You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
Essential Energy has introduced CECG6923 - Safety in Design Guidelines for Contestable Works, establishing the minimum requirements for applying Safety in Design processes in all contestable design activities completed on Essential Energy’s network. The guideline has been developed to support designers in implementing their Safety in Design obligations under legislative requirements.
The guideline is available on Essential Energy’s Document Library. A Safety in Design Register template has also been developed and is available on the Essential Connections Support Page and can be accessed by searching “Safety in Design” or by following the link.
The guideline provides designers with a structured, lifecycle‑focused approach to identifying, assessing, and managing hazards associated with electrical infrastructure design. It outlines Safety in Design principles and methodologies, duty holder responsibilities under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025.
These guidelines should now be applied to all contestable designs. Designers shall ensure risks are eliminated, or where elimination is not reasonably practicable, minimised so far as is reasonably practicable, and incorporated into the design process and documentation.
The following documents are required as part of a design submission:
- A Safe Design Report
- A Safety in Design Risk Register
These guidelines reinforce the legislative responsibilities of designers, clarify Essential Energy expectations, and promote safer outcomes across construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of assets. Accredited Service Providers may either utilise the Safety in Design Risk Register template provided or ensure that their own Safety in Design processes and documentation meet, at a minimum, the requirements specified in this guideline.
From 1 May 2026, the minimum requirements outlined in the guidelines will be assessed by Essential Energy during the design review.
What do you need to do?
- Review CECG6923 - Safety in Design Guidelines for Contestable Works via the Document Library.
- Apply the Safety in Design process and documentation requirements to all current and future contestable designs.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
- Ensure all design submissions include the required Safe Design Report and Risk Register.
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.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Community Consultation Guideline
To provide greater clarity around community consultation obligations during the design phase, Essential Energy has developed a new guideline for Accredited Service Providers (ASPs). This guideline outlines the minimum requirements for notifying adjoining landowners of proposed modifications to the electricity network during the design phase of a project.
The guideline is available on the Essential Connections Support page and can be accessed by searching “Consultation” or by following the link below.
Community Consultation During Design
These requirements reinforce the legislative responsibilities of designers and clearly set out Essential Energy’s expectations for community consultation.
From 1 April 2026, the minimum consultation requirements outlined in the guideline will be assessed as part of the design certification review process.
What do you need to do?
- Review the guideline and download a copy of Appendix A.
- Ensure the consultation process, including all required documentation, is applied across all current and future contestable designs.
- 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?
We would like to remind you to use the latest version of the standardised construction schedule template for each project you undertake, you can find this on the Essential Connections Support page. The current version at time of publication is v1.4.14.
It is important that the information you enter into the construction schedule is accurate and to a high quality to ensure the assets are correctly created within Essential Connections. The construction schedule also creates the data capture and test forms that are used in the construction phase of the project.
Construction Schedule tips
When completing the construction schedule, please follow the guides on the instructions page. To help us process submissions more swiftly, please make sure you:
- Refer to the instructions within CEOM7001 Construction Plan Requirements, which articulates the requirements of each schedule
- Use drop-down boxes when available
- Enter alphanumeric characters, numbers, or free text as per the instructions page
- Start at the top of the sheet – do not leave blank rows above your assets
- One asset per line
- Avoid the use of forward slashes
- Use the add row/insert tool, do not manually add rows to a schedule
- Validate the schedule using the construction schedules tab “Validate Schedule”
- Ensure correct ECN project number and Design Submission Case number are populated. Please ensure you include all leading zeros in the design submission case number.
What do you need to do?
- Download the latest version (1.4.14) of the standardised construction schedule template from the Essential Connections support page.
- Submit your completed spreadsheet with every 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?
Essential Energy will be hosting an opt-in information session for ASPs to talk through the changes to CEOM7098 Distribution Underground Design and Construction Manual communicated in Construction New 26-01 published on 12 February 2026.
Prior to this session, we would like to provide further clarification.
- There will be a transition period for the adoption of the cable de-rating calculation approach stipulated in CEOM7098 Distribution Underground Design and Construction Manual.
- Essential Energy will provide target high voltage cable de-rating factors for designers to achieve in their designs as part of the Design Information Pack for each project. If a designer is unable to meet the target de-rating factor during the design phase they should contact Essential Energy for assistance.
- New design submissions will be required to include cable de-rating calculations so that cable derating information can be accurately captured, ensuring the Essential Energy Network can be efficiently operated and maintained.
- Timeframe for including cable de-rating factors in Design Information Packs and conducting cable de-rating calculation in new design submissions will be communicated in the coming weeks.
If you construct, connect to, or design our underground network we encourage you to attend this session, ask questions and raise any concerns with the team.
Registration
The CEOM7098 Distribution Underground Design and Construction Manual information session will be held on Thursday 5 March 2026 from 1.30 pm to 2.30 pm. – please click here to register.
What do you need to do?
- Register to reserve your spot.
- Review the document, on the Document Library.
- 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.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
This year, we're trying something new. We're offering a designated Level 3 Accredited Service Provider (ASP) opt-in 'Ask Us Anything' session. If you have questions, we hope to provide answers - whether they're about Essential Connections or anything related to contestable work undertaken by Level 3 ASPs. You're welcome to join at any time during the hour to ask questions, and you can stay for as long as you need.
The session is on Wednesday 18 February 2026 from 2.00 to 3.00 pm click here to register.
What do you need to do?
- Ensure you are registered to attend the Level 3 ASP opt-in ask us anything session.
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
- 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.
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 once again seeking volunteers to join the Focus Group for a 12 month period. This will include attending a one hour virtual session, the first Thursday of every second month commencing April from 8.30am to 9.30am, noting that if there are no topics it will be cancelled, and if required attending face to face 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 2026 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?
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
- Email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au if you would like to volunteer.
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?
External Sales would like to inform you that our suppliers are currently facing long lead times for the items listed below. Please keep these extended lead times in mind when planning and placing orders. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Please note that cable is provided exclusively in full drum quantities and cannot be cut to length.
What do you need to do?
Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email external.sales@essentialenergy.com.au.
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
What is happening?
The 12-month construction grace period associated with Construction News 25-01 Low Voltage Pillars, published 8 April 2025, is ending on 8 April 2026.
If your project contains low voltage pillars that are affected by the change's outlined in Construction News 25-01 Low Voltage Pillars and will not be commissioned prior to 8 April 2026 then the design must be updated to reflect the changes outlined in Construction News 25-01 and submitted for recertification.
Please note the following alteration. Tyco Electric have ceased production of item number 400608 – Type 8 Pillars made to Essential Energy’s specifications during the grace period. An Ausgrid approved alternate item has been approved by Essential Energy for temporary use. It will be supplied under the existing stock code for previously certified designs requiring Type 8 Pillars until the end of the grace period.
After 8 April 2026 subdivisions must be designed and constructed to comply with the new requirements.
All construction work commissioned after 8 April 2026 will be required to use the new materials outlined in CEOM7004 Approved Materials List. Changes to construction standards will be published in the next amendment. Construction News 25-01 Low Voltage Pillars must be used as a reference of change until then.
What do you need to do?
- Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
- Review the Construction News 25-01 Low Voltage Pillars.
Further Information
If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.
What's New?
Whats new - June 2025 (378 KB) (pdf)