Line Ownership
Property owners may own and be responsible for the maintenance and repair of certain electrical lines, poles and in most cases the equipment, on their property. These are called service lines and are not part of our electricity distribution network.
Ownership and responsibilities can vary based on the type of property, the type of equipment and where that equipment is located:
Power lines, poles and equipment on private land
We generally own the lines, poles and equipment up to the point of supply, which is usually the isolating fuse located either on the boundary of your property or on the pole nearest to your property. The property owner owns the service line between the point of supply and the meter. If you have concerns regarding the condition of any of this equipment (refer to look after you lines section below) please call 09 927 3939. We will send a crew out to inspect and advise you if there are any maintenance requirements.
Items such as meters and hot water relays are the responsibility of your electricity retailer. At industrial or rural sites, we generally own and maintain the high voltage overhead lines/underground cables, switchgear and transformers on these properties.
If you are unsure about what equipment or lines you own, please call 0508 VECTOR (0508 832 867).
Electrical network equipment inside private buildings
In some situations our electrical network equipment is located on private property – such as apartments or commercial buildings. This equipment provides a dedicated power supply to the building and sometimes to buildings nearby.
We are responsible for the operation and maintenance of this equipment, and landowners are responsible for the room in which the equipment is installed. The room must be well ventilated and meet fire safety standards
Orange indicates our responsibility. Ensuring a well-ventilated, fire rated room is the building and landowners responsibility.
Sometimes due to structural changes to the building or locks being changed, our crews have not been able to access the equipment for routine maintenance or to get the power back on during outages.
If you own a building which has our network equipment located in it, please ensure:
- secure but easy access for our crews
- the room is well ventilated and meets fire rating standards
- doorways are clear and the locks aren't changed
- Council's Land Information Memoranda for your property are reviewed before any alterations take place
- your tenants know our equipment is there and not to block access for fault and maintenance crews
If you think any of the above points are not met please call us on 0508 VECTOR (0508 832 867).
Look after your lines
We run an extensive inspection and maintenance programme to protect our network. It's important that you ensure your electricity lines are in good condition too.
Old and poorly maintained lines, and those close to trees, are the ones most likely to be damaged in bad weather. Damaged lines not only cause power loss to your home or business, but they can also be a safety hazard.
What to look for:
- Check the point where the service line enters your house - is the line old, repaired or frayed? Electricity lines can be dangerous so don't get too close. Any inspection or repair work must only be carried out by suitably qualified people.
- Keep trees on your property away from power lines and equipment - they are one of the leading causes of power outages.
If you have any concerns about the condition of the equipment or lines on your property, please call 0508 VECTOR (0508 832 867) or
email us.