The ground beneath our feet is changing as our region converts to underground electricity supply. You may have already started to notice the number of power poles you see around Mid Canterbury decreasing.
In Ashburton and other urban areas like Rakaia, Chertsey and Hinds, our goal is to remove all poles and have all power lines installed underground within the next 6–7 years.
We have undertaken large projects in conjunction with the New Zealand Transport Agency which has seen the removal of power poles along State Highway 1 (SH1), from Works Road all the way to Rakaia. We will be working to remove all power lines along SH1, back from Works Road to Ashburton.
By converting to underground we can decrease the influence of external factors causing outages, such as wind, snow and trees on our network. We also improve road safety and the natural aesthetics of our region.
If you are planning an excavation project, please ensure you utilise our Cable Location services to check before you dig. If you require a fault repair, please contact us immediately.
