Welcome to TasNetworks 'Electrical Professionals Information Hub'

TasNetworks is working to address the barriers electrical contractors face in getting private consumer mains connected to our distribution poles and running cables underground on road reserve / council land.

We are currently working closely with Councils and seeking their support to a short-term solution while we continue to work with all key stakeholders on a long-term resolution.

TasNetworks Proposed Short Term Solution (note: this process is not yet in place)

• Establish a process that enables the recording of private underground consumer mains across council land / road reserves in BYDA.
  • The Electrical Industry will be advised of these requirements once finalised.
  • The Customer or EC will still need to secure the necessary permits and approvals before beginning any work within a road reserve or council land.
• Once finalised and communicated to all key stakeholders, TasNetworks will commence recording new and existing connections in BYDA
• Customers will continue to own and be responsible for the private consumer mains.
• In the event of a fault, TasNetworks will make safe as required and advise that it will be the customer's responsibility to address any further repairs.

This process will still take some time to implement, in the interim to avoid delays with your connections, it is important to follow the process outlined in the current Service & Installation Rules(External link). Remember, if you plan to install private underground consumer mains within a road reserve and connect to a TasNetworks pole, TasNetworks will not approve these connections without the appropriate approval from the relevant councils (or landowners).

Please ensure you secure the necessary permits and approvals before beginning any work within a road reserve or council land, as there is no guarantee that the council or landowner will grant these approvals.

We will continue to update you as we progress.

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What do I do if I cannot obtain council approval to run private consumer mains across council land?

• There are alternate connection arrangements available as per the SIR.
  • Overhead
  • Overhead to Private Pole then Underground
  • Underground from Distribution Turret

Can TasNetworks register private underground consumer mains in BYDA?

• This is our intention; however, we need to finalise processes before we can begin recording this information.
• Registering private assets in BYDA is considered a ring-fenced task and as TasNetworks must adhere to Ring-fencing guidelines we will continue to work with the AER to obtain the appropriate Waiver.

When will this be resolved?

• We will continue to work with stakeholders to find a solution however we cannot provide an estimated resolution timeframe at this stage.
• We will keep the industry updated as more information becomes available.

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If you have any questions on this process, please contact our Connection Services Team: 📧network.EWRadministration@tasnetworks.com.au(External link)

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to improve the connection process.

TasNetworks prices change every financial year, including the 'Regulated Distribution Pricing - Alternative Control Services'(External link) (connection fees, tee ups etc.).

The 2025-2026 annual prices are currently pending approval from the AER and will be published on the TasNetworks website(External link) by 19 May 2025 and willl be effective from 1 July 2025.

The Technical Advice Team are taking a few extra days leave over the Easter Holiday period.

They will be unavailable from Thursday 18th April 2025 and will resume Monday 28th April 2025.

You can still submit an online technical advice request via the Connections portal(External link) and the team will review these when they return.

TasNetworks wish you and your loved ones a fun and safe Easter break.

Some small changes have been made to the Connections Portal for both the Application & EWR process.

Applications

Electrical Contractors will now be asked the below when submitting an application:

“I warrant the proposed connection is in accordance with the TasNetworks Service and Installation Rules and all relevant Australian Standards and Legislation.”

Remember, it is your responsibility to ensure you are familiar with the appropriate rules & legislative requirements.

EWR

To help us improve the scheduling process and clarify how many site visits will be required, we are adding a few additional questions where a Tee-Up with TasNetworks is requested,

• Do you require disconnection on one visit, and reconnection on a second visit?
• Is the disconnect/reconnect required on different days?

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If you have any questions about these changes, please contact the 'Connection Services' team on 1300 137 008 and select option 2.

TasNetworks is now offering the Level 1 - Authority to Access & Level 2 - Authority to Operate as a combined Course.

TasNetworks Authority to Access and Operate

Training will be available in Mornington, Rocherlea and Devonport Depots.

4-6 Hours

$660 per person (includes turret access tools)

6 CPD

To check out available date and book online - please visit TasNetworks Contractors page on our Website(External link)

For more information, please see the Course Outline here or email the TasNetworks Training Centre at training@tasnetworks.com.au(External link).

Full connection requirements are available in the Service & installation Rules.(External link)

TasNetworks is working with councils on a solution to allow ‘Underground Consumer Mains’ to cross council land, to enable a connection up a TasNetworks Pole.

TasNetworks is preparing a submission to the AER for a ringfencing wavier to allow TasNetworks to record private underground consumer mains on council land in BYDA to mitigate the current safety concerns and satisfy council requirements for these connections. Processes are still to be developed and implemented to support this change and these will be communicated to you once all processes and approvals have been finalised. TasNetworks and Councils are working together on a statewide consistent approach

It is important to note, Electrical Contractors are still required to seek council approval prior to installing consumer mains across council land. TasNetworks will not progress these connections without sighting Council approval and evidence of Council approval will be required as part of the connection application process.

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The Service & Installation rules have not changed so ensure you are familiar with the full connections requirements in the Service & Installation Rules(External link).

6.5.2 UG Consumer Mains up TasNetworks Service Pole(External link)

6.5.2.1 Customers must:

a) Obtain approval in writing from their local council or authority to cross council or public land to attach Consumer Mains to a TasNetworks’ service pole. The Electrical Contractor must provide evidence of this approval.

6.5.2.2 Customers’ Electrical Contractors must:

a) Provide evidence to TasNetworks of approval from the local Council to cross council land to attach Consumer Mains to a TasNetworks’ service pole

6.5.2.3 TasNetworks must:

a) Not connect any Consumer Mains up poles to the distribution network if the requirements in 6.5.2.1 and 6.5.2.2 above are not met

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A reminder of the requirements for connection of private underground consumer mains up TasNetworks Pole.

As per the Service & Installation Rules(External link) it is the responsibility of the Customer to engage with the appropriate Councils and obtain approval for Private Underground Consumer Mains to cross council land. This is required for connections or upgrades to existing connections prior to commencing any work onsite.

A TasNetworks connection application where private underground mains cross council land must include evidence of Council approval. This application should be submitted prior to any work commencing onsite to avoid unnecessary rework or additional costs.

The Councils below have formally notified TasNetworks that they will NOT allow private underground consumer mains to cross their road reserve/ nature strip. TasNetworks cannot guarantee that other councils will allow these connections*.

• Hobart City Council
• Clarence City Council
• Kingborough Council
• Glenorchy City Council
• Meander Valley Council
• Launceston City Council
• West Tamar Council
• Dorset Council
• Northern Midlands Council

*This list is current at the time of publishing.

If evidence of Council approval is not provided, TasNetworks will provide alternate connection options.

Please refer to the Service & Installation Rules(External link) for full connection requirements but be aware of the clauses below.

6.5.2 UG Consumer Mains up TasNetworks Service Pole(External link)

6.5.2.1 Customers must:

a) Obtain approval in writing from their local council or authority to cross council or public land to attach Consumer Mains to a TasNetworks’ service pole. The Electrical Contractor must provide evidence of this approval.

6.5.2.2 Customers’ Electrical Contractors must:

a) Provide evidence to TasNetworks of approval from the local Council to cross council land to attach Consumer Mains to a TasNetworks’ service pole

6.5.2.3 TasNetworks must:

a) Not connect any Consumer Mains up poles to the distribution network if the requirements in 6.5.2.1 and 6.5.2.2 above are not met

If you have any queries, please contact the Technical Advice team on 1300 300 545.

A number of our teams are taking a well-earned break over the Christmas and New Year period.

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Technical Advice Team - will be unavailable from 19/12/24 returning 13/01/2025.

Customer Service Centre, Market & Connections and Field operations teams will be operating with limited resources.

Negotiated Applications Team - will be unavailable from 24/12/24 returning 2/01/2025.

All other areas of the business will shut down from Tuesday 24th December 2024 and returning Thursday 2^nd January 2025.

Service Connections Resourcing for the remainder of 2024

• North
  • Scheduling as normal.
• North-West & South
  • New Connections will continue to be scheduled for this year.
  • Tee Ups and Coordinated work for this year is at capacity and will be scheduled for 2025.

TasNetworks is seeing an increase in requests for connection to relocatable buildings, tiny homes and containers (i.e. any structure that is not approved as a permanent dwelling / structure).

Be aware that:

• TasNetworks will not connect a service span directly to these structures.
• Connection arrangements require a stand-alone main switchboard to be installed and any connection arrangements past this point must meet the requirements of the Australian Standards and Codes of Practice.

The Service & Installation Rules will be updated to include this information in the next update (approx. late March 2025).