If your property is served by a private power pole, you're responsible for keeping it safe. If you've received a defect notice from the network operator, you're required to have it fixed by a Level 2 ASP within the stated timeframe. We do both.
We install and replace timber, galvanised steel and composite private poles, repair damaged crossarms and insulators, and re-tension or replace private overhead lines.
Received a defect notice? Send us a photo of the notice and we'll quote the rectification work, complete it, and lodge the clearance with the network operator so the notice is closed.
What's included
- New private power pole installation
- Replacement of rotten, leaning or termite-damaged poles
- Steel and composite pole options
- Private overhead line repair and replacement
- Point of attachment repairs
- Defect notice inspection and rectification
- Clearance paperwork lodged with the network operator
Who owns the pole
The poles and wires in the street belong to the network operator. A private pole is one on your own land that carries the line from the street to your building, and it belongs to the property owner, along with the private line and the fittings on it. That is why a defect notice for a private pole is addressed to you and not to Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy, and why the cost of fixing it is yours.
On a battle-axe block, a rural-style lot or a shared driveway, more than one property can depend on the same private pole. It is worth working out who shares it before you get quotes.
Signs a private pole needs attention
Timber poles fail from the inside and at the ground line, so a pole can look sound and still be condemned at inspection. If yours is decades old, have it looked at before the network does it for you with a deadline attached.
- It leans, or leans more than it used to
- Soft, split or hollow-sounding timber, especially at ground level where rot starts
- Termite damage or mud trails on the pole
- Rust through the base of a steel pole
- A cracked or loose crossarm, or fittings pulling away
- The line sagging low over a driveway, yard or pool
- Tree branches growing into or resting on the line
- The pole has been hit by a vehicle, even if it is still standing
Repair, replace or go underground
There are usually three ways to deal with a failing private pole, and the cheapest today is not always the cheapest over twenty years.
- Repair: where the pole itself is sound and the defect is a bracket, a crossarm, a low line or vegetation
- Replace: a new pole in the same position, typically galvanised steel or treated timber, with the line and fittings renewed to current standards
- Underground: remove the pole and private overhead line altogether and run the service underground, which ends the pole inspections and the tree clearing for good
How a pole replacement runs
- Send us the defect notice, if you have one, and photos of the pole, the line and the meter box.
- We inspect, confirm the options and give you a written quote for each one that makes sense.
- We arrange the disconnection and any network involvement, and book a date.
- The old pole comes out, the new one goes in to the required depth, and the line and fittings are renewed.
- We reconnect, test and energise, then lodge the paperwork so the defect is closed out with the network.
What affects the price
We quote after seeing the site, or from good photos where the job is straightforward. If your notice has a short deadline, tell us the date when you call and we will work back from it.
- Repair, like-for-like replacement or conversion to underground
- Pole material and height
- Ground conditions and whether rock has to be broken out
- Access for a truck or the equipment to stand the pole
- The length and condition of the private line and whether it is replaced too
- Whether the point of attachment and consumer mains on the building also need renewing
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I ignore a defect notice?
The network operator can disconnect your supply until the defect is fixed. Notices usually give a deadline. Contact us early and we'll make sure the work is done in time.
Who is responsible for the private pole on my property?
The property owner. The network operator maintains the poles in the street; everything from the point of attachment on your side is your responsibility.
How long do I have to fix a defect notice?
The deadline is printed on the notice and depends on how serious the defect is. Urgent safety defects can be a matter of days; others allow several weeks. If you cannot meet the date, contact the network operator before it passes rather than after.
Can I replace a private pole myself or use a regular electrician?
No. The pole carries the service line to your property, so the work has to be done by a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider authorised in your network area.
Steel or timber?
Galvanised steel does not rot and is not eaten by termites, which is why most replacements now use it. Treated timber is still used where it suits the site. We will recommend one for your ground conditions and tell you why.
Is it worth converting to underground instead?
Often, yes, if you plan to stay. It costs more up front because of the trenching, but it removes the pole, the overhead line and the tree-clearing obligation for good, and it tidies up the front of the property. We can quote both so you can compare.