An Accredited Service Provider (ASP) is a business or individual accredited to carry out specified contestable electricity network work in NSW. The term comes up when a property needs a new connection, a damaged service cable is replaced or the supply arrangement changes. ASP accreditation relates to the type of network work a provider may do. It is not a measure of how experienced an electrician is.
Knowing the three levels helps you hire someone authorised for your actual job rather than assuming every electrician, or every ASP, can handle any network task. For most property owners the relevant one is an authorised Level 2 provider.
How the NSW ASP Scheme Works
The NSW Government runs the scheme, and the electricity distributors, such as Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy, set their own authorisation requirements. A provider can be accredited and still need the right class and individual worker authorisation for a particular task, so confirm both before contracting network-related work. The official overview is on the NSW Government ASP scheme page.
Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3: What Is the Difference?
- Level 1: What it covers – Constructing or altering eligible network infrastructure | Typical project – Overhead or underground network assets for a development
- Level 2: What it covers – Connection services between the network and the point of connection, plus certain network-related equipment at the main switchboard | Typical project – Service lines, defects, disconnection and reconnection, supply changes
- Level 3: What it covers – Designing eligible network infrastructure | Typical project – Subdivisions and larger developments
Level 3 is not a “better” Level 2. They are different jobs. A subdivision might need a Level 3 design, Level 1 construction and then Level 2 connections to each lot, while a single home usually needs only a Level 2 connection plus ordinary wiring. The level reflects the project’s scope, not its size or value.
The detail of Level 2 tasks, and how they differ from everyday wiring, is covered in what Level 2 electrical service work involves.
When You Might Need a Level 2 ASP
You may need one when you are building a new home, replacing a damaged overhead connection, dealing with a private pole or service-line defect, arranging a builder’s temporary supply or changing the incoming connection. A single-phase to three-phase upgrade can also include Level 2 connection work.
Not every switchboard replacement, EV charger installation or meter exchange needs it. What matters is whether the job involves the network connection or other equipment covered by the specific ASP authorisation.
What Level 2 Accreditation Does Not Cover
It does not give blanket permission to work on high-voltage network infrastructure, design distribution networks, replace every network pole or carry out unrelated telecommunications work. Nor does it mean all general electrical work needs Level 2. Individual work classes and distributor authorisation must be verified, which is why a general statement that a contractor is “an ASP” isn’t enough.
How to Check a Provider Before You Book
- Electrical licence. Check the business and the electrician on the Service NSW licence checker.
- ASP level and classes. Ask which level and work classes they hold and whether those cover your job.
- Network authorisation. Ask whether the individual worker is authorised by your distributor for the task.
- Who handles approvals. Confirm who arranges outages, network notifications and completion paperwork.
- Quote scope. Check whether excavation, access work and making good are included.
A licence number in an advertisement doesn’t prove authorisation for network work, and an old invoice doesn’t prove current accreditation. Ask for the details to be confirmed for your job, and see licensed vs unlicensed electricians for the general licence checks.
Who Owns the Equipment?
Electricity connections can include network-owned assets, privately owned service equipment and wiring on your property. Where a pole stands doesn’t tell you who owns it: a pole in your front garden may be private while the equipment next to it is subject to the network’s rules. A decayed private pole, an unsuitable attachment bracket and a damaged underground service connection can each follow a different process. Confirm the asset boundary, permission to work and responsibility for costs before accepting a proposal. The differences between pole types are in the six types of power poles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an ASP the same as a licensed electrician?
No. An electrical licence and ASP accreditation are separate requirements. For network-related jobs you need both, and the level and authorisation must match the job.
Can a Level 2 ASP build a new street distribution network?
No. Network construction is Level 1 work, and some projects also need Level 3 design.
Can an ASP repair a defect notice?
A provider with the right accreditation and authorisation can fix defects within its scope. The notice and who owns the equipment decide the exact work.
How do I find out which distributor serves my address?
Check your electricity bill or connection paperwork, or ask your electrical contractor. In Sydney it is usually Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy.
What happens if my contractor isn’t authorised by my distributor?
They may not be allowed to complete that work on your network. Confirm authorisation at the start, not when reconnection is due.
Check Your Project’s Level With IZCO
Choosing between ASP levels is easier when someone looks at the job with you. IZCO Electrical is a Grade A ASP and licensed contractor for Level 2 connection work across Sydney. Send us the details or phone 0470 123 811.
