Electrical Partners Alert

The new version (4) of the Queensland Electricity Connection Manual (QECM) came into effect on 21 February 2024 and a transition period will apply between version 3 and version 4 until 19 April 2024.

For more information on how this transition will impact your projects, please see our frequently asked questions.

You can view our Ergon Energy Network and Energex QECM Online Engagement Roadshow for a presentation on the changes.

For further information about changes within version 4 of the QECM, please contact  QECM2024@energyq.com.au

Or access the relevant website QECM page:

• Ergon Energy Network
• Energex

Customer Requested Switching enables customer connections to be isolated from our distribution network so that electrical work for the premises can be safely carried out.

Switching may be needed in the following circumstance:

• De-energisation of the customer’s premises to allow Ergon Energy Network and Energex works to be undertaken.
• High voltage (HV) switching of the Ergon Energy Network and Energex network for customer requested HV or low voltage (LV) work.
• Switching of the interface / Ergon Energy Network and Energex network for customer LV work.
• Requests to isolate on the LV side of the transformer.

On the Ergon Energy Network and Energex websites under the Contractors menu, you can now find a new option for ‘I want to organise Customer Requested Switching’.

On the Contractors page, you can now find a tile for Customer Requested Switching.

• Ergon Energy Network
• Energex

On the Customer Requested Switching form, you can now find more information about Customer Requested Switching and when it is required.

• Ergon Energy Network
• Energex

As part of the changes to version 4 of the Queensland Electricity Connection Manual (QECM), commencing 21 February 2024 we have expanded the ways customers can install dedicated electric vehicle chargers with electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).

With the expected increase of home-based electric vehicle charging, these additional options will allow applicable customers to utilise their own solar generation to charge their electric vehicle while ensuring that we are able to manage the impact on the electricity network.

These options apply to installations that are 100 amps per phase or less, and installed EV chargers that are capable of greater than:

• 20 amps single phase at a single, two or three-phase premise,

Or

• 40 amps three-phase at a three-phase premise.

Detailed information on the requirements and how to implement them is located on the relevant website:

• Ergon Energy Network
• Energex

We will be soon holding a webinar to explain these new EVSE charging options. Details will be publicised shortly and to register your interest please email: QECM2024@energyq.com.au

Please find below updates we have made to our Queensland Electricity Connection Manual (QECM) Engagement Roadshow schedule:

• Due to popular demand, a second Brisbane event has been added on the south side at Mount Gravatt. If you would like to update your registration to attend this session, please click here.
• Our Townsville session has been rescheduled due to Tropical Cyclone Kirrily impacts; this will now be held Tuesday 13 February.
• Our Sunshine Coast session has also been rescheduled; this will now be held Monday 19 February.

If you have already registered for either the original Townsville or Sunshine Coast sessions, you are not required to re-register for the new session as your ticket will apply to the new session.

To review the list of our face-to-face sessions or update your registration details please click here.

If you are unable to make one of our in-person sessions, we now have two online sessions now available for registration:

• February 8 - 4:30pm to 6:00pm
• February 15 - 9:00am to 10:30am

Version 4 of the QECM has been published on our websites for your perusal ahead of its go live date on 21 February 2024. To access version 4 of our QECM and frequently asked questions click the relevant website link below:

• Ergon Energy Network
• Energex

For further information:

• About version 4 of the QECM please contact: QECM2024@energyq.com.au
• About the engagement sessions please contact: CustomerAdvocacy@energyq.com.au

Our Asset Standards technical documents have a new home.
Examples of these documents include:

• Overhead Construction Manual (OHCM)
• Underground Construction Manual (UGCM)
• Queensland Public Lighting Manual

These documents and many more can be found under the Contractors tab on the relevant website link:

• Ergon Energy Network
• Energex

If you are an Ergon Energy Network or Energex contractor or Accredited Service Provider, you can download Work Category Specifications (WCS), technical documents, Standard Work Procedures (SWP), and other documentation relevant to the service you are authorised to provide.

Some of the benefits of the new platform include:

• No more split manuals - manuals are now one complete file.
• Access to both Ergon Energy Network and Energex documents in one repository.
• Same access and layout design for all service providers
• Register for notifications when updates are made to WCS and SWP documents.

The program will provide rebates to eligible Queenslanders to purchase and install an approved household battery system to use with their new or existing solar system.

The program will be launched in two stages, as outlined below:

Stage one – Installer registration

Registration with the Department of Energy and Climate (formerly the Department of Energy and Public Works) is a mandatory prerequisite for participation in the program. The department will publish a list of Approved Installers on its website when the program opens. A householder will not be eligible if their battery is installed by someone not on the list of Approved Installers.

Solar retailers and installers must submit an online application to register. Installers, whether applying as a businesses or individual contractors, are required to meet eligibility requirements to register as an Approved Installer for the program. Evidence that the installer meets these requirements will need to be uploaded as part of the online application process.

Eligibility criteria includes:

Electrical licence:

• For businesses – Queensland electrical contractor licence
• For installers – Queensland open electrical mechanic licence

Working safely at heights certification:

• Certificate completed within the last 6 years

Accreditation:

• Clean Energy Council battery accreditation (for grid connected batteries and/or stand-alone power systems)

or

• An equivalent level of training based on successful completion of nationally recognised training modules through an Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

To complete the application process, businesses will also be required to complete and sign the Battery Booster program acknowledgement form.

For more information on eligibility and registration requirements, visit the Battery Booster program web page for installers.

Stage two – Open to households early 2024

The Battery Booster program will open to Queensland households in early 2024.

There will be minimum requirements for households to be eligible for the program. A summary of minimum requirements is available on the  Battery Booster program web page for households. Full eligibility details will be published when the program opens.

Register now as an Approved Installer

As a solar battery retailer or installer that operates in Queensland, it's crucial that you are aware of the program and the process to register as an Approved Installer. We encourage you to visit the Battery Booster program web page for installers to register as an Approved Installer ahead of the program opening to households in early 2024.

Exciting news!  Energex is welcoming inverter or device manufacturers to work with us to have their products or solutions certified for receiving dynamic operating envelopes (DOE). We have already kicked off the certification testing with some manufacturers.

Stay tuned early next year for more information on:

• The benefits of dynamic connections
• How to access dynamic connections
• Finding out what products are certified
• Considerations for designing or upgrading to dynamic connections.

The Emergency Backstop mechanism will require generation signalling devices to be installed on 10kVA and above inverter energy installations as a policy response to the network risk from minimum system load.

• Emergency backstop is confirmed for implementation from 6^th February 2023, applying to all new and selected replacement LV IES installations 10kVA and above.
• Further clarification on implementation arrangements have been updated on  www.energex.com.au/emergencybackstop
• There will be an industry Webinar on 24^th January 9am-10am – register to attend by contacting emergencybackstop@energyq.com.au

New connection standards will apply from 6th February, following the industry consultation that took place over August and September 2022.

For further information please email emergencybackstop@energyq.com.au

We are excited to soon be holding information sessions where you will have the opportunity to hear directly from us about updates to the Queensland Electricity Connection Manual (QECM) (version 4).

We have a number of face-to-face sessions across Queensland for you to choose from, click here to register now.

Please note version 4 of the QECM has been published on our websites for your perusal ahead of its go live date - 21 February 2024. To access version 4 of our QECM and frequently asked questions click the relevant website link below:

• Ergon Energy Network
• Energex

If you would like any further information about version 4 of the QECM please contact: QECM2024@energyq.com.au

If you would like any further information about the information sessions please contact: CustomerAdvocacy@energyq.com.au

Dynamic Connections continue to be the popular choice for new solar customers across Ergon Energy Network and Energex. To enable a Dynamic Connection, an inverter or gateway device registered with our utility server is required. Four compliant providers are now certified for use with our utility server supporting a range of inverters, refer to our Dynamic Connection Compliant Providers for further information.

The number of providers will continue to grow as we proactively work with vendors to have their systems certified with our utility server. Please encourage your suppliers to get their relevant equipment certified.
For further information refer to the relevant website and frequently asked questions:

• Ergon Energy Network
• Energex

Additional questions or suggestions on how we can improve the connection process please contact: Dynamic.Connections@energyq.com.au

We have transitioned to new contact centre technology as part of ongoing efforts to streamline systems and improve our customer service.

To ensure your call is answered by a specialised team member, the following new IVR options will apply to the Electrical Contractor’s Hotline:

• Press 8 to report a power supply issue (including relays and broken seals).
• Press 1 for Queensland Electricity Connection Manual (QECM) or Queensland Electricity Metering Manual (QEMM) enquiries.

For EWR enquiries:

• Press 2 for appointments.
• Press 3 for new connections.
• Press 4 for existing connections.
• Press 5 for all other enquiries.

We would like to remind installers intending to install fixed Embedded Generation (EG) systems where the aggregated nameplate capacity is between 1,500 kVA and 5 MVA that applications will be subject to additional technical requirements as outlined in Appendix E of STNW1174.

Please refer below to our Standards for Low Voltage Embedded Generating Connections:

• Ergon Energy Network
• Energex