Outage: 6pm to 11pm Wednesday, 5 May 2021

ESVConnect will be offline and inaccessible for approximately five hours while we add a new 72 hour auto-return function and adjust some other non user-facing system functionality. Read more about this below.

ESVConnect for COES, Licensing and Registration, and Cathodic Protection will be unavailable during this time. We apologise for the inconvenience.

Paper COES can be lodged through the IVR phone system at any time. Call 1300 360 366 and follow the prompts.

New functionality: auto-return of inspection request

The new inspection request 72 hour auto-return function will return any inspection request not actioned (either accepted or declined) by a licensed electrical inspector (LEI) or inspection company (IC) to the responsible person after 72 hours of it being allocated.

This will enable the responsible person to contact other LEIs or ICs, confirm their availability and reallocate the Prescribed certificate for inspection to an available LEI or IC.

This functionality applies to Prescribed electrical installation work only, for which a Prescribed COES is issued and an inspection is required.

A similar function existed in the old Online Services system.

Improving compliance timelines

This new function will assist compliance with the statutory timelines for COES completion, by ensuring LEIs or ICs cannot accumulate inspection requests without actioning them within reasonable timeframes.

The new process for COES reallocation

1. A Licensed Electrical worker (LEW) completes and certifies a Prescribed certificate for electrical installation work completed.
2. The Responsible person (LEW/REC) reviews and approves the certificate.
3. LEW/REC/REC operator allocates the Prescribed certificate to a Licensed Electrical Inspector (LEI) to complete the inspection
4. If, within 72 hours (existing capability):
   • The LEI/IC accept the inspection request, the certificate remains with the inspector, its status changes to ‘Awaiting inspection’ and it is ready for the inspector to complete the inspection.
   • The LEI/IC decline the inspection request, the certificate is returned to the responsible person who can reallocate the certificate to another LEI.
5. If, within 72 hours (new feature to be deployed on 5 May):
   • The LEI/IC does not action (accept or decline) the inspection request, the certificate is automatically returned to the responsible person who can reallocate the certificate to another LEI.
6. Where a certificate is returned by either the LEI/IC or ESVConnect auto-return function, the responsible person will receive an email advising the certificate has been returned. It may then be reallocated.

Contact our Licensing and COES team in the following ways:

• Contact form
• Email: licensing@energysafe.vic.gov.au | coes@energysafe.vic.gov.au
• Phone: 1800 815 721 (Licensing) | 03 9203 9700 – select option 3 (COES

From 7pm, Wednesday 7 April to 12am, Wed 8 April 2021

During this period, ESVConnect will be inaccessible as we undertake system enhancements to continue to deliver improvements in user experience. We anticipate this work will take approximately five hours.

Paper COES can be lodged through the IVR phone system at any time. Call 1300 360 366 and follow the prompts.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused during this outage and thank you for your patience.

From 9pm, Tues 28 July to 1am, Wed 29 July 2020

During this period, ESVConnect will be inaccessible as we undertake system enhancements to deliver an improved user experience. We anticipate this work will take approximately four hours.

Paper COES can be lodged through the IVR phone system at any time. Call 1300 360 366 and follow the prompts.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused during this outage and thank you for your patience.

The system upgrade of ESVConnect was successful. It is now fully operational.

If you are having issues with clearing your system, please select from one of the links below and follow the instructions to clear your web browser cache.

• Google Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari 
• Microsoft Edge

If you need additional help, please contact our Licensing or COES teams.

Upgrades and enhancements in May 2020

7pm to 11pm Monday, 11 May 2020

ESVConnect will be offline and inaccessible for approximately four hours to implement system enhancements.

6am Saturday, 23 May to 9pm Sunday, 24 May 2020

ESVConnect will be offline and inaccessible for approximately 39 hours to perform a major upgrade of the system platform, including implementing an improved user interface.

ESVConnect for COES, Licensing and Registration, and Cathodic Protection will be unavailable during these periods. We apologise for the inconvenience caused by these outages.

Paper COES and the IVR system are not affected by these outages.

Contact us

Contact our Licensing and COES team in the following ways:

• Contact form
• ‘Ask a question’ in ESVConnect.
• Email: licensing@energysafe.vic.gov.au | coes@energysafe.vic.gov.au
• Phone: 1800 815 721 (Licensing) | 03 9203 9700 – select option 3 (COES)

All parties involved in the certification process will now receive an automated Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) upon completion of the Electrical Installation Certification (EIC) Process.

For Prescribed Certificates the notification with attachment is sent to:

• REC Business Email Id (if present)
• LEW Email Id
• Customer Email Id (if present)
• Inspection Company Email Id (if applicable and present)
• LEI Email Id.

For Non-Prescribed Certificates the notification with attachment is sent to:

• REC Business Email Id (if present)
• LEW Email Id
• Customer Email Id (if present).

The issue with ESVConnect has been resolved. The system is running as per usual. We appreciate for your patience.

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ESVConnect is experiencing technical difficulties. We are working on the problem and will advise when the portal is up and running again. We apologise for any inconvenience caused during this time, and thank you for your patience.

• RECs – automatically adding your A Grade Licence to the Workers list of your REC – you will not need to manually add yourself start lodging certificates
• REC login – users upgrading from Online Services to an ESVConnect account using their REC Login ID can change their email ID during upgrade

Paper COES can be lodged through the IVR phone system at any time. Call 1300 360 366 and follow the prompts.

We apologise if you are inconvenienced and thank you for your patience.

Upgrading to ESVConnect is required by ALL LEWs

Electrical workers cannot lodge certificates and RECs cannot lodge on your behalf if you have not upgraded.

LEWs are asked to upgrade to ESVConnect as soon as possible.

After the initial upgrade, you must the login only to ESVConnect with  your new details. DO NOT log back into Online Services.

Click HERE or on the ESVConnect button above to login with your new details.

COES, Licensing, Registration and CPS are live on ESVConnect

We are excited to advise that over the weekend we successfully completed the initial transition of services to ESVConnect, which is NOW LIVE.

Current Online Services users can upgrade to an ESVConnect account and new users can create an account. Watch this video on upgrading your account or go to ESVConnect to create a new account.

Services available on ESVConnect

• COES – purchase certificates, manage installation certifications, review, amend and download completed certificates, manage and allocate electrical inspections. Read more.
• Licensing – all licensing applications and renewals, registration of RECs, LEIs and inspection companies (ICs). Read more.
• CPS – Registration of Cathodic Protection Systems. CPS users will notice a change to the interface, but the process of registering CPS’ has not changed. Read more.

Note: Paper COES will remain for the foreseeable future, lodgement is via the IVR system. Online Services will operate with reduced functionality as we continue the transition of services to ESVConnect.

More information

Below are links to guides and presentations aimed to assist you with the transition to ESVConnect from Online Services.

• ESVConnect – Upgrade login presentation
• ESVConnect – COES Quick Reference Guide

Additional ‘How to’ videos developed for ESVConnect COES users are available on our YouTube channel.

All information on ESVConnect including updates, alerts and FAQs is available at www.esv.vic.gov.au/esvconnect.

ESVConnect has Help text on each screen, however, for more support you can contact our Licensing Team or our COES Team.

Based on further successful performance testing, we have scheduled the transition of COES and licensing services to ESVConnect to commence Thursday 18 July, and continuing over the weekend.

The new functionality will be available from Monday 22 July. Paper COES will remain for the foreseeable future.

What ESVConnect can do

ESVConnect will be the primary system for online regulation of the electrical industry in Victoria – electrical worker licensing and REC registration, COES purchase and lodgement and registration of cathodic protection systems (CPS).

Head to www.esv.vic.gov.au/esvconnect. Here you’ll find helpful information explaining howESVConnect works, how you will upgrade your account from Online Services to ESVConnect, as well as updates, alerts and frequently asked questions for each new component.

Watch our short animation showing how we’ve consolidated old paper-based processes into a new online system.

On 22 July, Online Services users will be able to access ESVConnect – upgrade their accounts to ESVConnect or create a new account if they did not have one before.

Please do not create an account in ESVConnect prior to 22 July.

Online Services will be unavailable during the transition

All COES and licensing functions will be offline from midnight Friday 19 July to Sunday 21 July. Online Services will be available for use, with reduced functionality on Monday 22 July.

Do you have work to be certified during the offline period?
REC’s with work to be certified during the offline period should use paper COES and lodge on the IVR (interactive voice response) phone system. Paper Certificates should be purchased and allocated prior to the offline period.

The IVR system will be fully operational during and after the transition period, for the lodgement of COES. Call 1300 360 366 and follow the prompts.

ESVConnect for CPS registration will be unavailable during the transition

ESVConnect for CPS will be offline from 6.00 am Thursday 18 July to midnight Sunday 21 July.  Users will be unable to register cathodic protection systems while ESVConnect is upgraded.

ESVConnect CPS will relaunch on Monday 22 July – users will notice an upgraded interface with the addition of a left hand side menu on the dashboard. The process of Registering Cathodic Protection systems in ESVConnect will not change.

Do you have CPS’ to register? 

Transition to ESVConnect has been deferred

A new date for the commencement of the transition of services will be advised shortly.

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For a while we’ve been telling you ESVConnect is coming. We are very happy to advise that over the weekend from  Thursday 27 June to 30 June we will begin the transition of COES and licensing services to ESVConnect. 

The new functionality will be available from Monday 1 July. Paper COES will remain for the foreseeable future.

What ESVConnect can do

ESVConnect will be the primary system for online regulation of the electrical industry in Victoria – electrical worker licensing and REC registration, COES purchase and lodgement and registration of cathodic protection systems (CPS).

Head to www.esv.vic.gov.au/esvconnect. Here you’ll find helpful information explaining howESVConnect works, how you will upgrade your account from Online Services to ESVConnect, as well as updates, alerts and frequently asked questions for each new component.

Watch our short animation showing how we’ve consolidated old paper-based processes into a new online system.

On 1 July, Online Services users will be able to access ESVConnect – upgrade their accounts to ESVConnect or create a new account if they did not have one before.

Please do not create an account in ESVConnect prior to 1 July.

Online Services will be unavailable during the transition

All COES and licensing functions will be offline from midnight Friday 28 June to Sunday 30 June as services are transitioned to ESVConnect. Online Services will be available for use, with reduced functionality on Monday 1 July. Read more here.

Do you have work to be certified during the offline period? 
REC’s with work to be certified during the offline period should use paper COES and lodge on the IVR (interactive voice response) phone system.

The IVR system will be fully operational during and after the transition period, for the lodgement of COES. Call 1300 360 366 and follow the prompts.

ESVConnect for CPS registration will be unavailable during the transition

ESVConnect for CPS will be offline from 6.00 am Thursday 27 June to midnight Sunday 30 June. Users will be unable to register cathodic protection systems while ESVConnect is upgraded.

ESVConnect CPS will relaunch on Monday 1 July – users will notice an upgraded interface with the addition of a left hand side menu on the dashboard. The process of Registering Cathodic Protection systems in ESVConnect will not change.

Do you have CPS’ to register? 

ESVConnect will be your primary system for Licensing and COES activities. It launches in late June.

What you can do

To make sure you are ready to use ESVConnect, check your email address and contact details are correct in Online Services by 19 June.

Also, take a look at ESV’s short animation that illustrates how we’ve consolidated old paper-based processes into a new online system.

Support will be in place to help you transition to ESVConnect, including a virtual guided tour. You can find helpful information on the ESV website that explains how ESVConnect works as well as updates, alerts and frequently asked questions.

What you need to know

Certificates of Electrical Safety (COES) 

Paper Certificates will remain available and valid for use. They may be purchased via agents or through ESV, however the lodgement of paper COES will only be available via IVR.

ESVConnect login

Online Services users existing login details to upgrade their accounts to access ESVConnect.

If you have never used Online Services – don’t worry – you will be able to create a new profile in ESVConnect. To create a login, all you need is an email address.

On Thursday 14 March, the Design Reference Group (DRG) once again joined members of the ESVConnect development team to review and test new functionality and end-to-end testing of the COES system as ESVConnect continues on the development path.

The DRG comprises electrical industry representatives who regularly purchase, issue or certify Certificates of Electrical Safety.  The group has worked closely with the ESVConnect team for many months, providing input and feedback throughout the development process.

We again thank them for their time and investment in the ESVConnect project.

Update your email address

Over the last few months, we have asked electrical workers to update their email addresses in Online Services, so we can let you know when ESVConnect for Licensing, Registration and Certificates of Electrical Safety goes live.

If you haven’t updated yours, login to Online Services today by clicking on the button at the top of this page.