A leaning pole, sparking line or wire on the ground? Keep back
Treat any fallen or low line as live. Stay at least 8 metres away, or 10 metres in the ACT as Evoenergy advises, keep others away, and call your network's faults line. Call 000 if anyone is in danger. Don't try to move branches or anything else touching the line.
Where your responsibility starts
The network owns its poles and wires up to the connection point. Past that, on your land, the poles and overhead lines usually belong to the property owner. Essential Energy says the meter board belongs to the owner as well.
NSW: Ausgrid says owners are responsible for assets beyond its connection point, such as private poles and overhead lines running to the meter or switchboard. Ausgrid patrols private poles and lines in bushfire prone areas, and under NSW law owners must respond to a defect notice within 30 days.
Western Australia: Western Power says private poles and lines are the owner's to inspect, maintain and replace, using a qualified licensed professional. It does inspect the first private pole carrying its supply cables.
South Australia: poles and lines past the connection point belong to the owner. SA Power Networks recommends a check by a licensed inspector or authorised electrician every year before bushfire season, after major storms, and whenever you suspect damage.
Tasmania: private poles and lines generally start at the first pole on your property. TasNetworks inspects private poles on a five-yearly cycle and says to keep vegetation at least 3 metres from overhead powerlines, using an authorised contractor.
Victoria and the ACT: if Powercor or CitiPower finds a defect on your side, such as a loose or missing service hook or trees too close to your service line, you'll get a defect notice. In the ACT, Evoenergy says homeowners must keep trees at least 1 metre from service lines and 1.5 metres from power lines, or 2 metres in bushfire prone areas.
Got a defect notice? What to do
Note what was found, and the deadline
In NSW, owners have 30 days to respond to a defect notice. Write down exactly what the network found and where.
Get the right specialist
In NSW, Ausgrid points owners to Level 2 Accredited Service Providers for defects on private poles and wires. Elsewhere, use a licensed electrical contractor, or the authorised contractor your network names for tree work.
Get the fix in writing
Ask for a written quote that says what will be repaired or replaced, and whether the network needs to disconnect or reconnect anything.
Close it off
On the Powercor and CitiPower networks, the owner arranges the repair and then lodges a compliance form. Keep a copy of everything.
Replacing a pole, or going underground instead
When a private pole is due for replacement, some owners move the supply underground instead. On CitiPower and Powercor, moving an overhead supply underground, where it's available at the same pole, is a supply change only a registered electrical contractor can apply for. Jemena handles pole to pit connections through its own portal, and Evoenergy treats overhead to underground as a change to an existing connection.
In NSW, Level 1 Accredited Service Providers build and upgrade poles, wires and underground network assets, and Level 2 providers do the service lines to your property. Energy NSW's advice is to compare at least three quotes and make sure the level and class of accreditation fit your job. Ausgrid requires a Level 2 company to guarantee its contestable work for 3 years.
What you can do, and what needs a licensed specialist
You can
- Look over the pole and lines from the ground: leaning, cracks, rot at the base, sagging lines.
- Book an inspection before bushfire season or after a big storm.
- Keep trees clear by hiring an authorised tree contractor.
- Respond to a defect notice before the deadline.
Leave to a licensed electrician
- Climbing, repairing or replacing a private pole.
- Service line and connection work (in NSW, a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider).
- Moving the supply underground.
- Cutting back trees near live lines.
If the pole were on our block
We'd have it checked before bushfire season and after any big storm, as SA Power Networks suggests, rather than waiting for a defect notice. A pole that's starting to lean or rot gives you options: replace it on your own timetable, or get a quote for going underground. A pole that fails in a storm gives you none.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.