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Unmetered supply

You can connect an approved unmetered supply (UMS) device to the electricity network for a reliable power supply. As part of this process, we need to confirm if suitable power supply from our network is available for your connection and establish a new connection contract with you.

Approved UMS devices are connected to our network without an electricity meter. This is because the electricity usage is predictable or can be accurately calculated without a meter.

Unmetered Supply Devices

An unmetered supply (UMS) device encompasses many approved devices whose usage can be calculated accurately without a meter. This includes (but isn't limited to) traffic signals, rail crossing signals, nbn cabinets, CCTV and illuminated signs.

Follow the below steps to understand how to connect a UMS device with us.

How to connect a UMS device

  1. 1 Getting started

    The best place to start is to talk to an electrical consultant or electrical contractor, who will complete the connection design and construction work for you. Your consultant can provide the required information about your proposed new connection and can also submit your Connect Application on your behalf.

  2. 2 Submit a Connect Application

    To get your device connected to power, you need to apply and accept our offer to start your new connection contract with us.

    As a customer, you can submit a Connect Application yourself through our Customer Self Service. If you’re not quite sure about the information you need to provide, we recommend having your electrical consultant or electrical contractor submit the application on your behalf.

    If you are an electrical contractor operating on behalf of a customer, you will need to submit the Connect Application through the Electrical Partners Portal. As an electrical licence is typically required to use the Electrical Partners Portal, many consultants will submit via Customer Self Service.

    You can check the progress of your application via Track Service Orders.

    When we receive your application, we’ll check if the connection service you want is basic or negotiated and if suitable power supply from our network is available for your connection.

    Note: The person who applies is typically the person contacted during the connection process.

  3. 3 Accept our connection offer

    Once the Connect Application has been submitted, we will review the application and provide a Connection Offer. The offer must be accepted for your new connection to proceed.

    Note: Whoever submits your application will also need to accept our connection offer.

    Basic connection

    If your connection service type is assessed as basic, the application can be fast-tracked when submitting online by ensuring the Expedite Application box is ticked. The connection contract will automatically be created based on the terms of our Model Standing Offer for Approved Unmetered Devices (PDF 1.2 mb).

    Negotiated connection

    If your connection service type is not basic, or you want to negotiate the terms of your connection contract, then it’s classed as negotiated.

    See timeframes below for how long will it take to establish your contract connection.

  4. 4 Submit an Electronic Work Request (EWR)

    Once your UMS device has been installed, an electrical contractor will need to submit an EWR. This form will provide us with the technical information we need to connect your device to our network.

  5. 5 Speak to your electricity retailer

    The EWR will also notify Origin Energy1 so they can contact you to set up a new account or to update your existing account with the new UMS device. Your account needs to be set up and ongoing charges agreed to before we can connect you.

    Once this is done, Origin Energy will send a service order to request us to complete your network connection.

    1Note: Origin Energy is currently the only electricity retailer for UMS device connections in South East Queensland. If you wish to choose another retailer, you will need to select a device with a metered electricity supply. These are considered new connections.

  6. 6 We connect your device

    We’ll visit the site to connect the power supply to your UMS device. We must do this within set timeframes, unless we have to change our network to connect you or need to organise an appointment for your connection.

    Note: We’ll need access to the network connection point during our visit.

How long will it take?

For the new connection contract

To establish your connection contract, we’ll make a connection offer within the following timeframes.

OfferTimeframe
Basic Connection Offer
(expedited)
  • If you expedited your Connect Application, your connection contract will start when your application is submitted.
Basic Connection Offer
(non-expedited)
  • If you didn't expedite your Connect Application, we'll make a Basic Connection Offer within 10 business days
  • You'll have 45 business days to accept it
  • Your connection contract will start when your offer is accepted.
Negotiated Connection Offer
  • We'll make contact within 20 business days to advise that we'll be giving you a Negotiated Connection Offer and clarify any information
  • We'll aim to provide this offer within 65 business days
  • You'll have 20 business days to accept it
  • Your connection contract will start when your offer is accepted.

For the device connection

To get you connected, in addition to your Connect Application and accepted connection contract, we need an EWR from your electrical contractor and a service order from your electricity retailer.

Once all paperwork is received, we will endeavour to attend your site within the below timeframes to complete your connection (unless we must change our network to connect you or need to organise an appointment for your connection).

LocationTimeframe
CBD or urban Within 5 - 10 business days2
Rural Within 10 business days
Isolated Within 30 business days

2Some areas may appear to be CBD or Urban, but they can be classified as Rural within our network. In these cases, we’ll complete your connection within 10 business days.

Check the progress of your Connect Application in Track Service Orders.

Note: Connection timeframes depend on network availability, clear access to your site, traffic control requirements, or any other impacts that are outside of our control.

How much will it cost?

Fees and charges will depend on the type of connection service you have applied for, and whether any work is needed on the electricity network to connect you.

Other charges may apply under a Negotiated Connection Offer. For example, an application fee, a network extension fee, or a capital contribution.

If any network charges are required to meet your Connect Application, an estimate of these charges will be included in your Connection Offer for your approval. See our latest price lists on our Connections charges web page.

All our connection charges have been approved by the Australian Energy Regulator.