Visionstream Australia has secured a two-year extension estimated at $90m to its NBN Co contract for new developments in Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria. [ + ]

NECA has condemned the ACT Government for again refusing to release a list of Canberra homes containing potentially deadly loose-fill asbestos. [ + ]

Forum Group has acquired energy and power optimiser powerPerfector Australia. [ + ]

Schneider Electric has unveiled the 12 teams that qualified for the finals of Go Green in the City 2014 global student challenge. The finalists were selected from among the top 100 teams that qualified for the semifinals by a jury composed of Schneider Electric business leaders. [ + ]

Ernst and Young has announced the group of entrepreneurs from around the country who are in the running to be named as this year’s Australian EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. [ + ]

Prysmian has been awarded a contract worth AU$44m for 132 kV underground high-voltage cables for the North Shore cable upgrade project by Ausgrid. [ + ]

The Abbott government's first budget brings good news for tradies and small businesses, and bad news for the solar industry. [ + ]

Bosch has announced that effective from 26 May 2014, Q Security Systems will be a Bosch Security Distribution Partner. [ + ]

The Queensland Electrical Safety Office has identified an internal fault with the Avanco and PVPower DC isolators. The fault leads to overheating and fires with these isolators that are used in solar electricity system installations. [ + ]

A number of substandard solar panels have entered the Australian market, as some manufacturers pass off inferior panels as being high quality. [ + ]

NECA has appointed Kevin McCosh as the new executive director of the Victoria Chapter. McCosh, the current deputy executive director Victoria, replaces Philip Green, who will be moving into a new role as chief executive officer of 370 Degrees Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of the NECA Group. [ + ]

Southern Cross Cable Network has appointed Anthony Briscoe as the new president and CEO. Briscoe replaces Fiona Beck, who is stepping down to take up the role of an independent director. [ + ]

Earlier this year, steel manufacturer Gerdau's facility began searching for a lighting solution for its facility located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The company was looking for a solution to replace the metal halide fixtures and withstand the heat of its facilities, while maintaining enough lumens to create visibility in its dimly lit locations. [ + ]

The awareness of the dangers of using non-compliant products has jumped from 28% to 89% in just a year, according to the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) and Voltimum. [ + ]

The Power-One Renewable Energy Business will transition to the ABB brand in May 2014 as part of the planned integration of ABB's Power-One acquisition. ABB acquired the photovoltaic inverter manufacturer in July 2013. [ + ]