Level 3 ASPs

Level 3 ASPs design overhead and/or underground distribution and Sub-Transmission network assets. If you need further information or support, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

Important Document Links:

Click here for the Design and Certification Officer Contact List

Level 3 ASPs design overhead and/or underground distribution and Sub-Transmission network assets. If you need further information or support, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.

Important Document Links:

Click here for the Design and Certification Officer Contact List

  • You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.

    Low Voltage Connection Applications for Community and Strata Title Developments

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    What is currently happening?

    Low Voltage (LV) connection applications for single user connections are required to be submitted via the online connection portal, this is done to determine whether the existing LV electrical network can support the connection requirements or if augmentation is required. The application requires a National Metering Identifier (NMI) which is obtained from the electricity retailer. After submission the application will be assessed, and a LV connection offer will be made. This is typically either a BASIC or STANDARD connection.

    Torrens title developments which require the LV electrical network to be extended and a physical point of connection to be established for each individual lot do not require a NMI or LV connection application. This is because this type of development will create multiple LV connections to the network as part of a contestable works project.

    Community and strata title developments are different as they generally make connection to the LV electrical network via a single point. These require a LV application to be submitted which details the total site load for the development. To enable an application for this type of development to be submitted, the ASP is required to obtain a NMI from the electricity retailer which is used to complete the mandatory field on the online connection portal.

    The issue with obtaining a NMI

    • Where a single new connection is required, obtaining a NMI from the electricity retailer can be done by the responsible Accredited Service Provider (ASP). The requestor contacts the retailer who provides the NMI after their requirements have been met.
    • Obtaining a NMI for a Community or Strata title development has recently been identified by several ASP’s as a very difficult task. This has been investigated internally and as a result, it has been agreed that Essential Energy will run a trial period where Essential Energy creates and issues a non-market NMI directly to Level 3 ASP for these Community or Strata title developments.
    • When Power of Choice was introduced where retailers issue electricity meters this has caused problems amongst the retailers who are unable to process a request for a NMI without a meter association.

    Requesting a Non-Market NMI

    This trial will require Level 3 ASPs to request the non-market NMI directly from the contestable works administration team, by sending an email to contestableworks@essentialenergy.com.au with the subject line of ‘Request for NMI - Community/Strata development’, the body of the email must contain the project address (including Lot & DP number) and the project/development description.

    Once this request has been validated and processed, a non-market NMI will be issued to the Level 3 ASP and this NMI will never be published to the market. It is expected that the turnaround for this service will be much quicker than the current process with the retailers.

    What do you need to do?

    1. For Community/Strata development request a non-market NMI by emailing contestableworks@essentialenergy.com.au
    2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation

    Further Information

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

  • You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.

    Reminder Essential Energy ASP Forums March/April 2019

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    As part of our commitment to improve our relationship and communications with ASPs Essential Energy are holding our next round of forums. The purpose of these forums is for ASPs to come along and hear about the latest news in the ASP space and to ask questions or raise issues with representatives from various Essential Energy teams.


    Dates and locations of ASP forums:

    • Coffs Harbour 18th March 2019 (Coffs Ex-Services Club – 2-6 Vernon St Coffs Harbour)
    • Tweed Heads19th March 2019 (Tweed Heads Bowls Club – Cnr Wharf & Florence St Tweed Heads)
    • Tamworth 25th March 2019 (Tamworth West Leagues Club – 58 Phillip St Tamworth West)
    • Queanbeyan 2nd April 2019 (Raiders Belconnen – Hardwick Cres Holt)
    • Moruya 3rd April 2019 (Moruya Golf Club – Evans St Moruya)

    Forums will commence from 5pm at the above locations, with light refreshments available. To determine venue sizes we would appreciate any ASPs who wish to attend complete a survey or email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au with company name, numbers attending, which forum you will be attending and anything you would like to see at our forums.

    Thank you to those that have already expressed interest in attending our forums, please be advise that the scheduled forum at Buronga on 11th April 2019 has been cancelled due to a lack of interest.

    Brief Agenda Items:

    Part 1 - 60 mins

    • Welcome and General ASP Information
    • 2015 review
    • 5125 review
    • Level 1 ASP agreement
    • Level 2 topics (unauthorised connections, solar connections etc)
    • Level 3 specific changes / issues
    • Standards update

    Part 2 – 60 mins

    • Subject Matter Experts (SME) spread across the room allowing ASPs to meet key people and discuss issues

    What do you need to do?

    1. Please complete the survey at engage.essentialenergy.com.au/ASP click on your relevant ASP level, then go into Surveys & Forms
    2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation

    Further information

    If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au
  • You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.

    Essential Energy ASP Forums March/April 2019

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    As part of our commitment to improve our relationship and communications with ASPs Essential Energy are holding our next round of forums. The purpose of these forums is for ASPs to come along and hear about the latest news in the ASP space and to ask questions or raise issues with representatives from various Essential Energy teams.

    Dates and locations of ASP forums:

    • Coffs Harbour 18th March 2019 (Coffs Ex-Services Club – 2-6 Vernon St Coffs Harbour)
    • Tweed Heads19th March 2019 (Tweed Heads Bowls Club – Cnr Wharf & Florence St Tweed Heads)
    • Tamworth 25th March 2019 (Tamworth West Leagues Club – 58 Phillip St Tamworth West)
    • Queanbeyan 2nd April 2019 (Raiders Belconnen – Hardwick Cres Holt)
    • Moruya 3rd April 2019 (Moruya Golf Club – Evans St Moruya)
    • Buronga 11th April 2019 (Quality Hotel Mildura Grand – Seventh St Mildura)

    Forums will commence from 5pm at the above locations, with light refreshments available. To determine venue sizes we would appreciate any ASPs who wish to attend complete a survey or email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au with company name, numbers attending, which forum you will be attending and anything you would like to see at our forums.


    Brief Agenda Items:

    Part 1 - 60 mins

    • Welcome and General ASP Information
    • 2015 review
    • 5125 review
    • Level 1 ASP agreement
    • Level 2 topics (unauthorised connections, solar connections etc)
    • Level 3 specific changes / issues
    • Standards update

    Part 2 – 60 mins

    • Subject Matter Experts (SME) spread across the room allowing ASPs to meet key people and discuss issues

    What do you need to do?

    1. Please complete the survey at engage.essentialenergy.com.au/ASP click on your relevant ASP level, then go into Surveys & Forms
    2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation

    Further information

    If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au
  • You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.

    Broadcast - Design Certification Update

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    Renewal and Refurbishment of existing timber crossarms

    To prevent delays to construction of projects and unnecessary re-certification of projects the following advice is provided regarding the criteria for replacing existing timber crossarms.
    Where the project has been certified and the requirement for the replacement of existing timber crossarms has been identified by the Level 3 ASP (and detailed within the construction plan), it is important that the Level 1 ASP identify this requirement on the construction plan and ensure that the appropriate materials and equipment are on site.
    Timber termination and through strain crossarms are to be replaced with composite fibre crossarms wherever possible, timber pin crossarms are to be replaced with composite fibre crossarms where assessed as necessary (by the L3 ASP) or where the pin insulators must be replaced.

    Additions to the document library

    To assist with Level 3 ASP design submissions, files which were developed as part of the recent revision of CEOM7001 will be zipped and added to the external Document Library labelled 'Level 3 ASP Design Submission Files'.
    The files consist of the symbology which contains many of the cells and line styles, a drawing checklist which relates to the construction drawing requirements, and the cell library files which are utilised with Essential Energy Micro-station preferences.
    As Essential Energy uses Micro Station as our Distribution Design drawing package the cell library files being provided will only be in Micro Station format.
    The drawing examples contained within CEOM7001 are also in the process of being finalised to be added to the document library but at this stage will only be provided in Micro-station format.

    Increase in design temperature to 100 degrees and timeframe for compliance

    Recent changes have been made to the overhead design manual CEOM7097 to increase the required design temperature from 90 degrees to 100 degrees.
    In addition to the background already provided within the Construction News, the change to the design temperature has been made to effectively compensate for appropriate creep within design rather than in construction. Over tensioning conductors in the construction phase has been found to potentially over stress supporting structures and mis-interpretation of stringing charts.
    The new requirement will enable creep temperature compensation to be utilised within the design phase and allow for a single design safety and creep compensation figure, this removes the need for conductors to be over tensioned at site to compensate for conductor creep.
    The timeframe to implement the changes to design temperature should be incorporated as soon as practical into new design submissions. The final date for compliance with the new design temperature will be 30 March 2019.

    Utilisation of cadastral data provided by Essential Energy

    Producing construction plans requires the use of cadastral data, this can be obtained by request directly from Essential Energy’s website - https://www.essentialenergy.com.au/our-network/overhead-network-maps
    When using cadastral data supplied either by Essential Energy or other source, it is important that this data is setup within the construction plan correctly to enable the information to be referenced back into Essential Energy’s GIS.
    Setting the drawing up with the cadastral data in the correct spatial location should be done as part of every drawing creation and will greatly assist the asset closeout team, attached to this communication is an instruction sheet to assist and further explain the requirement. Instructions have been provided in both MicroStation and AutoCAD format.

    What do you need to do?

    1. Review and download relevant documents located on Essential Energy's 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
  • You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.

    SafeWork NSW Safety Alert – Working Live

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    SafeWork NSW has released a safety alert on the Dangers of working on or near energised (live) electrical equipment.

    This safety alert reminds electrical workers of the hazards associated with working on or near energised (live) electrical equipment. These hazards include electric shock, arc flash explosion and fire.
    This alert, and others, can also be viewed on the SafeWork NSW website - Safety Alerts.

    What do you need to do?

    1. Click on one of the above links to visit SafeWork NSW website
    2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation

    Further Information

    If you need further information, please visit email www.safework.nsw.gov.au or call 13 10 50.

  • You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.

    Statement of Business Ethics and Code of Conduct

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    Essential Energy values and enjoys strong business relationships with its many suppliers. These relationships are founded on a shared commitment to conduct business according to the highest ethical standards and complying with all relevant laws and regulations.

    Our employees are governed under the Essential Energy Code of Conduct and our relationship with ASPs, contractors and suppliers are governed under the Statement of Business Ethics.
    To help provide clarity in upholding these ethical standards, Essential Energy operates a ‘no gifts’ policy across the business. This means that our employees cannot receive a gift from a third party under any circumstances.

    This policy can be challenging for suppliers and employees alike, as the gifts are usually intended as a token of genuine appreciation.

    Put simply, saying thanks is enough. We really appreciate your support and feedback and ask that you refrain from offering any gifts that might jeopardise either your own or our employees’ integrity.
    Additional information on Essential Energy's Code of Conduct and our ‘no gifts’ policy is available on our website.

    What do you need to do?

    1. Visit Essential Energy's website at https://www.essentialenergy.com.au/about-us/corporate-governance/policies for our Code of Conduct and a range of documents detailing our policies
    2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation

    Further Information

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

  • You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.

    Asset Classification & Private Defect Management

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    What is happening?

    To minimise the risk of bushfires initiated by privately-owned electricity network assets, and in compliance with its legislative obligations, Essential Energy is reinforcing its private asset defect rectification policy across its electricity distribution area.
    Accredited Service Providers (ASPs) may see an increase in requests for private defect rectification.

    What do you need to do?

    1. Review the “20181214 - Briefing - Asset Classification Private Defect Management.pdf” located on Essential Energy’s Document Library
    2. Visit Essential Energy’s website at www.essentialenergy.com.au/privateassets for a range of information on Privately-owned power poles and powerlines
    3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation

    Further Information

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

  • You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.

    Safety Brief SB-819 Communications Microcells on Essential Energy Poles

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    What is happening?

    Essential Energy is currently negotiating a Facilities Access Agreement (FAA) with various Communications Companies to allow installation of their small ‘microcell’ transmitters and associated aerials onto suitable Essential Energy poles.
    A small number of these microcells have already been installed in the Tathra area ahead of the formal FAA.

    This Safety Brief provides interim information and safety precautions to be followed for working ‘on or near’ the poles where these microcell installations are installed. Discussions are continuing with the Communications Companies – and the other electricity network operators – for consistent precautions to ensure worker safety.

    What do you need to do?

    1. Review SB-819 Microcells in Essential Energy Poles located on Essential Energy’s 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

  • You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.

    Safety Brief SB-817 Electrical Safety Rules Issue 16

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    What is happening?

    Essential Energy’s Electrical Safety Office (ESO) has completed a full review and update of CEOP8030 - Electrical Safety Rules (ESR’s) to incorporate recent Safety Briefs, Incident Investigation recommendations, audit findings and industry developments.

    There are no major policy or procedural changes in this update. All changes are summarised in the Revisions section at the end of the document.

    What do you need to do?

    1. Review the revisions section on the final pages of CEOP8030 - Electrical Safety Rules (ESR’s) located on the Document Library
    2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
    3. View this communication via Essential Engagement at engage.essentialenergy.com.au/ASP

    Further Information

    If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au
  • You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.

    Christmas and New Year Planned Outages & Contestable Works

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    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 22 December 2018 to 6 January 2019.

    Also Contestable Works will be closed during the same period with business resuming as normal from 7th January 2019.

    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. Minimal processing of emails/documentation or Asset Labels will occur from Contestable Works mailbox during the above mentioned period
    3. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation

    Further Information

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

Page last updated: 22 May 2025, 02:37 PM