Level 3 ASPs

Level 3 ASPs design overhead and/or underground distribution and Sub - transmission network assets.

  • Proactive discussions, engagement and insights from Level 3 Accredited Service Providers;
  • Critical information updates; and
  • Other useful and relevant information.

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

Important Document Links:

Level 3 ASPs design overhead and/or underground distribution and Sub - transmission network assets.

  • Proactive discussions, engagement and insights from Level 3 Accredited Service Providers;
  • Critical information updates; and
  • Other useful and relevant information.

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

Important Document Links:

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

    Register for Essential Energy ASP Zoom forums: April 2022

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    What is happening?

    To protect everyone’s health and safety, we’ll hold our next round of ASP engagement forums via Zoom, rather than face to face.

    In this round, we’ll be covering a range of topics including Safety, Standards update, Digital Twin update, our BetterConnect project and Connections Changes, and Supply Chain update.

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

    Dates and times

    Click on one of the options below to reserve your preferred session (all sessions will have the same content).

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

    What do you need to do?

    1. Select the session date above and reserve your spot to attend one of our forums.
    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.

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

    Introduction of new fees and upfront payment

    What is Happening?

    Essential Energy will be introducing fees for some Low Voltage Connection Applications. From 2 May 2022, new charges will be applied to certain services where we are required by Australian Energy Regulator (AER) to charge for these services. These charges include:

    • Fees for connection enquiries based on the estimated effort to complete (noting not all enquiries will be charged a fee)
    • Additional fees to some connection applications where detailed engineering assessments (1% of applications) or power quality studies are required (0.1% of all applications a year)
    • Incomplete information fee applied to applications that are submitted without the required information or attachments/supporting information included.
    • We are continuing the transition to upfront payments of high volume and low value ANS charges.

    The fees can be found in the table below:


    The above table of Ancillary Network Service and Amounts are as per the Price Schedule for Ancillary Network Services 1 July 2021. These Network Service changes will move to upfront payment via the secure online payment gateway. 

    “User Pays” Principle

    These fees cover the costs of services that we already provide and are expected to charge for under our agreement with the Australian Energy Regulator (AER). 

    Under the Regulatory Framework, we need to recover those costs from the specific customers requiring the service.  

    What do you need to do?

    1. Accredited Service Providers, Authorised Persons and Electrical Contractors should consider pricing changes when preparing quotations for customers regarding future work.
    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: Ancillary Network Services Fee Changes (Connection Offers)

    What is Happening?

    Essential Energy is changing the fees we charge for some Low Voltage Basic Connection Applications. We are providing six weeks’ notice of our first fee change to allow you time to prepare.

    Basic Connection Application fee

    From 14 March 2022, $123.38 (exc GST) will be charged per offer where a technical review is required.

    This will ensure fee consistency for all Basic Connection Offers requiring technical review and recover the cost of assessing these applications from those requiring the work.

    How will I know if I am going to be charged?

    Basic connections involve minimal or no augmentation of the distribution network and are within the limits outlined below:

    Basic Low Voltage Connection limits

    Connection Request

    Load Type

    Voltage

    Zone

    Usage Type

    New/modify

    Single Phase

    Less than 100 Amps

    Urban

    Domestic

    New/modify

    Multi Phase

    Less than 63 Amps/Phase

    Urban

    Domestic

    New

    Single Phase

    Less than 100 Amps
    with Embedded Generation
    (<=10KW and export limit <=5KW)

    Urban

    Domestic

    New

    Multi Phase

    Less than 63 Amps
    with Embedded Generation
    (<=10KW and export limit <=5KW)

    Urban

    Domestic

    Addition of New
    Embedded Generation

    <=10KW and export limit <=5KW

    Urban

    Domestic

    Addition of New
    Embedded Generation

    <=5KW and export limit <=3KW

    Rural

    Domestic


    A technical review is required when the proposed connection:

    • exceeds these limits, and / or
    • involves electricity generation (e.g., solar, wind, hydropower) to enable export to the electricity network.

    A common application type impacted by this change is a new solar connection application. Please note that customers who include a note in their application that they are willing to voluntarily limit their solar export to 5kW (Urban) or 3kW (Rural) will not incur the fee.

    Additional information can be found in our Connecting to the Network Information Pack.

    Complex Connection Application fee

    Complex Connection Applications can occasionally require a detailed assessment by a Connections Planning Engineer. Later this year, we will introduce a fee to recover the cost of any complex connection application that requires a detailed assessment by a Connections Planning Engineer. We will provide more information prior to this fee introduction.

    What do you need to do

    1. Accredited Service Providers, Authorised Persons, Electrical Contractors, Solar Retailers and Solar Installers should consider pricing changes when preparing quotations or estimates for customers regarding future connection applications to be submitted on or after 14 March 2022.
    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.

    Help us protect cyber security and our network following Russian invasion of Ukraine

    What is Happening?

    As you will be aware, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has issued an urgent alert advising all Australian organisations to heighten their cyber security as a result of the Russian invasion of the Ukraine.

    Essential Energy’s technology teams are on high alert. We’ve increased monitoring of all our systems and gateways and are currently reviewing all internet-facing assets.

    This includes reviewing and enhancing risk detection, mitigation, response measures and ensuring that logging and detection systems are fully updated and functioning.

    As a valued partner, we trust in your vigilance and ask for early warning of any compromise of your systems that may impact Essential Energy. Your co-operation will be critical in helping us protect our assets and ensuring a safe and reliable power supply for our customers.

    To report a compromised system or for further information please contact Essential Energy on 13 23 91.

    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 contact Essential Energy on 13 23 91.

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

    Neara Digital Asset Management technical update, access change & refresher training recording availability

    What is happening?

    We have made some recent changes to Neara to improve Digital Asset Management capability and your user experience. We also wanted to highlight changes to Neara access, and let you know that our refresher training sessions are available for viewing on Essential Engagement.

    Neara/Technical update

    • From 9 February 2022, an updated Environment Spreadsheet will be available. Please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au to request a copy of this spreadsheet.
    • The CEOM7098 (Distribution Underground Design and Construction Manual) has also been updated to reference the Low Voltage drop calculations for Underground design in Neara (refer to section 2.28.3 LV Drop) which now concludes all outstanding improvements in this area.

    Change to Neara access

    In exchange for the provision of LiDAR and network model information in Neara, from 14 March 2022, ASPs who access this information must include the design model .power file as part of your design submission in Salesforce. This will avoid unnecessary delays in processing your request, improve communication and design capability and reduce rework for everyone.

    ASP Neara refresher training survey feedback

    Thank you to all the ASPs that attended our Neara refresher training sessions held with our Digital Asset Management team in November and December 2021. Attendance was excellent over the four sessions with loads of questions.

    Respondents to a post-Neara refresher training survey said:

    All recordings from the training sessions are now available to access on Essential Engagement (at bottom of page under “Neara Refresher Sessions”).

    What do you need to do?

    1. Submit your .power files as part of your design submission in Salesforce.
    2. Review this information including the training session recordings on Essential Engagement.
    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.

    Help us streamline your access to our new connection’s enquiry and application portal

    What is happening?

    Essential Energy is working to improve our end-to-end connections process, progressively automating many previously manual processes through our new Connections Portal. To enable you to pre-register for access to the new Essential Connections Portal, we need to ensure that your contact information is up to date.

    What is the Essential Connections Portal?

    • The portal will simplify submitting connection information to Essential Energy and ensure that: information only needs to be submitted once
    • current and historic jobs are accessible in one system
    • requests can be submitted electronically (using different device types)
    • notifications are automated, and
    • users can easily ‘self-serve’ accurate information.

    Eventually these improvements will cover Low Voltage (LV) and High Voltage (HV) Enquiries, Applications, Works Management, Testing and Quality Assurance processes.

    When will the portal be released?

    Release 1: LV Connection Enquiry and Applications

    When: Expected to be released in late April or early May 2022

    As the project progresses, we will keep you updated and share information on further enhancements.

    What you can expect from us:

    In the coming weeks, we will contact ASPs or ECs whose key contact information appears incomplete or who have replicated data in our systems to clarify:

    • First/last name
    • Contact details
    • Current company name
    • A unique email address (more than one email will be required if working for more than one company)
    • Details of any administration staff who require portal access.

    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.

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

    Ancillary Network Services Fee Changes (Connection Offers)

    What is Happening?

    Essential Energy is changing the fees we charge for some Low Voltage Basic Connection Applications. We are providing six weeks’ notice of our first fee change to allow you time to prepare.

    Basic Connection Application fee

    From 14 March 2022, $123.38 (exc GST) will be charged per offer where a technical review is required.

    This will ensure fee consistency for all Basic Connection Offers requiring technical review and recover the cost of assessing these applications from those requiring the work.

    How will I know if I am going to be charged?

    Basic connections involve minimal or no augmentation of the distribution network and are within the limits outlined below:

    Basic Low Voltage Connection limits

    Connection Request

    Load Type

    Voltage

    Zone

    Usage Type

    New/modify

    Single Phase

    Less than 100 Amps

    Urban

    Domestic

    New/modify

    Multi Phase

    Less than 63 Amps/Phase

    Urban

    Domestic

    New

    Single Phase

    Less than 100 Amps
    with Embedded Generation
    (<=10KW and export limit <=5KW)

    Urban

    Domestic

    New

    Multi Phase

    Less than 63 Amps
    with Embedded Generation
    (<=10KW and export limit <=5KW)

    Urban

    Domestic

    Addition of New
    Embedded Generation

    <=10KW and export limit <=5KW

    Urban

    Domestic

    Addition of New
    Embedded Generation

    <=5KW and export limit <=3KW

    Rural

    Domestic


    A technical review is required when the proposed connection:

    • exceeds these limits, and / or
    • involves electricity generation (e.g., solar, wind, hydropower) to enable export to the electricity network.

    A common application type impacted by this change is a new solar connection application. Please note that customers who include a note in their application that they are willing to voluntarily limit their solar export to 5kW (Urban) or 3kW (Rural) will not incur the fee.

    Additional information can be found in our Connecting to the Network Information Pack.

    Complex Connection Application fee

    Complex Connection Applications can occasionally require a detailed assessment by a Connections Planning Engineer. Later this year, we will introduce a fee to recover the cost of any complex connection application that requires a detailed assessment by a Connections Planning Engineer. We will provide more information prior to this fee introduction.

    What do you need to do

    1. Accredited Service Providers, Authorised Persons, Electrical Contractors, Solar Retailers and Solar Installers should consider pricing changes when preparing quotations or estimates for customers regarding future connection applications to be submitted on or after 14 March 2022.
    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.

    Delays in Contestable Design Processing Timeframes

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    What is Happening?

    We’re currently experiencing a backlog in processing Design Information Applications, Certifications and Notice of Arrangements as a result of staff leave over the Christmas period and ongoing COVID-19 impacts.

    Resourcing ramp up

    February will see all staff back from leave.

    Four new officers joined the team at the end of 2021 and three more will join us in March. Following a training period while these new recruits learn the role, we expect to process the backlog and reduce timeframes to appropriate levels within the next two months.

    In the meantime, we apologise for any delays and appreciate your patience at this time.

    What do you need to do?

    1. Review your projects in Salesforce and add a case comment if required.
    2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation and your clients.
    3. View this communication via Essential Engagement at Essential Engagement.

    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.

    Rejected Connection Applications

    Background

    Currently, around 20% of Connection Applications are rejected due to missing or incorrect information in the Connection Point / Pole / Substation Number field.

    To help you submit correct applications, our recently released Network Information Portal provides a significant amount of information about Essential Energy’s network, including the asset numbers for all poles and substations in a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping format.

    The Network Information Portal is accessible on all devices. By typing in the address (or a nearby address), you can easily find the required connection point asset number.

    What do you need to do?

    1. Watch a demonstration video and visit Network Information Portal via Essential Energy's Website and start exploring our network.
    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.

    Update 5: Suspension of all Protected Industrial Action effective immediately

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    What is Happening?

    Following discussions on Wednesday, Essential Energy is aware that the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) have advised their members that they will suspend all Protected Industrial Action effective immediately.

    Negotiations continue to be held to seek resolution on outstanding matters. Essential Energy remains committed to the good faith bargaining process with the combined unions to reach a modern Enterprise Agreement. We want an agreement that reflects the needs of employees while meeting our communities’ expectations around energy affordability.

    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.

Page last updated: 14 Mar 2024, 02:33 PM