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Electricity Connections
AusNet Services manages the distribution network for Customers in Melbourne’s north and east and across all of eastern and north eastern Victoria. Whether you are a
resident or a business and have a property that is currently not connected to the electricity network, AusNet Services can help you get connected.
New connections or changes to an existing connection can be relatively simple, or may involve an extention or upgrade to the electricity network. The type of connection
will determine the cost and how long it will take to get you connected.
When do you contact AusNet Services?
Complex connection
Basic connection
If your connection requires changes to the electricity network or your property has certain zoning restrictions (cultural significance, bushfire risk etc.), your request
will usually involve: an assessment to create a fixed quote, followed by the construction work. The assessment service attracts a fee that is deducted from your
construction cost if you decide to go ahead with the connection.
For a relatively simple residential connection that does not require an assessment step, AusNet Services may be able to provide an immediate fixed offer. If you
think your connection is in this category try our free online cost calculator.
To get started, apply now by clicking on the applicable application link -
Residential, Commercial, New Estate, Private Mains in Public Land, Public Lighting, Asset relocation/alteration;
or for more information click below -
When do you contact your retailer?
If your connection to the network is all ready to go, the final step is to have a meter installed and energised. To do this you need to contact your preferred electricity retailer and they will organise this for you.
We are responsible for installing new meters and reading and inspecting meters on residential and business premises. Before we do this work we need to receive two separate service requests from your selected Retailer.
- First request: Allocate National Meter Identified (NMI). This is required to create a unique identifier for your meter.
- Second request: Establish Supply Request. This is required for us to come out to site and install the meter.
What’s involved in getting connected with AusNet Services?
Getting connected to the AusNet Services network involves applying for the connection and then paying the construction costs. Once payment has been made, the construction work will be scheduled and completed. The process and cost will vary depending on the complexity of your site conditions.
If you are a residential customer, we recommend contacting an electrical contractor to complete this process on your behalf.
More information is available below and on our Electricity Connections Application page.
More Information
The sections below provide the criteria for the main connection types. You can use these descriptions to determine what connection type you need. We also have Model Standing Offers that can help you determine the type of connection you need.-
Basic connections
A basic connection applies when your installation:
Requires no changes to our network (eg new poles, lines, electricity pits)
Has no metering or technical issues
Has no special requirements for additional power.For example, you would need to apply for a basic connection under the following circumstances:
Overhead lines: Powerlines are located on the same side of the street as your property, with poles located within 20 metres and no clearance or property-crossing issues
Underground lines: An electricity service pit or pillar exists at the boundary of your property, with no property-crossing issues.
Getting Connected
To arrange a basic connection, please follow the steps below.
- Contact a Registered Electrical Contractor (electrician) to arrange a property inspection – if there are no problems, your contractor will issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES) and Electrical Works Request (EWR)
- Choose an electricity retailer – for tips and tools on choosing a retailer, please visit: https:// compare.switchon.vic.gov.au/
- Ask your electrical contractor to forward copies of the CES and EWR to your chosen retailer, who will then send a service order to AusNet Services. Once we’ve received and validated your new connection request, it will take 10 business days to finalise your connection.
If you don’t qualify for a basic connection, we’ll do our best to let you know within 10 business days. You may be directed to request a negotiated connection. You can request a negotiated connection at any stage of the application process, even if you’ve already qualified for a basic connection.
SWER = Single Wire Earth Return
powerline, seen in some rural and remote
areas. -
Basic embedded generation connections
A basic embedded generation connection applies when:
You're feeding electricity back into our distribution network from a solar power system (or another embedded generation system, such as wind turbines.
Your new or upgraded embedded generation system has a maximum capacity of up to 4.6 kVA, or up to 3.5 kVA if connected to a Single Wire Earth Return (SWER) powerline
Your inverter meets technical requirements – ask your installer for more information
Our meet all other requirements for a basic connection.
Please note that a battery system may have additional requirements that require pre-approval. For more information, contact: preapprovals@ausnetservices.com.au
Getting connected
It's important to do the following to arrange a basic embedded generation connection.
Choose an installer, who must be a registered electrical contractor, according to the law; solar installers must be accredited by the Clean Energy Council.
Check that your installer will issue and submit all necessary paperwork to your chosen electricity retailer, including the following:
- Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES)
- Electrical Works Request (EWR)
- Embedded Generator (EG) Connection Form (for new installations)
Tell your electricity retailer about your embedded generation system, such as a solar power system; in turn, your retailer will send a service order to AusNet Services.
Once these steps are complete, we will prepare your meter to work with your new embedded generation system.
For more information about these types of connections, please click through to our section on Embedded Generation. Basic connections Basic embedded generation connections SWER = Single Wire Earth Return powerline, seen in some rural and remote areas.
* Please note: the Basic Micro Embedded Generation Model Standing Offer (MSO) has been updated as of 1 December 2019. All new inverters must have the power quality response mode settings, detailed in the MSO, applied at the time of installation.
SWER = Single Wire Earth Return
powerline, seen in some rural and remote
areas. -
Standard connections
Applicable from 1 February 2017, standard connections cover those where our network doesn’t quite reach the property. Typically, these would be houses in subdivisions and some semi-rural areas.
Standard connections usually involve:
Building a service pit then running a powerline underground from a nearby powerpole to that pit. (Pole to pit connection)
Connecting to an existing underground powerline. (Service joint to pit connection).
Criteria
These connections are covered by a set fee comparable to that charged by other distribution businesses, providing certain conditions are met.
These include the:
Availability of low voltage supply
Service pit being in safe and technically applicable location
Customer’s power requirement not exceeding 40 Amp (single phase) or 63 Amp (three phase). With connections to SWER lines, other requirements may apply
The length of the connection is within AusNet Services requirements.
Additional charges
In certain circumstances, AusNet Services will charge additional fees for standard connections.
These include:
A customer requesting a pit in a non-preferred location
A pit being located where it cannot readily be shared A connection that requires a road crossing
The need to excavate an underground cable
The requirements for a site-specific Aboriginal cultural heritage, due-diligence assessment.
* Please note: AusNet Services has increased its capital contribution charges for Standard Connection Services in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases. Please click here for the new charges effective 01 January 2020.
SWER = Single Wire Earth Return
powerline, seen in some rural and remote
areas. -
Negotiated connections
A negotiated connection applies when your requirements are beyond those covered by a basic embedded generation connection.
More specifically, you will need to apply for a negotiated connection if one or more of the following factors is a consideration:
Your installation requires changes to our network (e.g. new poles, lines or electricity pits)
You have metering or technical issues
You have significant power requirements, exceeding 100 Amp, or more than 40 Amp per phase
Your connection is to a Single Wire Earth Return (SWER) powerline – a single-cable powerline seen in some rural and remote areas
You have an embedded generation system (or other renewable energy source) that could supply our electricity distribution network with more than 4.6 kVA, or more than 3.5 kVA if connected to a SWER powerline
Your inverter or export system has special technical requirements – ask your installer for more information.
Process
To begin the negotiated connection process, please call us on 1300 360 795.
From the commencement of negotiations, we will produce a firm offer stating the costs and connection within an estimated 65 business days.
All proposed embedded generation connections must also satisfy AusNet Services’ safety and technical requirements. For more information, please click through to our section on Embedded Generation.
* A negotiated connection applies if you answer ‘yes’ to one or more factors
SWER = Single Wire Earth Return
powerline, seen in some rural and remote
areas.
