contestable Works Guidelines (Terms and Conditions for Contestable Works) available on the Document Library.

What do you need to do?

Express your interest in being part of the Connections Focus Group by email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

Further Information

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

What is happening?

Essential Energy understands that Level 3 ASPs can liaise with Level 1 ASPs to undertake the task of collecting network information from the field.

An authorised Level 1 ASP can carry out the measurements of overhead conductors via the use of a conductor measuring device and extendable insulated operating stick.

Before measuring any overhead conductor, the authorised ASP must contact Essential Energy to log on and log off the network.

Please note that the use of extendable insulated operating sticks in windy conditions should be avoided. Extreme care must be taken not to disturb conductors to reduce any risk of unplanned outages on the network.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the above with relevant staff, if unsure please submit a Request for safety advice.
2. The conductor measuring tool is available through The Energy Network (TEN) Group, click here to view.
3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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

Effective from 1 July 2024, customers who are connecting to our distribution network as part of a Contestable Works project must provide a Deed of Transfer to transfer gifted assets to Essential Energy.

This ensures proper execution and verification of legal documents necessary for the connection project. Detailed information including key dates and deadlines, steps to follow and important considerations are available in our Deed of Transfer Fact Sheet available on our Support page.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the information above and the Deed of Transfer Fact Sheet
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 changing?

We’ve reviewed Clause 3.5.7 of CEOM7097 Overhead Design Manual to make it more flexible. The use of CCT for new works in P1 bushfire zones is not mandatory and Essential Energy will give due consideration of CCT in these areas and other scenarios.

Essential Energy’s Contestable Planning team will determine if CCT is required at the Design Information stage of your project, and this will be stipulated in your Design Information Pack (DIP). Our decision will be based on cost benefit and risk reduction.

As examples, use of CCT as a risk mitigation measure is appropriate for:

• high bushfire risk areas where the route is heavily treed
• a known history of external contact faults – eg wire strikes from birds or tree limbs
• managing clearances to structures or operational equipment.

When is this changing?

Effective immediately, our planners will commence assessing and determining use of CCT in P1 bushfire risk areas and including the requirement in your DIP.

Our overhead design manual will be updated in mid 2025 to include this new information.

Can I challenge a requirement to use CCT?

If you don’t agree that CCT will deliver sufficient benefits for your project, you can request a review by submitting an Enquiry Application via the Essential Connections Portal. Please provide all relevant information (eg photos of site) and justification for the review in your application.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the above so you can plan designs in high-risk areas
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 and the Combined Unions met today to continue bargaining for the 2024 Enterprise Agreement. The meeting was both constructive and positive, reaching in principle agreement on a number of key matters.

Due to the constructive nature and in a sign of good faith of today’s meeting, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) have agreed to suspend all protected industrial action, effective immediately and have notified their members accordingly.

While there remains outstanding items that need to be resolved, reaching an in-principle agreement on some of the key claims is a positive step towards finalising an agreement for all Essential Energy employees.

We will continue to keep you updated.

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.

The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has notified Essential Energy of further proposed industrial action commencing on Wednesday 18 December 2024 till Friday 20 December 2024.

Potential Impacts

The planned industrial action is likely to create unavoidable disruptions for ASPs, contractors and customers through the possible postponement of planned work. ASPs will receive notice of planned work being postponed on the morning of the job. Notice will be provided through a phone call or email that morning.

Any job that is postponed will need to be resubmitted via the Essential Connection Portal. For projects not being administered via the Essential Connections Portal, you will need to complete and submit a ‘Request for Planned Outage’ form CEOP6013 via contestableworks@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.

The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has notified Essential Energy of further proposed industrial action commencing on Thursday 12 December 2024 till Tuesday 17 December 2024.

Potential Impacts

The planned industrial action is likely to create unavoidable disruptions for ASPs, contractors and customers through the possible postponement of planned work. ASPs will receive notice of planned work being postponed on the morning of the job. Notice will be provided through a phone call or email that morning.

Any job that is postponed will need to be resubmitted via the Essential Connection Portal. For projects not being administered via the Essential Connections Portal, you will need to complete and submit a ‘Request for Planned Outage’ form CEOP6013 via contestableworks@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’s Happening?

Essential Energy has updated the data utilised by the Digital Twin in the Neara platform. Effective 19 November 2024, all new designs will incorporate the latest available data from:

• LiDAR Capture point cloud
• GIS Properties

Essential Energy has also undertaken a fresh round of LiDAR capture in 2023/24. This new LiDAR data has been processed and ingested to the Digital Twin. The map below shows the current LiDAR capture across Essential Energy’s Network.

Bushfire risk priority information is up to date in the Digital Twin and displayed in the GIS properties panel. This removes the need to refer to the “Additional Properties” panel which was communicated in Bushfire Priority rating for Assets on 15 May 2024.

A data integration error has been identified in the digital twin model. This is causing, affected, Pressure Impregnated poles to default to a weaker nominal strength that is ~25% of true strength. This will likely cause the poles to fail tip load calculations and strength checks. The issue will be corrected with a rebuilding of the model early 2025.

ASPs will need to manually change any effected poles with an alternative. A flag has been built that will highlight any effected poles in a design (once work on that pole starts) and offer an appropriate replacement for the ASP to change it to (refer below screenshot). To view the video user guide, click here.

What do you need to do?

Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.

Further Information

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

As per our communication Updated Essential Energy model standing offers, 1 August 2024, Essential Energy has completed further enhancements to the Connection Application and model standing offer processes.

These changes include:

• Connection Application options are now expedite or negotiated.
• Terms and Conditions, Agent Consent, Connection Offer and Acceptance and Privacy sections of the Connection Application have been updated.
• Site-specific conditions will be highlighted in Annexure A of the connection contract confirmation and schedule of site-specific conditions.
• A section has been included in the Connection Contract labelled Technical Details which provides information regarding the assessment (where applicable).
• Payment confirms acceptance of the Connection Application, the documentation will be emailed.

What do you need to do?

1. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
2. Review the updated MSOs, on Essential Energy’s website.

Further Information

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