Electrical Partners Alert

Clarification on the application of the MCC Standard:

Where relay-operated switchgear is installed in a three feeder mesh network for the benefit of a single Customer as part of a Connection Application, the Customer will be responsible for fully funding the installation of the relay operated switchgear.

Our Contractors web pages have useful links, information and documents for some of the most common questions on our Electrical Contractor’s Hotline.

What are approved Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Dynamic Connections?

Got a question about a QECM clause?  Get in touch with our team on the QECM query call back request form.

With the release of the latest version of the Embedded Generating Connection Standards, we have also released updated report templates for generating systems over 30kVA. See the report templates on our How to connect Larger systems over 30kVA web page.

Please ensure you are using the latest templates; applications must align and comply with the new templates by 30 June 2025.

As part of ongoing efforts to streamline systems and improve our customer service, the IVR options to the Electrical Contractor’s Hotline have been updated to ensure your call is answered by a specialised team member:

• Press 8 to report a power supply issue (including relays and broken seals).

For EWR enquiries:

• Press 2 for Solar, Battery and Electric Vehicle enquiries
• Press 3 for New Connections including appointments for New Connections
• Press 4 for Existing Connections including appointments for Existing Connections
• Press 5 for Queensland Electricity Connection Manual (QECM) advice
• Press 6 for all other enquiries.

To contact our team on the Electrical Contractor’s Hotline, please call:

Ergon Energy Network 1800 237 466

Energex 1300 762 397

When submitting an EWR for a connection, always check that necessary supply is available before ticking ‘Yes’ to the below question.

If you are ever in doubt, you can submit a Supply Availability Enquiry to confirm supply. This can then be progressed to a Connection Application.

Confirming supply can avoid potential delays to your connection by ensuring appropriate infrastructure is already in place.

Under the Electricity Act 1996 (Q LD), when a person is connecting something, such as a solar photovoltaic (PV) system to the distribution network, they must comply with the technical conditions for the connection.

As the person connecting the customer’s solar PV generating system to the distribution network, solar installers must ensure that the conditions in the connection contract, including compliance with the technical standards, are complied with. This includes compliance with the Emergency Backstop mechanism for emergency control of the network. Failure to comply may result in a penalty and the customer's installation being disconnected.

Compliance with relevant conditions helps to ensure that the network continues to operate in a secure manner, keeping the lights on for everyone.

We are focusing on our compliance incentives including working with Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA), improved training and awareness, and initiating non-compliance processes.

Please note we are actively following up instances of non-compliance directly with customers and installers.

For further information, please refer to:

• QECM version 4 web page
• STNW1170 (PDF 669.7 kb) and STNW1174 (PDF 2.0 mb) for fixed connections
• STNW3510 (PDF 654.5 kb) and STNW3511 (PDF 2.1 mb) for dynamic connections
• Our Emergency Backstop mechanism web page

As previously communicated in our September 2022 alert, we have enhanced our inspection program to include point of attachment private property poles, the Point of Attachment (POA), mains box and (dependent on the location of installation) the meter box.

Many defects have since been identified. Customers are being issued with notices in the form of a letter with a set timeframe to rectify the defect. Timeframes are strict and based on identified risk to be rectified within 60 or 180 days.

If identified defects are not rectified by the customer within the requested timeframe, supply to the property will be disconnected on electrical safety grounds. Additional focus on switchboard safety will be applied in the coming weeks.

Please note the following information should you be completing work for your customers who have received a letter following an inspection or Electricity Defect Report:

• A Connection Agreement and/or EWR (Electrical Work Request) will be required in many instances including but not limited to:
  • Meters require relocation to a new meter panel
  • POA requires relocation to another point on an installation
  • POA relocated to a new property pole
  • If network fuses require relocation to the distributor pole.
• For work where Ergon Energy Network or Energex are not required to attend site the customer can supply an invoice and a Certificate of Testing and Compliance within the stated timeframe to close out the defect.
• IMPORTANT: Electrical contractors must not move entity owned equipment, including service lines and meters. This is only to be done by Ergon Energy Network or Energex staff as per QECM 5.4.1 & 1.5.2.6
• The Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 and the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020 – Working Near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines sets out requirements for those working near electricity lines. It mandates ‘exclusion zones’ or areas close to lines where people or plant (machines) are not allowed to enter. These zones vary depending on whether you’re classified as an ‘Authorised Person’, an ‘Instructed Person’ or an ‘Untrained Person’.

For further information on your obligations when working near electricity lines, and on how to apply to become an Authorised Person, please refer to our network websites:

• Ergon Energy Network
• Energex

For further information on the inspection of privately owned electricity lines and switchboard defects, please contact our Customer Asset Team on 1300 743 268 or via email:

Ergon Energy Network CustomerAssets@ergon.com.au

Energex CustomerAssets@energex.com.au

When submitting a Connect Application for Embedded Generation. The service selection ‘Add Storage Batteries – DC Coupled Only’ is for DC Coupled Battery Storage Devices only.

Where an Energy Storage System (ESS) includes an inbuilt inverter (AC Coupled), please submit your application as an Increase or Replacement of the current system.

We require an AC Coupled system to be submitted as an Inverter under the ‘Equipment Field’, and as a device under the Inverter.

Where an application is made incorrectly, we may cancel your submission and request you to submit your application correctly as noted above.

For further information please refer to the Applicant Guides on our websites.

With the release of the latest version of the Embedded Generating Connection Standards, we have also released the updated Compliance Report templates for generating systems over 30kVA.

The Compliance Report templates now require additional information demonstrating emergency backstop compliance including requiring photos of the installation. Please ensure you have reviewed the requirements of the updated form before heading to site.

The updated Compliance Report templates can be accessed via our network websites:

• Ergon Energy Network
• Energex

Thank you for your partnership during Cyclone Alfred to help customers understand what the required steps are to get reconnected if their power is disconnected due to storm damage, flooding or inundation.

To ensure your customer can be reconnected as soon as possible, please follow the below required steps:

• Once you have completed a safety check and fixed any defects, please leave a signed Electricity Defect Report or Certificate of Test and Compliance onsite to confirm the premises is safe for reconnection. Leaving a physical report onsite rather than submitting an EWR to our Portal will ensure your customer’s reconnection can be expedited.

• Contact our team on 13 62 62 to advise the site is ready for reconnection. Contacting our team will ensure your request for your customer can be prioritised.

• Our crew will attend and confirm the defects have been rectified and reconnect the premises to the electricity network.

As you are an important link in the reconnection process, we would like to share with you an infographic we use to explain this process and requirements to your customers.

Please refer to our website for clear information for customers when their power has been off due to the recent weather event and what they can expect when it’s time for their power to be restored: Getting reconnected after severe weather.

We are pleased to inform you that the latest versions of the Embedded Generating Connection Standards have now been released and have come into effect from 23 February 2025.

You can access these standards through our network websites or through the below links:

• STNW1170 Version 10 (PDF 669.7 kb)
• STNW1174 Version 7 (PDF 2.0 mb)
• STNW3510 Version 3 (PDF 654.5 kb)
• STNW3511 Version 3 (PDF 2.1 mb)

Dynamic connections as defined in standards STNW3510 and STNW3511 are optional in Queensland. We are currently finalising STNW1175 Version 5 and anticipate the release of this standard shortly.

For further information, please refer to the AS/NZS 4777.1 FAQ fact sheet (PDF 1.1 mb) which provides guidance and information on how AS/NZS 4777.1 applies to HV connections under STNW1175.

We have seen an increase in applications for Modular Battery Systems. We have put together the below step by step guide to assist you with applications specifically for SigenStor and Sungrow SBR Series products. For any further enquiries regarding products or listings, contact the device manufacturer or visit Inverters at Clean Energy Council.

When increasing the battery capacity for SigenStor products, please ensure you make a new application via our Electrical Partners Portal selecting the relevant option from the below:

To complete your application correctly, you will need to decommission the existing inverter record for the inverter. This is achieved by clicking the lightning bolt icon indicated below:

Once the original inverter has been decommissioned, all devices (Panels and/or Batteries) connected to this record will be decommissioned.

You must then select the inverter model that corresponds with the battery model.

Indicated below is an example of a correct submission:

Indicated below is an example of an incorrect submission:

When applying for Sungrow SBR Series batteries, while it is noted this consists of 3.2kWh stackable battery modules, it is a requirement that battery details within the application exactly match the details published in the Clean Energy Council (CEC) Approved Batteries List.

Indicated below is an example of a correct submission:

Indicated below is an example of an incorrect submission:

If increasing the battery capacity (adding new modules) for Sungrow SBR Series you will need to decommission the existing device record for the battery by clicking the lightning bolt icon.

You must then select the battery model that corresponds to the nominal battery capacity published in the Clean Energy Council (CEC) Approved Batteries List.

For further assistance completing your application, please refer to our Applicant Guide Battery Information (PDF 559.6 kb).