Welcome to TasNetworks Electrical Professionals Information Hub

There has been an increase of non-compliant holes being drilled into private GI poles, generally for the purpose of mounting the switchboard onto the pole and allowing the cables to be run down the inside of the pole and out through a hole.

Please be aware that this modifies the pole from the manufacture’s requirements and compromises the galvanised sealing and integrity of the pole. This may also impact on the strength rating of the pole.

TasNetworks will not connect to a modified pole that does not meet the requirements of the Service and Installation Rules.

Section 4.3.6 - (please read the SIR in its entirety)

• c) No holes greater than 4mm diameter on steel poles, no more than two holes in the same plane, and no holes left unsealed
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• Note: The customer mains can be run down the outside of the pole or if run down the inside of the pole, use the manufactures hole in the bottom part of the pole (approximately 500mm below the ground).

The above clause refers to TasNetworks poles in the Service and Installation Rules but the 1st private pole that is connected to the distribution network must also comply with this clause.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2025 Electrical Professionals Satisfaction Survey.

This survey enables us to hear the voice of the industry, better understand how well we’re delivering the services you and your clients need, and any opportunities for improvement.

What we heard:

• 1 in every 2 electrical professionals state they are satisfied with TasNetworks’ current services and performance.
• And while we saw a drop in overall satisfaction from 2025 and 2024 results (down 11%) – we in fact saw an uplift in satisfaction across all the specific service attributes.
• The industry felt TasNetworks core strengths revolved around staff knowledge, responsiveness, and technical support. This was backed up by clear communications.
• There are however suggested areas of improvement – focusing on better coordinated communications amongst various parties to align works better; a desire for improved speed and timeliness; and considering ways the digital applications and requests could be more user friendly.
• These are all valid and insightful forms of feedback that the team will use to guide ways in which we can improve services to Electrical Professionals.
• With the recent introduction of the Private Underground Reporting Process, TasNetworks were interested to understand how the service and guiding communications have been received by industry. Feedback included:
  • High degrees of awareness (88%) of the reporting process through Before You Dig Australia. With 2 in every 3 electrical professionals agreeing this was an important reporting function to implement.
  • Around half found the change to reporting process effective, yet some still find it difficult to navigate.

We greatly appreciate the honesty and openness of your feedback – as this will guide our continuous improvements program to support how the industry best engages and works with TasNetworks services.

It's that time of year where a number of our teams are taking a well-earned break over the Christmas and New Year period.

• Technical Advice Team - will be unavailable from 18/12/25 returning 12/01/2025.
• Customer Service Centre, Connection Services and Fault Crew will be operating with limited resources.

All other areas of the business will shut down from Thursday 25th December 2025 and return to usual operations on Monday 5th January 2026.

From all of us at TasNetworks, we wish you a safe and happy holiday period.

The Expression of Interest for the Delivery Partner closed on 14 February, with five interested parties submitting responses. The evaluation process was completed in March, and we were pleased to shortlist two suppliers to progress to the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage.

Since then, we have held multiple collaboration sessions with the shortlisted suppliers to finalise the project scope, performance management, and efficiency targets, all aimed at delivering the best value to our customers. This process has taken longer than initially anticipated. TasNetworks has not previously tendered for a single delivery partner for the regulated program of work and anticipate the new approach will realise a beneficial outcome for our enterprise, customers, and the community.

We are pleased to announce that the RFP was officially released to the two shortlisted suppliers on 15 September. As we embark on the final stage of determining our preferred partner, we are committed to securing the best outcome and partner to deliver our program safely and with high quality.

Aurora Energy have changed their process for vacated residential and small business customer premises. Aurora Energy are looking to commence trialling the use of advanced meters for remotely disconnecting and reconnecting energy.

Electricians should not assume a site is energised or de-energised based on occupancy or appearance.

View the full Safety Notice here: Safety Notice - Remote De-energisation Re-energisation.

For more information, visit the Aurora Energy Website.

TasNetworks has been working with Councils and the Electrical Industry on developing a statewide consistent approach to support the installation of Private Underground Consumer Mains across road reserve / public land.

The Service and Installation Rules v8.5 has now been published with additional information.

It is important to note:

• Landowner (eg. Council, State Growth etc.) approval is still required, and evidence will need to be submitted at the application stage.
  • There may still be scenarios where the landowner may not approve these connection so ensure you obtain these approvals BEFORE commencing any work onsite.
• The BYDA Template will need to be completed in full and submitted with the EWR once all work onsite has been completed.
  • Only the TasNetworks BYDA Template will be accepted
  • You can find examples of the BYDA information requirements here
• If either of the above steps are not met, the connection will be delayed until such time as these are received
• A fee will be charged through to the customers retail bill.
  • This fee may change once we have finalised the AER ringfencing waiver applications.
• TasNetworks will install a visual warning sign on the associated pole.
• Customers will continue to own the private consumer mains and following faults, TasNetworks will make safe as required and communicate that it will be the customer's responsibility to address any further repairs.
• The EWR Checklist in section 3.9 of the Service and Installation Rules has also been updated to reflect these changes.

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

The AER has now approved the application guides for the 2025-2026 regulatory control period. The documentation for these services has been published on the 'Regulated Distribution Pricing' page on TasNetworks website.

The main documents commonly referenced by the Electrical industry are.

• 2025-26 Ancillary Services - Fee Based Services Application and Price Guide (PDF)
• 2025-26 Ancillary Services - Quoted Services Application and Price Guide (PDF)

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. 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.

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.

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

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' (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 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 and the team will review these when they return.

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