The short version
Every home has a line in it, invisible but very real, where Ausgrid's network stops and your electrical installation begins. Work on the network side of that line, and on the equipment that crosses it, can only be done by a Level 2 ASP. Work on your side of the main switch can be done by any licensed electrician.
That is why your regular sparky will sometimes say "you will need a Level 2 for that". They are not passing the job off. They are legally not allowed to touch it.
What the accreditation actually covers
The NSW ASP scheme splits Level 2 work into four classes. Anaconda Electrical holds all four.
| Class | What it covers | Typical job |
|---|---|---|
| 2A | Disconnection and reconnection | Isolating supply for a demolition, reconnecting after a switchboard replacement |
| 2B | Overhead service lines | New service from the pole to your house, storm repairs, re-tensioning a sagging line |
| 2C | Underground services | Trenched consumer mains from a pit or pillar to the switchboard |
| 2D | Metering | Smart meter installation, single to three-phase metering upgrade |
Six situations where you need a Level 2
- You have received an Ausgrid defect notice. Most defects are on the consumer side of the connection: the pole, the service line, the point of attachment or the meter panel. Rectifying and clearing them is Level 2 work. See our defect notice service.
- Your private power pole needs replacing. If it is leaning, rotted at the base, or has been tagged, it is your pole and a Level 2 has to replace it.
- You are adding solar, an EV charger, ducted air or a pool. Older consumer mains often cannot carry the extra load. Replacing them is a consumer mains upgrade.
- You need a new or replacement meter. Retailers arrange smart meters, but a Level 2 physically installs them.
- You are building. Temporary builders supply at the start and the permanent connection at the end are both Level 2 jobs.
- A storm has brought a line down. Making it safe and reconnecting is Level 2 work, usually urgent.
What a Level 2 does that you do not see
The physical work is only part of it. A Level 2 ASP also lodges the paperwork with Ausgrid: a Notification of Service Work (NOSW) before the job, an Electrical Work Request (EWR) to have the supply energised, and a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) at the end. The CCEW is the document your insurer, your retailer and, if you are selling, your buyer's conveyancer will want to see.
Level 1, Level 2, Level 3
People sometimes ask whether a higher number is better. The levels are different jobs, not ranks. Level 1 ASPs build network infrastructure such as new substations and street mains for subdivisions. Level 3 ASPs design that infrastructure. Level 2 ASPs connect individual properties to it. For anything at your home or business, Level 2 is the one you want.
How to check someone is actually accredited
Ask for their ASP number and which classes they hold. A genuine Level 2 will tell you without hesitation, and it will appear on their quotes and invoices. If the answer is vague, or the job is being subcontracted to "a mate who does the Level 2 bit", find someone else.
