Electrical Partners Alert

If you have been requested to perform a supply upgrade at a customers’ property but also need to relocate the Point of Attachment (POA) at the same time, remember to take the following steps in the correct order:

1. Request the supply upgrade via the Electrical Partners Portal with a Connect Application and note that a POA relocation will also be required.
2. Submit an Electrical Work Request (EWR) with the Action being Supply Upgrade and POA Relocation checked as a secondary service. (Please refer to the below example of POA Relocation being checked as a secondary service.)

We want to let you know that the electricity low voltage supply limits have changed. A recent adoption of the international standard AS IEC 60038:2022 in December 2022 now specifies a range of 230 V ±10% phase-neutral and 400 V ±10% phase-phase.

Please keep in mind as we partner with you to resolve your customer’s issues that the minimum steady-state supply voltage under this new version of the standard is 207 V, down from 216 V specified in the previous version of the standard.

An updated version of the LV Generation Standards (i.e. STNW1170, STNW1174, STNW3510 and STNW3511), and a supplement to the Queensland Electricity Connection Manual (QECM), have been released and will come into effect today Monday, 6 February 2023.

The updates will enable the implementation of an emergency backstop mechanism in Queensland. Further information on the emergency backstop mechanism can be found on the Ergon Network website, as well as the updated versions of the LV Connection Standards and QECM supplement.

To enable the emergency backstop mechanism, new and selected replacement inverter energy systems connections 10kVA and above, are required to install a Generation Signalling Device (GSD). The GSD utilises the ‘Demand Response’ mode of AS/NZS 4777.2 compliant inverters and can be used, as a last resort mechanism under direction of AEMO to manage system security.

Please refer to the Ergon Network website for detailed information on the implementation requirements, including:

• The revised Connection Standards,
• Supplement to the QECM in respect of installing a GSD,
• Summary of which installations are required to install a GSD,
• Register of Approved Generation Signalling Devices,
• Customer factsheets, and
• Frequently asked questions.

To assist you in identifying when a GSD should be installed, our Electrical Partners Portal will include a pop-up message to advise when a GSD is required. Please note: You should still confirm requirements under the relevant Connection Standard.

We appreciate the feedback we have received from industry as this initiative has been developed and we will continue to work through the technical questions we receive.

We understand that this initiative will involve additional time for PV installations and appreciate your co-operation as we implement this important measure to help manage network security and allow more rooftop solar to be safely connected to the network.

As highlighted in the consultation, we will be reviewing the implementation and considering further mechanisms and opportunities to support system security in the future.

Please email emergencybackstop@energyq.com.au for further information if required.

To assist our applicants in being successful with their Connection Applications we’ve developed some tips and tricks to support a compliant Connection Application.

This quick guide available on our network websites will assist you to tick all the boxes the first time around with your application:

• Ergon Energy Network
• Energex

We appreciate that it can be frustrating when your job doesn’t progress as expected, and we are here to assist you. Both Ergon Energy Network and Energex have a zero-tolerance policy towards mistreatment of our employees. Please remember there is no excuse for abuse to our staff.

In September 2022 we published an article here in the Industry Alert with detailed information about our following up customer property poles and electrical connections defects.

We are republishing this important information and ask that you please take note of the first two dot points explaining when you are required to submit a Connection Agreement and/or EWR (Electrical Work Request).

The article -

To keep our community safe, customer property poles and electrical connections including POA (Point of Attachment), mains box, meter box etc. are being inspected. Many defects have been identified and our Customer Engagement Team has been set up to specifically support this initiative. The team are following up by issuing customers with notices in the form of a letter with a set timeframe to rectify the defect. Timeframes are strict and based on risk – 60, 180 or 270 days.  If identified defects aren’t rectified by the customer in the requested timeframe the property will be disconnected on electrical safety grounds.

Please note the following information should you be completing work for your customers because of their receiving one of these letters:

• A Connection Agreement and/or EWR (Electrical Work Request) will be required in many instances, for example (but not limited to):
• If meters require moving to a new meter panel.
• After a mains box is replaced. (Ergon Energy Network only)
• 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 Energex aren’t required to attend site the customer can supply an invoice and a Certificate of Test & Compliance in the stated timeframe to close out the defect.
• IMPORTANT: Electrical contractors must not move Energex service lines. This is only to be done by our crew. (QECM 5.4.1)
• The Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 and the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020 – Working Near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines sets out some 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 in this regard, and on how to apply to become an Authorised Person, please refer to our Authorised Person web page.

For further information please contact the Customer Engagement Team on 1300 743 268 or email privatepoles@energyq.com.au