Safety around our Network

We are taking a lead in how the energy industry manages the risks inherent in working and living around electricity. We have stopped live line work where possible and will shut off power when notified of low hanging or downed power lines.

When alerted to a low hanging or downed line, we will remotely shut down power to that area, before crews arrive on site. Stopping live line work where possible extends to both planned and outage maintenance. As a precaution you should still treat lines as live at all times. You should never approach downed or low lines without approval from emergency services or Vector crew attending on site.

Our crews have access to bus lanes to minimise travel time to any incident and we are looking at new technology options to minimise the impact and disruption for customers.

Low hanging or downed lines may be ours, other utilities’, or customers’, but it is best to turn the power off as a precaution until crews get to site to check for safety.

Our new safety protocols may lead to a few more outages, but we believe Aucklanders will agree with us that keeping our people and the public safe is worth it.

You can do your bit by keeping your service lines maintained, including your trees around our lines and reporting damaged network lines and equipment to us.

For more safety information around our network click here.

Safer Communities

Vector is committed to educating communities about the importance of keeping safe around electricity and other energy infrastructure.

Vector continues to support ‘beforeUdig’, an online service giving anyone undertaking excavation works access to information on the location of cables, pipes and other utility assets in and around any proposed dig site. This helps to protect people and valuable assets during these works. In 2018, more than 172,000 enquiries were managed through the site.

catch action, not cables when you're out on the water

It'’s great to see so many people out on the water. But if you’re heading out on the boat, give underwater electricity cables a wide berth.

Vector has a number of underwater cables in the Hauraki Gulf and Waitemata Harbour. They provide power to island communities and important links in the Auckland network.

Anchoring over them is dangerous and not allowed – doing so could damage them. Because of the safety risk and the potential disruption to thousands of people, the penalties for wilfully damaging the underwater cables can be significant, in addition to the costs to repair any broken cables.

Markers show where cables enter and leave the water, and routes are shown on marine charts NZ 5324 and NZ 533.

If you snag an underwater cable, follow these steps

Don’t try to tug it free
Instead, note your position and abandon your gear
Call 0508 VECTOR (0508 832 867) with the location details.

Overhead lines

Watch out for overhead lines around boat ramps or when towing your boat onto land.

If a boat mast has brought down power lines onto a vehicle, follow these steps

Stay in the vehicle. Call 0508 VECTOR (0508 832 867) with the location details.
Only try to exit if there is an urgent situation, such as the vehicle being on fire.
If you need to exit, jump well clear without touching metal surfaces. Do not touch the machine and ground at the same time.

If someone has been electrocuted

Don't touch the victim until you are certain the source of electricity has been removed. Call 111.

Do it yourselfRural landowners

safety for DIYers

With the excitement of getting out the tools, gardening gloves or even heavy machinery, it's easy to forget that there are some hidden dangers around your home that could lead to a serious accident.

Here are three simple rules you can follow up to help stay safe.

Rule 1: Look up

Electricity will always look for the quickest way to the ground so make sure it's not through you.

Look up to avoid touching overhead lines when carrying ladders and other tall objects or machinery.

Assume all overhead lines are live electricity lines.
If you are trimming a tree, check first to ensure power lines don't run through or near it. If the tree is within four metres of a network powerline, call us on 0508 VECTOR (832 867) to trim the tree safely (the first trim is always free).
If you are putting up a high structure like an antennae make sure you check for clearance from lines first. Make sure network powerlines are more than 7.5 metres from where you want to work. When considering things such as a flagpole ensure not only the pole but the flag itself has clearance. If you are working near your private service line then call us on 0508 VECTOR (832 867) and get a free temporary power disconnection or find a contractor to assist you with working safely near electricity.

Rule 2: Look down

Underground electricity cables and gas pipes are everywhere. They could be under your lawn or driveway.

Call 0800 B4UDIG (0800 248 344) to find out the location of electricity cables or gas pipes under your property.
If you have cables or pipes below, make sure you avoid digging in their location. If you are breaking concrete and need equipment such as a rock breaker or excavator to dig but have established that there are cables or pipes nearby, make sure you get a professional contractor to carry out initial digging work.

Rule 3: Look out

Electricity flows through water, so don't lead it to you. When painting, waterblasting or even just using a hose near a power outlet, make sure you switch the power off at the mains first, or use a residual current device (RCD). These can be purchased from most hardware stores.

Never let appliances, cords or plugs come into contact with water.
Be sure to use waterproof exterior power plugs.
If you're putting up outdoor lights, make sure they are low voltage and safe for outdoor use. Use an RCD so the power is automatically disconnected in the event of a fault.

Our approach to health, safety and environment

We want to be recognised as setting the standard for Health, Safety and Environmental leadership for New Zealand businesses.

Our management of health, safety and the environment is underpinned by key policies (Health and Safety, Process Safety, Environmental, Rehabilitation and Drug and Alcohol).

Find out more

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