Service and Installation Rules of New South Wales The electricity industry standard of best practice for customer connection services and installations
August 2012
Foreword This is the August 2012 edition of the Rules which incorporates all amendments made since the October 2006 edition was issued. Changes since the July 2011 revision are underlined. The Management Committee identified in the acknowledgements has endorsed the changes.
The Rules (titled August 2012 to take effect from 1 October 2012 but with a transition period to 1 February 2013) are the recognised industry code outlining requirements of electrical distributors when connecting a customer to the distribution systems of New South Wales.
The 2012 edition of the Rules has no reference to any local requirements, as the electrical distributors have agreed to abandon local Rules.
The Rules are incorporated by reference in the Code of Practice for Service and Installation Rules.
The Rules set out the minimum standards for providing safe, reliable and efficient connection services to customer premises.
Neither the Committee nor the Division of Resources & Energy (DRE), Trade & Investment accepts any responsibility for:
the design, operation or failure of any electrical installation or installation work; or
any loss or damage occasioned to any person or property as a result of carrying out connection services.
Compliance with these Rules does not necessarily ensure satisfactory operation of electrical installations or installation work. The contractor is responsible for carrying out any additional work to ensure satisfactory operation.
The Committee comprised representatives of government, electricity distributors, contractors and other stakeholders. It consulted widely through the industry and a range of stakeholders while developing the Rules.
The Committee is responsible for resolving issues, monitoring the impact and further development of the Code of Practice and the Rules. Further editorial amendments will be considered at future meetings of the Committee.
There may be situations the Rules do not cover. These may include unusual connection or situations that have been inadvertently omitted, and alterations to legislation and codes. The management committee does not accept responsibility where these situations occur.
Comments or enquiries on the provisions of these Rules should be directed to the electricity distributor.
Convenor SERVICE AND INSTALLATION RULES OF NEW SOUTH WALES MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
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Acknowledgements The following organisations were members of the Committee which prepared the Rules.
Division of Resources & Energy, Trade & Investment
Ausgrid
Endeavour Energy
Essential Energy
Fair Trading
National Electrical & Communications Association
Electrical Contractor and Accredited Service Provider Representative
National Electrical Switchboard Manufacturers Association (NSW)
Aggreko (Generator Industry Specific Advice)
Comments and Enquiries Contact details for Electricity Distributors for comments and enquiries on the provisions of these Rules.
AUSGRID Tuggerah: ((02) 4399 8000
The NSW Central Coast area.
Hornsby: (02) 9477 8201 South of the Hawkesbury River to the North side of Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River.
Muswellbrook: (02) 6542 9017 Muswellbrook, Scone, Merriwa and Singleton areas.
Oatley: (02) 9585 5774 South of Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River.
Wallsend: (02) 4035 6000 Cessnock, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Maitland and Port Stephens areas.
ENDEAVOUR ENERGY 131 081 All areas of Endeavour Energy.
ESSENTIAL ENERGY 13 23 91 All areas of Essential Energy.
Service and Installation Rules of NSW Published in conjunction with the TAFE Student Association
State of New South Wales through Division of Resources & Energy, Trade & Investment.
All rights reserved.
August 2012 Edition ISBN 978-1-74256-352-7
Service and Installation Rules of New South Wales AUGUST 2012 ii
Contents
1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS............................................................................1 1.1 NSW Electricity Distributor Areas......................................................1
1.1.1 Ausgrid.......................................................................................1 1.1.2 Endeavour Energy .....................................................................2 1.1.3 Essential Energy........................................................................3
1.2 Definitions..........................................................................................4 1.2.1 Accredited Meter Provider .........................................................4 1.2.2 Accredited Service Provider ......................................................4 1.2.3 Authorisation ..............................................................................4 1.2.4 Connection Point........................................................................4 1.2.5 Consumers Mains......................................................................4 1.2.6 Contractor ..................................................................................4 1.2.7 Customer ...................................................................................4 1.2.8 Customer Connection Contract .................................................4 1.2.9 Distribution Area ........................................................................4 1.2.10 Division of Resources & Energy, Trade & Investment ..............4 1.2.11 Distribution System....................................................................4 1.2.12 Electrical Installation ..................................................................4 1.2.13 Electricity Distributor (Distributor) ..............................................4 1.2.14 High Voltage Installation Responsible Person ..........................5 1.2.15 Overhead Service ......................................................................5 1.2.16 Point of Attachment (POA) ........................................................5 1.2.17 Point of Common Coupling (PCC).............................................5 1.2.18 Point of Supply (Connection Point)............................................5 1.2.19 RailCorp .....................................................................................5 1.2.20 Service and Metering Equipment...............................................5 1.2.21 Service Fuse ..............................................................................5 1.2.22 Service Protective Device..........................................................5 1.2.23 Transmission Network ...............................................................5 1.2.24 Underground Service.................................................................5 1.2.25 Underground Supply from an Overhead System (UGOH) ........5
1.3 General ..............................................................................................8 1.3.1 Introduction ................................................................................8 1.3.2 Regulatory Provisions................................................................8
1.3.2.1 Notice Requirements...................................................................... 9 1.3.3 Fair Trading................................................................................9 1.3.4 Licensed Electrical Worker Requirements ................................9 1.3.5 Obligatory Requirements ...........................................................9 1.3.6 Damage ...................................................................................10 1.3.7 Damage to other Utilities .........................................................10 1.3.8 Clearance to other Utilities.......................................................10 1.3.9 Purpose of these Rules ...........................................................10 1.3.10 Application ...............................................................................10 1.3.11 Alternative Methods .................................................................10 1.3.12 Dispute Resolution...................................................................11 1.3.13 Safety and Environmental Risk Management .........................11
1.4 Electricity Supply .............................................................................12 1.4.1 Supply at 230/400 Volts (low voltage) .....................................12 1.4.2 Supply at 230/460 Volts (low voltage) ....................................12 1.4.3 Supply at High Voltage ............................................................12 1.4.4 Supply from RailCorp...............................................................12
1.5 Provision For Services, Service And Metering Equipment .............12 1.5.1 Service Specification ...............................................................12
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1.5.2 Advice to Contractors ..............................................................12 1.5.3 Services ...................................................................................13
1.5.3.1 Minimum Insulation Resistance ................................................... 13 1.5.3.2 Number of Services ..................................................................... 13 1.5.3.3 Number of Phases ....................................................................... 13 1.5.3.4 Voltage Drop / Rise................................................................
