Tech Talk
T O DO:
Connection Standards newsletter – March 2015
Contents
• Delivering simpler, easier connection services
• New and Upgraded Supplies CitiPower
• New and Upgraded Supplies Powercor
• Private Overhead Electric Lines and Bushfire Risks
• Maintenance of Solar Installations
• Incident Advice
• Reconnection of an Abolished Service
• Future plans take shape thanks to your input
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To all Registered
Electrical Contractors
The aim of this Tech Talk is to provide you and
your employees with information that will help us
to improve service for our customers. Please read
the document and pass it on to your employees or
associates for their information.
Delivering simpler, easier
connection services
CitiPower and Powercor is seeking your help in
creating a new more user friendly and efficient
connections portal to be launched later this year.
Registered Electrical Contractors (RECs) will be able to use
the new portal to initiate, submit and monitor the progress of
connections requests anytime and anywhere using
a smartphone, tablet or desktop.
The more streamlined service at our end will help you deliver
a better level of service to your customers.
We acknowledge that some RECs have had problems using
the current REConnect solution and we want your input into
developing the new portal which is part of
a broader initiative to standardise, simplify and automate our
connections processes.
Roadshows have commenced and will continue over the
coming months offering you the opportunity to see the
solution in development and provide feedback to help us
refine its design so that it meets your requirements, is easy
to use and is something that you want to use.
RECs can also become involved in a dedicated REC
Network linked to the project team. Members of the REC
network will receive regular project updates and have the
opportunity to test and provide feedback on the new portal
at demonstration sessions.
For further information about the End to End Connections
Redesign Project, upcoming REC Roadshows or how to join
the REC Network email: [email protected].
New and Upgraded Supplies
CitiPower
There are some issues you’ll need to consider
if you’re thinking about upgrading the electricity
supply at your or your customers property.
Some of our customers need to upgrade the electricity
supply to their property, such as when they need to
upgrade from a single phase to a multi-phase connection.
When an upgrade goes ahead, the customer may need to
contribute to the cost of the new connection. If this is the
case, it helps if we know as much as possible about your
new connection, because this can affect the overall cost.
For example, cost will be affected by the position of
existing poles, access to your property, and whether the
connection will be shared with another property.
The contribution we make to the connection will depend
on how much electricity you use, so you will need to let us
know about your power usage.
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Tech Talk
Most importantly, if you or your customer need an
upgraded connection, you need to start making enquiries
now. It takes time, so the sooner you get started, the
sooner we can help you. Contact CitiPower to find out
what you need to do. Or, complete the upgrading supply
form on our website;
https://www.citipower.com.au/our-services/electricityconnections/new-and-upgraded-supplies-citipower/
electricity-supply-application-guide/
For assistance with the form
Download the guide to completing this application:
Electricity supply application guide.
Call the Customer Projects team on 03 9297 6619
Email your enquiry to [email protected]
New and Upgraded
Supplies Powercor
If you or your customer are planning a new or
upgraded electricity connection to your property,
you need to start enquiring now.
To begin the process, it’s a good idea to seek advice as
soon as possible by calling 13 22 06. An early enquiry and
application will help ensure work on your electricity supply
begins quickly.
To help you with an application, we’ve provided an
Extension Works Information Brochure for urban, rural,
business and subdivided properties.
Once we receive an application, which can also be
completed online, we will contact you and guide you
through the connection process.
You or your customer may be required to make a financial
contribution to the cost of connecting our power lines to
your property, so it is important that we fully understand your
needs to provide the best solution. Costs may be affected
by location of existing poles, trees where the poles are
likely to go, easy access to the property and shared costs
between property owners. We may contribute to the costs
of your connection, depending on the amount of electricity
you use.
Additional detailed information is also available in
“Powercor’s Customer Guideline for Making an Electricity
Supply Available” document on our website.
Click here to view the On-line Extension Works Application
Form, https://www.citipower.com.au/our-services/electricityconnections/new-and-upgraded-supplies-powercor/on-lineextension-works-application-form/#/OnlineExtensionForm
Tech Talk
3
Private Overhead Electric Lines and
Bushfire Risks
Powercor Australia carries out regular asset
inspection and maintenance programs on
its electrical distribution system to minimise
the possibility of any asset failure creating a
bushfire hazard.
If performing repair work for the purpose of restoring
supply after a fault on a POEL you are responsible for
providing an Electrical Work Request (EWR) to Powercor
before supply can be reconnected. In these situations,
ESV also requires a Certificate of Electrical Safety for nonprescribed electrical installation work.
Powercor also inspects Private Overhead Electric Lines
(POELs) to prescribed standards and at prescribed
intervals. We currently inspect POELs up to the first
switchboard free of charge.
POEL Defect Notice
Owners of POELs also have an obligation under the Electricity
Safety Act 1998 to minimise the risk of bushfires by ensuring
POELs are properly maintained and are in a safe condition.
As a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC), you have a vital
role in ensuring that your customers’ POELs comply with
the Electricity Safety Act 1998 and the Electricity Safety
(Installations) Regulations 2009.
REC Safety
Responsibilities
POEL Fault
If Powercor or one of our contractors attends a fault on
a POEL, we will make the POEL safe (this may require
disconnecting supply) and advise the customer to notify an
REC to carry out any necessary repairs. Where the POEL
is connected directly to one of Powercor’s poles, the REC
can contact Powercor’s Call Centre on telephone 13 24 12
to arrange reconnection.
Where it is necessary to obtain an exemption from
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) to undertake temporary repair
works you are responsible for obtaining that exemption.
An exemption will be necessary where substantial
reconstruction is required in a designated hazardous
bushfire risk area. Substantial reconstruction means
replacing more than 20 percent of the poles or conductors
in the POEL. ESV can be contacted during business hours
on telephone (03) 9203 9700.
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Tech Talk
In the event that we identify defects on a POEL and
have issued a Defect Notice to the customer, the
customer must engage an REC to rectify those electrical
defects. As the customer’s agent please advise
the customer that they will be responsible for any
costs incurred by Powercor in providing requested
services such as the installation of a service pit or
truck appointments.
Required Repair Dates
Any Defect Notice issued by Powercor will outline the
defects identified and a timeframe for their remedy.
It is important to rectify all defects by the required repair
date. If the repairs are not undertaken by the repair date,
Powercor is obliged to report this to ESV who has the
authority to apply penalties against the customer or order
the disconnection of supply.
In exceptional cases where you cannot meet the required
repair date you should immediately advise ESV.
Where substantial reconstruction is required and you
cannot meet the required repair date you should seek
an exemption from ESV. You will need to lodge a written
application for an exemption to ESV along with the relevant
fee on the customer’s behalf.
Repair Work Completed
Once the work is completed you must forward a
completed Certificate of Electrical Safety to ESV with a
copy to Powercor. You must also complete a Compliance
Declaration Form on behalf of the customer and return it to
us as soon as the work is completed so we can update the
customer’s defect status on our POEL database.
Maintenance of Solar Installations
Household use of photovoltaic (PV) panel systems
has grown significantly as awareness of climate
change increases and Government incentives to
use the technology have been made available.
Recently CitiPower and Powercor wrote to owners to
remind them of these obligations and provide some advice
on how to remain compliant. As we are not able to provide
specific advice for individual systems, we have advised
owners to contact their installer or REC if they have any
concerns about their system, or would like a preventative
maintenance check.
Many installations have now been in place for three years
and as Electricity Distributors, CitiPower and Powercor are
required to remind owners of their obligations under the
Electricity Distribution Code.
Solar PV installations fall in the category of small
embedded generators in relation to the Code and as such,
owners have the following obligations:
• Ensuring that your small renewable generating source
operates at the required system frequency of 50 Hz (or
within any allowable variation that applies).
• Ensuring that your small renewable generating source
and any equipment within it connected to the local
electricity network, complies with Victoria’s Electricity
Distribution Code, the Electricity Safety Act 1998 and
regulations and all relevant Australian Standards and is
maintained in a safe condition.
• Ensuring that your small renewable generating
source’s electrical protection devices are at all times
coordinated with the electrical characteristics of the
local electricity network.
All systems are required to meet Australian Standard
AS4777 which covers all requirements under the
Electricity Distribution Code. Most systems require very
little maintenance and only need an occasional inspection
to ensure excessive dust or dirt is not present and all
connections are secured and clearly labelled. However
some owners may prefer to engage an REC to check
their system and provide a current certificate of
electrical safety.
The Clean Energy Council maintains a list of all solar
panel and inverter models that meet Australian
Standards. The list is available on their web site
www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au
Tech Talk
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INCIDENT ADVICE
The purpose of this notification is to advise employees and contractors of a significant
incident immediately (same business day where possible).
Information contained below is preliminary only and is provided for communication purposes
for all employees and contractors. This communication expires 2 months from issue date.
INCIDENT TYPE
Health & Safety
Environmental
Reliability
Property Damage
INCIDENT DETAILS
TIME:
10.00AM
DATE:
3rd September 2014
LOCATION:
Wyndhamvale
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT
(i.e. what happened, including task being performed at the time, extent of injuries, if
any / property damage, etc)
A fault crew attended a site to isolate supply to a
property (recently vacated) at the request of the
property owner’s REC who had discovered illegal
wiring.
Upon investigation an illegal bypass was found
behind the meter panel and a second set of
customer’s mains had been illegally installed from
inside the Powercor pit to behind meter panel.
Both sets of customer’s mains were disconnected,
tested for de-energised and defect issued to
customer.
REMINDER
In this case fuses were removed and the legal customer mains were disconnected in
pit however supply was still alive to the installation until illegal set of mains were also
disconnected in pit.
All employees and contractors are reminded that it is a mandatory requirement to test
installations (including consumer’s mains) for de-energised, after the removal of the
supply fuse/s when undertaking metering & servicing, faults and investigation
activities on existing installations.
INCIDENT CONTROL PERSON DETAILS
NAME:
John Smith
CONTACT NO.:
1234 5678
DATE:
8th September 2014
REMOVAL FROM NOTICE BOARD
DATE:
8th November 2014
Note: Incident Control Person is to forward the draft Incident Advice to one of the following for
approval prior to distribution:
•
Manager Health & Safety
•
Manager Safety & Work Practices
•
Manager Risk Management
•
Network Safety Manager
Reconnection
of an Abolished Service
The following information is provided regarding the
treatment of customer electrical installations where
the service has been abandoned (abolished).
5.2 Compliance with
Regulations, Codes of
Practices and these
Rules
Victorian Service and Installation Rules FAQ.
Q. Is it permissible to have a previously abolished electrical
installation reconnected to a Distributor’s supply mains
where it doesn’t meet the current requirements?
A. No. The requirements regarding reconnection of the
electricity supply to a previously abolished property are
contained in the Victorian Service & Installation Rules
2014, clause 5.2 Compliance with Regulations, Codes
of Practices and these Rules. This clause is intended to
inform persons of the need to ensure the relevant parts
of electrical installations meet full compliance with current
legislation, codes and standards before they can be
connected or reconnected to a Distributor’s supply mains.
A copy of the clause is provided for reference purposes.
5.2.1 General
Every new electrical installation, alteration, addition,
maintenance or repair to an electrical installation to be
connected or reconnected to the Distributor’s mains is
required to comply with the current edition of the Electricity
Industry Act, Electricity Safety Act and the Regulations
and Codes of Practices under jurisdiction of those Acts,
including compliance with these Rules, and other relevant
Acts, Regulations, Codes of Practice and Guidelines.
The Distributor may inspect the electrical installation or
occupancy to determine compliance with these Service &
Installation Rules.
Tech Talk
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Future plans take shape
thanks to your input
Next month CitiPower and Powercor will submit proposals outlining our plans for the 2016-2020 regulatory
control period to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and we’d like to thank all our customers and
stakeholders who have provided valuable input into our planning over the past two years.
Once the proposals are submitted, the AER will conduct a
formal consultation process before determining the revenue
that we need to operate a safe and reliable network and
deliver services to our customers.
Over the past two years, CitiPower and Powercor has
been engaging with customers and stakeholders, including
RECs, in a variety of ways including online surveys, focus
groups, interviews, regional engagement forums and the
Directions and Priorities Consultation Paper – previously
featured in Tech Talk.
We have considered the feedback received through our
customer and stakeholder engagement to help us identify
the most efficient, cost-effective ways to deliver a safe and
reliable electricity supply to our customers in the upcoming
five year regulatory control period.
During the Direction and Priorities consultation conducted
in September and October last year, we asked our
customers and stakeholders whether they thought we
had struck the right balance between safety, reliability,
growth and affordability. The consultation paper outlined
the findings from previous customer and stakeholder
engagement activities and asked people to provide
feedback on our proposed direction and priorities. Ten
organisations and 16 individual CitiPower and Powercor
customers responded.
Many organisations supported targeted investment to
support growth in their regions, as well as outlining the impact
of different tariff types on their constituents, encouraging
the enablement of smart meter technology, fostering the
connection of renewable energy sources and supporting
energy efficiency measures. Vegetation management and the
way we maintain our assets were also themes.
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Tech Talk
Individual submissions included strong views on the
introduction of new tariff types, greater access and ability to
use smart meter data for the benefit of customers, the role of
our Business in enabling the connection of renewable energy
sources, a continued commitment to bushfire mitigation
strategies, and support for modernising our networks.
All our customer and stakeholder feedback is published on
our Talking Electricity website – www.talkingelectricity.com.au.
We encourage you to take a look at what people are saying
about the future of their electricity supply and look out for
updates on how we are responding to this feedback in our
proposals when they are submitted to the AER in April 2015.
The AER’s formal consultation process includes publishing
an issues paper on our proposals, hosting a public forum
and considering formal submissions.
For more information about the AER’s approach to
assessing our regulatory proposal and its decision making
processes, visit www.aer.gov.au