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Information about o/h power lines supplying electricity within your property
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Information about o/h power lines supplying electricity within your property
This article was in the latest EWRB Electron
Knowing what your responsibilities are around the electricity supply on your property is important.
Overhead power lines that cross the boundary of a property (the point of supply) are commonly known as private power lines. Private power lines form part of an electrical installation that supplies power inside the property boundary.
We recently received a notification that a child had received an electric shock from a broken conductor on a privately owned overhead power line and was taken to hospital. The broken conductor had fallen onto a nearby boundary fence causing it to become energised. The child grabbed the boundary fence wire and received an electric shock. They were unable to let go until they were pulled off the fence by a relative.
We would like to remind property owners that they are responsible for maintaining private power lines between the electricity distribution business (network company) lines and their buildings.
Private power lines may include overhead lines and underground cables. In some areas the overhead lines may extend over several poles from the property boundary before they connect to a building within that property. In some cases, these private lines could be shared with neighbours, so the responsibility for maintenance may be shared.
Checking private power lines and
polesUnder regulation 15 of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 property owners are obliged to maintain electrical installations so that they are electrically safe. Therefore, risks resulting from unsafe or non-compliant installations are passed on to you.
Property owners should carry out periodic checks to ensure that private power lines, and the poles supporting the lines, are in good order. This includes checking that the lines are not in contact with trees or tree branches.
If you are not sure which portion of the power lines are your responsibility we recommend contacting your local network company to discuss. The network company can also help to check the condition of your power lines.
Where there is an underground cable in your property, a record should be kept of its location. If you are planning excavation work, always check the location of power cables and other services such as gas and water pipes, before you start digging.
Keeping your power lines in a safe condition will help ensure you, your
family and friends are not exposed to a serious injury or worse
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