On 15 May 2025, Essential Energy applied for a waiver to clauses 3.1(b), 4.2.1, 4.2.2 and 4.2.3 of the Ring-fencing Guideline (electricity distribution) to establish a new training academy to address the unmet demand for skilled workforce and support the development and maintenance of 3GW of capacity planned from NSW renewable energy zones (REZs). The application proposed that the academy would be operational by 2027 and scale up by 2030, but that Essential Energy would offer two new certificate IV courses (Substations and Network Systems) from 2025 to meet immediate industry training demand.
On 10 November 2025, the AER decided to grant Essential Energy a waiver to establish a purpose-built training centre at Tamworth with additional training hubs at Parkes, Grafton, Orange, Wagga Wagga and Goulburn, and to provide the following training courses:
Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start),
Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician,
Certificate IV in ESI – Substations,
Certificate IV in ESI – Network systems,
Certificate III in ESI- distribution overhead,
Certificate III in ESI – distribution underground,
Certificate IV in electrical renewable energy (includes working on grid connected photovoltaic systems, battery storage systems, generating set systems),
Diploma of renewable energy engineering, and
Electric vehicle charger micro credentials.
We consider that the training academy will provide accredited training to a broader range of electricity sector participants in regional NSW, help build workforce capability in regional NSW and offer programs also relevant to evolving industry needs.
The waiver is granted with conditions which will help in providing transparency of academy’s operations and ensure other training providers are not disadvantaged due to Essential Energy’s presence in the vocational training market.
Where Essential Energy considers the academy should offer additional training courses or at new locations, it will need to apply to the AER for a waiver variation. However, the AER will endeavour to expedite assessment of a waiver variation application where Essential Energy can demonstrate that it has undertaken adequate public consultation and market testing and can provide evidence that options to collaborate with existing training providers have been explored.
The waiver will expire on 30 June 2034, unless varied or revoked sooner.