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What’s happening?
We’re letting you know about changes to our easement policies and processes that will:
- streamline document signing
- help maintain safe distances from electricity infrastructure, and
- update customer and landowner deed compliance.
We’re also clarifying Crown land requirements for electrical work.
Transition to electronic signatures
From September 2025, Essential Energy will transition to digital and electronic execution to make easement document signing more efficient and convenient for everyone. To assist you, we’ll update the example Transfer Granting Easement and Section 88B Instrument contained in CEOP8046 – Easement Requirements with our suggested electronic execution clauses.
While traditional signatures will still be valid, they may result in slight delays in easement document signing. We encourage everyone to embrace the benefits of using digital signatures.
Updated easement dimensions
We're updating CEOP8046 – Easement Requirements to include the following dimensions for switching stations:
- 4 way switching stations will require an easement of 4m x 3m
- 4 way switching stations plus bus-tie and 6 way switching stations will require an easement 5m x 3m.
Additional easements will be required to maintain safe distances on properties adjoining electricity infrastructure
We’re incorporating changes to CEOP8046 – Easement Requirements aimed at preventing potential fire hazards and enhancing safety for electricity infrastructure and surrounding properties. For example:
- a restriction on title will need to be registered on any property within 6 metres of a pad mount to ensure compliance with fire segregation.
- powerline blowout must be taken into consideration when determining the easement requirement on adjoining properties.
Updates to Customer and Landowner Deeds (including Agreement for Creation of Easement and Crown Land Acquisition Deeds)
We’ve updated our Agreements in response to changes in unfair contracts legislation. We’ll make the new documents available after 25 September 2025. Both old and new Deeds will be valid for 6 months. After that, only the new documents must be used.
We’re keen to gain your feedback on these changes to ensure they are well-informed and helpful
Please send any questions, concerns and suggestions by 17 September 2025 via email to conveyancingteam@essentialenergy.com.au.
Clarification of Crown land requirements for electrical work where Section 53 applies
The Roads Act distinguishes between Crown Roads and Council Public Roads. This distinction means that section 45 of the Electricity Supply Act can be utilised for Council roads, but not for Crown roads.
Consent is required to enter all private and public land. The Crown decides the form that this consent takes: a letter, a licence or a section 138 consent. If the Crown is prepared to provide consent by a letter, it must specifically provide:
"Crown Lands as the owner Lot xxxx DPxxxxx (Property) acknowledges that [Insert name of Customer for Works] will engage an Accredited Service Provider to undertake electrical works on the Property on existing electrical assets (ASP). While Essential Energy will continue to own and operate the existing electrical infrastructure pursuant to Section 53 Electricity Supply Act 1995 (NSW), Crown Lands acknowledges that Essential Energy is not undertaking any works and provides consent to the ASP to access the Property and undertake the relevant works."
It is important to note that this form of consent will only be accepted by Essential Energy where Section 53 applies. It is unlikely that the Crown will provide a letter of consent where any third-party interests, including Native Title, may exist.
What do you need to do?
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
- Provide us with your feedback by 17 September 2025 email to conveyancingteam@essentialenergy.com.au.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email conveyancingteam@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
On 15 May 2025, Essential Energy applied for a ring-fencing waiver to establish a training academy with hubs in Goulburn, Grafton, Orange, Parkes, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga and deliver contestable technical and safety training courses to the electricity industry.
The facility will aim to provide accredited training to future-proof internal workforce sustainability and, through commercial course offerings, address existing skills shortages and evolving training needs across the broader energy sector.
The waiver (from clauses 3.1(b), 4.2.1, 4.2.2 and 4.2.3 of the Ring-fencing Guideline (electricity distribution), would enable Essential Energy to offer two certificate IV courses from 2025 to meet current industry demand, ahead of establishing a full training academy by 2027.
Your input is welcomed
The AER will be interested to hear from third parties supporting the waiver on:
- Need for skilled workforce in regions for energy projects out to 2050 (project proponents)
- What is the current availability of training services in regions for energy projects and where lack of availability, what is the impact on project economics and delivery (project proponents) Benefits to projects and regional economic development of having regionally based workforce training (project proponents, regional councils-business community) in the short and longer-term
- Benefits to safety and overall workforce capability in underserved areas.
You can lodge your written submission through the AER website here - Initiation | Australian Energy Regulator (AER), via e-mail to AERringfencing@aer.gov.au.
Submissions must be lodged by close of business on 5 September 2025.
What do you need to do?
- Find further information, including the initiation notice, on the AER website, click here to view.
- 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.
What is happening?
On 22 July 2025, Essential Energy announced it had moved the timing for submission of Protection Settings and Switchboard Review requests to assist with lead times on standard connection projects. To further improve this process, we have also removed the requirement of an Intent to Connect (ITC) case being submitted prior to Protection Settings or Switchboard Review requests.
Key Changes:
- Any registered Essential Connections user can submit Protection Settings and Switchboard Review requests directly.
- There is no need for a Level 2 ASP or Electrical Contractor to first submit an ITC.
Submission Timing Remains Unchanged:
- Basic Connection Projects – After Connection Offer is issued.
- Standard Connection Projects – After Design Information Pack has been issued.
Compliance Item Completion:
- NOSW and CCEWs can only be submitted once all compliance items (Protection Settings and Switchboard Review) are completed.
- These must be submitted by a Level 2 ASP or Electrical Contractor.
- NOTE: It is the responsibility of the Connection Applicant (or their nominated representative) to ensure the engaged Level 2 ASP or Electrical Contractor are aware of all compliance items and any related site-specific conditions.
What do you need to do?
- Continue to submit your requests through the Essential Connections Portal.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
We are aware that some users have recently experienced issues with the IdentityONE app. Specifically, the app may not allow access to sites, and the Home Page may not display the usual information.
Please do not delete the app.
App needs to refresh. The solution is to swipe and force the app to fully close, then re-open, which will refresh the app. We recommend you try this option first.
- Click here to view how to swipe close an app on iPhone.
- Click here to view how to close an app on Android phone.
As a last check, try turning your phone off and back on.
Additionally, we have made the following improvements to the app:
- Users will no longer receive emails or notifications to approve or reject updated authorisations. This process is now automated.
- The IdentityONE app has adopted the new Essential Energy branding and colours.
Thank you for your attention and understanding.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email Essential Energy Security at eesecurity@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
Some individuals are experiencing issues with the IdentityONE app on their mobile devices preventing the usual information from being displayed on the Home Page, showing an orange screen requesting an invitation code instead.
There are two causes of this:
- App needs to refresh. The solution is to swipe and force the app to fully close, then re-open, which will refresh the app. We recommend you try this option first.
- Credential expired. Where a credential has expired, it will require support from your Essential Energy contract management team who will be able to assist.
The IdentityONE app is also transitioning to the new Essential Energy branding. The app will reflect the new branding for new users and for new credentials. Everyone else will have the old branding until the app is updated in due course. Further communication will be delivered at this point.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email eesecurity@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
Essential Energy has brought forward when you can request protection settings and switchboard review for a standard connection project. Starting today you can commence the switchboard review process after the Design Information Pack has been issued, and a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider or Electrical Contractor has submitted an Intent to Connect for the related connection project. This will allow you to request protection settings followed by a switchboard review in parallel with the Level 3 design work.
The following disclaimer has been added to the Essential Connection Intent to Connect process to ensure you understand the additional risk for requesting this earlier.
If design requirements for connection project works change between the date of this [submission / response] and the scheduled energisation, it is the responsibility of the Connection applicant or their representative to assess if new Protection Settings and Switchboard Compliance Review are needed. These requests must be initiated well before the planned energisation date to avoid delays or cancellation. Essential Energy will not be liable for any time or financial loss due to changes in the customer’s design requirements.
Thank you to the Accredited Service Providers and customers who provided feedback on the challenges being faced with switchboard lead times with hope this change assists your projects.
What do you need to do?
- Continue to submit your requests through the Essential Connection Portal.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
A new Design Check workspace in Neara allows designers to access two reports that help ensure asset status identification and label assignment:
- The Unspecified Status Check: identifies any assets in a design where a status needs to be specified
- The Asset Label Check: identifies any assets in a design where an asset label needs to be specified.
Where can I learn more about these new features?
You can find more details, including a user guide and short video, on Essential Engagement under the Digital Asset Management section. Look under the “What’s New?” heading.
What do you need to do?
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
- Review the updated support material on Essential Engagement under the Digital Asset Management section
Further Information
If you need further information, please email the Digital Asset Management team at dam@essentialenergy.com.au
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is Happening?
Essential Energy has reviewed and updated the Construction Schedule template (spreadsheet, version 1.4.12), the updates include:
- Separate tabs for underground cable and conduit schedules to align with CEOM7001 requirements
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A macro has been added to the underground cable and conduits tabs to automatically total the route lengths for different types of cables listed. Note: ASPs can manually override any totals in the table if required. The totals will appear as line at the bottom of the table.
- Users can ‘export to plan format’ macro as normal to format them on the ‘plan output’ worksheet.
- CEOMs have been added and updated for recent construction manual additions e.g. new Pillar drawings.
What do you need to do?
- Please download the latest version and start using it.
- Remember that very project needs to include this excel spreadsheet with the design submission.
- 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.
What is happening?
Our new one-stop Technical Support Hub is providing our Accredited Service Providers, Electrical Contractors, solar installers and connections customers with self-service and supported-service options tailored to your specific requirements.
A dedicated team of technical specialists and subject matter experts are available to offer real time advice and help resolve enquiries at first point of contact, helping drive timely and consistent outcomes for you and your customers.
To easily identify the first point of contact who can best assist with your Essential Connections Portal enquiries:
What do you need to do?
- Ensure you are registered to attend the support sessions.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email techconnect@essentialenergy.com.au.
What's New?
Whats new - June 2025 (378 KB) (pdf)