Electrical Partners Alert

There are currently two options to have low voltage current transformer (LVCT) drawings approved.

Expedited: Your application will be processed within 10 Business Days (This option will currently incur a fee of $330 Incl GST)

Standard: Your application will be processed within 20 Business Days (No fee)

From the 1 September 2023 the fee for expedited processing of LVCT Metering Advice will be increasing from $330 incl GST to $384 incl GST.

The Standard 20-day option will still be available at no charge.

Thank you for the great response to our request for feedback on the proposed new Queensland Electricity Connection Manual (QECM), which has been circulated for external consultation since 16 June 2023. We know there are many different views so really appreciate your responses.

If you were unable to attend our webinar held on the 28 June, the slides and video recording are now available on the Talking Energy website.

We have welcomed great engagement to date with a number of stakeholders providing feedback on a broad range of topics, areas of particular interest include:

1. Meter board locations
2. Electric vehicle charging
3. Additional Distribution Network Service Provider (DNSP) service point provision

As part of the consultation process, we will review the feedback received with the aim to clarify and or amend the draft QECM where appropriate. This version of the QECM represents the first major update in multiple years and there has been a focus on improving alignment, clarity and document structure to support future revisions whilst also responding to change. We acknowledge that some stakeholders may see changes as significant, whilst others may not see the level of change they expect.

Where suggestions cannot be accommodated in a timely manner, we will seek to progress activities beyond the publication of this version of the QECM. Additional DNSP service point provision is one area that will need further investigation beyond QECM Version 4 publication, to identify options that align with broader safety and statutory considerations. We will be issuing further information about that separately this year and have had further engagement with some stakeholders already.

In recognition of the level of interest and feedback received, we will be extending the external consultation period for an extra week, until Friday 21 July 2023.

You can access the draft QECM and the feedback form via our Talking Energy website.

We look forward to continuing engagement with our key stakeholders to ensure the QECM evolves to meet the changing needs of both our network and our customers.

If you have any questions on the draft QECM please email standardsfeedback@energyq.com.au

Ipswich is taking part in an exciting trial that will see batteries connected into the local electricity distribution network. The goal of the trial is to find smarter, cleaner energy solutions for the future, helping to bring down the cost of electricity for all.

The Ipswich Neighbourhood Battery Trial, an Energex, and Origin Energy partnership, is using batteries to store solar energy during the day, for use locally in the evening when demand is high. There will be thirty pole mounted batteries and five ground mounted batteries being installed around Ipswich during July and August.

The Ipswich Neighbourhood Battery Trial is part of Energy Queensland’s Local Network Battery Plan and is being jointly funded by Energex and Origin Energy, with an estimated total project cost of $10 million.

To find out more or register for updates please visit - www.talkingenergy.com.au/neighbourhood-batteries

We are excited to soon be holding our 2023 Energy Academy information sessions where you will have the opportunity to hear directly from Ergon Energy Network and Energex about key issues and updates that may impact your business and customers.

By attending a session you will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide your feedback via the online chat on:

• Queensland Electricity Connection Manual (Version 4) upcoming release

• Dynamic Customer Connections - enabling Dynamic Capability

• Handy tips and tricks to get your job scheduled efficiently

Join us online through Microsoft Teams. We have two session times for you to select from:

• 8:00am – 9:30am - Tuesday 11 July 2023

  Register here

• 3:00pm – 4:30pm - Thursday 13 July 2023

Register here

Effective 1 July 2023, the existing Ergon Energy Network (solarteam@ergon.com.au) and Energex (domesticsolarpv@energex.com.au) solar email addresses will be retired.

Please ensure all future LV embedded generation correspondence to:

Ergon Energy Network

ergongeneration@energyq.com.au

Energex

energexgeneration@energyq.com.au

A reminder that when you request a supply abolishment there are extended project timeframes where there are distribution (Energex) assets on site.

If you require LV underground mains or a transformer recovered from your site prior to a demolition, this requires a project to determine the safest and most efficient way to do this. Project timelines can extend upwards of 6 months but are site specific.

If you would like to ensure an asset recovery is done prior to your preferred demolition date, the best approach is to submit an Enquiry for Asset Relocation via our Electrical Partner’s Portal advising you need an asset recovered.

If you have questions about the process to recover distribution assets, please contact qldconnections@energyq.com.au

Please be reminded of the importance of responding to requests for further information on New Connection jobs. Delays in doing so may prevent the job from being issued and, in turn, delays in completing the customer’s connection.

If additional information is required to progress the connection, the job will be placed on hold and Ergon Energy Network or Energex will do the following:

• Attempt to contact the relevant Electrical Contractor on the phone number provided.
• If contact is unsuccessful, an SMS will be sent requesting a call back to provide the information required.

After three attempts have been made to contact the Electrical Contractor with no response, the job is returned to the retailer nominated on the EWR.

Ergon Energy Network and Energex are excited to provide an update on our leading-edge dynamic connections. Please visit our Dynamic Connections web pages:

Ergon Energy Network – Dynamic Connections

Energex – Dynamic Connections

Please watch this short Dynamic Connections video for an overview of how dynamic connections work.

To enable a dynamic connection, an inverter or gateway device that is registered with our Utility Server is required. A gateway device is now registered which supports a range of inverters. Installers can contact CATCH Power, the current certified provider, for advice on this. The number of providers will continue to grow over time as more systems become certified with our Utility Server.

Definitions:

Utility Server: Allows communications between us and the customer’s inverter or gateway device to enable the dynamic connection, which maximises the export of excess energy based on available network capacity. 

Gateway device: Enables the full benefits of a dynamic connection, by providing an interface between selected inverters (which are not registered as a stand-alone item) and our Utility Server.

• Several other vendors are continuing to test during June 2023 and will be added to our list of registered providers upon certification.

Ergon Energy Network

Energex

Future dynamic connections enquiries can be made via the following channels:

grid.enablement@energyq.com.au
www.ergon.com.au
www.energex.com.au

Drop and Rehang

This should only be selected as a secondary service on an EWR when 2 visits are required to the site (i.e., a service drop and either a late same day rehang, or a later date rehang). Examples include a house raise or any situation where we cannot immediately upgrade and/or swing the service to the new location.

Service Selection Type

Please be reminded of the importance of the service selection type on an EWR. Supply Upgrade EWRs with the Category of ‘Connection / Supply’ are required on any upgrade or downgrade on a customer service line where the fuses or phases are changing, i.e., fuses require upgrading from 53 to 80 amps per phase or a site requires a service line upgrade from 1 to 3 phase. Meter only upgrades or downgrades will require an EWR with a Category of ‘Metering’.  

Point of Attachment relocations EWRs

This type of EWR will not change a customer’s service, phases, or supply fuses.

Relocation EWRs

This type of EWR is not to be used for temporary to permanent supply changes or vice versa; only for temp to temp, or perm to perm. These situations will require new connections paperwork under a new temporary or permanent NMI depending on the connection type.

Upgrades or new connections above 80amps

Please note, a supply availability enquiry will be required for this type of work. For connections where the supply is under 80 amps and the network LV is not available outside the property or an electrician is unsure a supply availability OR a negotiated connect (CX) will be required. Negotiated CX’s can be raised by selecting ‘NO’ to ‘Is electricity supply available to your property from the existing Energex network?’ in the connection details section of a connect application.

Point of Attachment (PoA) Advice

An enquiry for a Point of Attachment (POA) advice is only to be submitted where an Electrical Contractor is unsure where to locate a Property Pole (PP) or point of attachment on a structure. It will not provide information on a Point of supply (POS) Energex pole, for this a supply availability enquiry or Connect would need to be submitted.

A number of compliance issues have arisen recently regarding supply configurations for Community Title Scheme developments.

This update is to ensure that external stakeholders are aware of key compliance issues when preparing CTS developments in electrical design and/or construction phases.

As per the Queensland Electricity Connection Manual (QECM), both Ergon Energy Network and Energex required 1 Service Line and 1 Meter Board position located in Common Property for most CTS developments. 

For full details on meter board location requirements for CTS developments, refer to clauses 5.3, 6.9.8, 6.9.9 and drawing QECM6.6.

Where a Community Title Scheme is designed so that each lot has community property that has been designated as exclusive use, they may apply under clause 5.5 for additional service lines where:

• they have road reserve access for each exclusive use area as per clause 5.3 (ii); and
• they have no common foundation or roofline such that they comply with clause 5.3 (iii).

As the energy transition gathers pace and more renewables are connected to the network, our job is to ensure the Queensland Electricity Connection Manual (QECM) reflects changing customer needs, while we continue to provide a safe and reliable network. Our proposed amendments to the QECM also directly supports the delivery of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan (QJEP).

A key focus is to continue to place customers at the core of what we do. Updating the QECM allows our technical requirements to evolve to support network access for our customers, a key objective of the QEJP, as they embrace new energy technologies. In addition to meeting future connection requirements, we’ve also made it a more user-friendly document.

Have Your Say!

We are seeking your feedback, as an industry stakeholder, on our plans to provide a new look framework and format to the QECM to better clarify and align with modern connection requirements, including dynamic connections.

Please review our new look draft Queensland Electricity and Connection Manual and provide your feedback via the link below.

In parallel with our new look QECM, the Competitive Metering Industry Group (CMIG) is seeking feedback on their new Metering Installation Requirements (MIRs) which will replace our Queensland Electricity Metering Manual (QEMM) as we move towards industry aligned metering requirements.

With the QECM and MIRs closely aligned, we would encourage you to also review and provide feedback on the MIRs to CMIG via the link below.

How to Provide Your Feedback

Please provide feedback on the Queensland Electricity Connection Manual and Metering Installation Requirements via our Talking Energy website. Copies of the QECM, MIRs and the respective Feedback Templates are also available on the Talking Energy website.

Consultation feedback closes Friday 14 July 2023.

Join Our Webinar

A briefing session will be held on both the draft QECM and the MIRs at 9:00am on Wednesday 28 June 2023. To register for the webinar, or if you have any questions on the QECM, please send an email to standardsfeedback@energyq.com.au

For any questions on the MIRs, please email CMIG’s representative paul.greenwood@vectormetering.com

Ergon Energy Network and Energex crews have recently observed an increase in instances where the Electrical Contractor requires metering to be removed (including controlled load tariffs); however, the Electrical Work Request (EWR) does not include a request for this additional service.

Please be reminded to select the additional service ‘Remove Meter’ on EWRs when meter removal is required, including for controlled load tariffs. This is to ensure the correct job can be dispatched to field crews for completion.

Submitting accurate EWR details ensures reduced re-work for Electrical Contractors, minimises the risk of delays and an enhanced experience for all parties.

Please note: there are no extra fees incurred by the customer for this type of additional service request.

For further information, please email:

• Energex: custserve@energex.com.au
• Ergon Energy Network: networkenquiries@ergon.com.au