Need more power? it’s as easy as ASP.
It often starts as a simple question. The building is changing, demand is rising, new uses are being added and someone quite reasonably says, “We just need more power.” On the surface, it feels like a technical upgrade — a bigger supply, a new connection, maybe a transformer somewhere down the line.
In practice, this is where projects quietly diverge.
In NSW, upgrading electrical capacity isn’t a single transaction with the network. It’s a regulated pathway, and the quality of decisions made right at the front end determine whether the process feels straightforward or becomes slow, expensive and frustrating. That front end is where Accredited Service Providers — ASPs — come in.
An
Accredited Service Provider (ASP) is a business accredited under the NSW ASP Scheme to perform specific types of
“contestable works” associated with electricity connections and network extensions. These contestable services allow customers and
developers to engage qualified providers for parts of the connection process, rather than relying solely on the distribution network service
provider (DNSP).
In practical terms, this model creates greater choice, competition, and flexibility—while maintaining safety and technical standards through accreditation, rules, and distributor oversight.
The three ASP levels: a quick explanation
In NSW, ASPs are commonly grouped into three levels, each aligned to a different stage of a connection project:
-
Level 1 ASP – Construction
Level 1 ASPs typically perform the construction of distribution network assets such as network extensions or augmentations required for new developments or major upgrades. -
Level 2 ASP – Service works and connection activities
Level 2 ASPs commonly carry out service connection works between the distribution network and customer premises, including certain disconnection/reconnection tasks and connection-related activities within their authorised scope. -
Level 3 ASP – Contestable design
Level 3 ASPs provide the specialist design services that sit at the front end of many electricity connection projects. This is often where the success—or failure—of a project is determined.
The ASP framework exists because electricity networks are not blank canvases. Every request for more power interacts with existing feeders, protection systems, voltage limits and future network planning. The question isn’t just how much power is needed, but how that load connects, where it connects, and what else is triggered as a result. Those answers don’t emerge during construction — they are locked in much earlier, at the design stage.
This is where Level 3 ASP capability matters more than most people realise. Level 3 ASPs are accredited to design contestable electricity connections — the part of the process where options still exist. A good design doesn’t just show compliance; it defines the point of supply, shapes the extent of network augmentation, clarifies what work is contestable versus distributor-delivered, and sets realistic expectations around cost and timing. In effect, it turns a vague desire for “more power” into a solution the network can actually accept.
Why it’s essential to choose an ASP certified provider
Not all electrical contractors or engineering firms are accredited under the NSW ASP Scheme. Engaging the wrong provider—someone who is not accredited for the relevant scope—can introduce serious project risk, including:
- Non-compliant works that cannot be accepted
- Connection delays due to failed approvals
- Rework and redesign costs
- Safety exposure and liability concerns
- Lack of alignment with distributor requirements
When selecting an ASP, it is important to confirm that the provider is properly accredited for the level of work required. This ensures the provider has met scheme requirements and is operating within the defined technical and safety framework.
For customers and developers, using a certified ASP is not just a compliance checkbox—it is a practical way to protect your budget, programme, and connection outcome.
When the ASP pathway is used properly, the experience is very different. The upgrade stops being a reactive fix and becomes a managed process. Risks are identified early. Costs are better defined. Timelines are more defensible. Most importantly, decisions are made while there is still room to make them
So yes — needing more power can be straightforward. But it isn’t automatic, and it certainly isn’t just about installing bigger infrastructure. It’s about understanding the network, designing within it, and using the ASP framework the way it was intended.
Haron Robson is a Level 3 ASP accredited provider, enabling the delivery of contestable electricity design services that support safe, compliant and efficient distribution network connections across NSW.
Need more power?
It’s as easy as ASP — when you start in the right place.
Electrifying advice from Haron Robson
