Home > Business > Building or upgrading your business

Building or upgrading your business

If you are thinking about building a business, increasing power supply or any other electrical upgrade works, the process may seem a bit daunting. The information below provides a guide to the process, including the application process, the timeframe for carrying out the work and some tips to avoid any delays to your project.

Where do I start?

You need to contact our Customer Service Representatives on 1800 737 036 to establish your account details with us. You will then be provided with a Customer Reference Number (CRN) which you should provide to your builder at your pre-start meeting. Alternatively you can download an application form here and fax or post it to us.

New business power supply doc

We need to obtain the following information from you when establishing your account.

• A name for your account. Please provide your company name and/or your trading name
• Your ACN (Australian Company Number) if your business is registered, or your ABN (Australian Business Number) if not registered
• The name of the company's directors or owners
• The residential address, date of birth and contact numbers of the company's directors or owners
• The name of the person making the application
• The business contact name and phone number
• The mailing address for Horizon Power correspondence

It is also a good idea to let Horizon Power know if you already have an existing account for another premise. We can then link both accounts, making it easier for any future dealings with Horizon Power. If you have an existing account please provide the corresponding bill account number.

You will then need to complete an application form relevant to your project. Information and links the most frequently used forms is below.

We advise you use a qualified electrical contractor to help with completing the paperwork to ensure that we receive the most accurate information about your electrical requirements.

Which form do I need to complete?

Connection applications are designed to assist Horizon Power understand your connection needs and to assess the network infrastructure requirements. The Connection Application form is the primary form to connect power to any site.

The Application for Underground Supply in an Overhead Area form is used if you wish to connect a single residential property from the overhead network to an underground connection.

The Request for Horizon Power Network Service form can be used to arrange connection or disconnection of power, temporary builder’s supplies, upgrades from single to three phase supply and connections to existing underground pillars.

The Request for Quotation for Relocation of Horizon Power Assets form is required when applying for relocation of distribution equipment such as transformers, pillars and overhead lines. Relocation is subject to a suitable alternative location and will be chargeable to the applicant.

The Application for CT Metering Works form is required to arrange for Current Transformer (CT) metering when there will be no increase in demand. A Connection Application must be completed if the supply is being upgraded.

The Unmetered Electricity Supply Application form is required for unmetered electricity supply connections in public places, for example, traffic-lights, illuminated street signs, local government owned street lights and telecommunication equipment. 

How much will I have to pay?

New connections and supply upgrades

We will prepare a free of charge estimate for the work required, which is a desktop estimate only designed to give you an indication of the costs involved with your project. This estimate is provided to enable you to decide whether you would like to proceed to a formal quote.

Should you choose to proceed, we will require a 10 per cent design fee (capped at a maximum of $30,000), in order to proceed with the work. Once this design fee has been received, we will prepare a full design and a final quotation. If this quotation is within 30 per cent of the estimate, and you decide not to proceed with the quoted works the design fee will not be refunded. However, if the quotation is greater than 30 per cent of the estimate, you may decide not to proceed and receive a full refund of the deposit paid.

If you accept the final design and quotation, we will issue an invoice for the total cost of the project. Generally only a single payment option is available. This consists of a full up-front payment of applicable fees and charges at the time you accept the quotation.

If a project is cancelled at your request before it has been completed, the full amount paid will be refunded, less all non-recoverable costs (including environmental/heritage assessments, material and/or labour) we have incurred. Once a project has been completed, payment is non-refundable.

Disconnection/reconnection, temporary builder's supply, upgrade from single to three phase supply, relocation of assets, CT metering works

Please refer to the application form for the costs associated with disconnection and reconnection of supply. All other services by application and quotation.

How long will it take for the work to be completed?

We will endeavour to acknowledge your application within 24 hours of receipt of the correct form and provide you with an estimate for the work within four weeks.

If you decide to proceed to a formal quotation, this will be provided within 40 days of receipt of the design fee.

The formal quotation remains valid for 20 business days.

Construction will typically commence within 12 weeks from the date that payment for the formal quote has been received. This allows for the procurement of long lead times items like transformers and Ring Main Units (RMUs), which have a usual delivery time averaging between 8 and 12 weeks.

Does Horizon Power have to provide me with electricity?

We are not obliged to connect new customers to our network if you are more than 100 metres from a network/ outside of the electrical licensing boundary that is designated to each network or customers who consume more than 160 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity a year. We encourage you to contact your local office to discuss your supply options if either of these criteria apply to you.

Does my electrical contractor need to provide Horizon Power with any information?

Yes, Horizon Power works closely with electrical contractors.

The Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 places a statutory obligation upon all electrical contractors and electrical workers that prior to and on completion of electrical work the contractor must submit an appropriate notice to the relevant supply authority and customer.

A Preliminary Notice detailing the extent of the work to be undertaken is generally required to be submitted to us prior to commencement of any work and a Notice of Completion must be submitted to us within three working days of completing the work.

The Notice of Completion validates information submitted on the Preliminary Notice and confirms that the work is complete, has been tested, and is ready and safe to be energised.

The Notices must also reference either your current meter number or the Customer Reference Number provided when you set up the account for your new supply.

An Inspectors’ Order or Advice Note may be issued to the electrical contractor if any further work needs to be undertaken before the property can be energised. Your electrical contractor must provide you with an Electrical Safety Certificate within 28 days of completing the electrical work, certifying that the work has been checked and tested, is safe, compliant and completed to a trade finish.

More information

Your local Horizon Power office can assist you if you have any questions. Your electrical contractor can also provide assistance.