What's different about the Hunter
Ausgrid, mostly
Ausgrid's network covers the Hunter Valley along with Sydney and the Central Coast. Near the edges of the valley, the distributor named on your bill confirms who looks after your poles and wires.
Lines being rebuilt
For the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone, Ausgrid is replacing about 85 km of sub-transmission lines between Kurri Kurri and Muswellbrook, swapping timber poles for metal monopoles. New substations are going in at Singleton and Muswellbrook, with commissioning planned for mid 2028.
Storms that cut power
The June 2007 storms across the Hunter and Central Coast killed ten people and left more than 105,000 homes without power.
The river
In the 1955 flood the Hunter reached 12.5 m at Maitland and went through 2,180 homes.
Houses, and some empty ones
Outside Newcastle, 86.7% of Hunter homes are separate houses and 26.8% are rented, and 10.8% of dwellings were empty on census night.
Jobs that come up across the valley
Power to sheds, pumps and granny flats. Long runs need the right cable and protection at both ends, and a bigger load can mean upgrading the supply. That's work for an electrician who does rural jobs, plus a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider if the pole or service line changes.
Private poles. Ausgrid says owners are responsible for poles and lines beyond its connection point, and it patrols them in bushfire prone areas. A defect notice needs a response within 30 days.
Storm and fire damage. The Black Christmas fires of 2001 began partly in the Cessnock area. After a fire, flood or big storm, have everything tested before it's switched back on.
In town the work looks more like Maitland, Cessnock or Kurri Kurri: old cottages, rentals and switchboards.
Wires down on your property?
Stay at least 8 metres away and keep everyone else back. Ring Ausgrid on 13 13 88, or 000 if anyone's hurt or there's a fire. Never try to move a fallen line, even with something you think is dry.
If we had a block in the valley
We'd find out exactly where Ausgrid's assets end and ours begin, then get the private pole, the service line and the main switchboard checked in one visit. It's the part of the system most owners don't realise they own, and it's the part that sits out in the weather.
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.