Electricity Easements
A quick guide for landowners
Some of The Lines Company’s (TLC’s) poles, lines, underground cables and transformers are on private land. To look after this equipment and keep the power on, TLC may need an easement.
What is an easement?
An easement is a legal right, registered on your property title, that lets TLC access and maintain its equipment on your land.
You still own the land and can keep using it for most normal activities. The easement stays on the title if the property is sold.
Some older equipment, installed before 1 January 1993, already has access rights under the Electricity Act 1992, so an easement isn’t always needed.
Not all easements are initiated by TLC. Some may be required for work initiated by customers, such as new connections or customers requesting assets to be moved.
What it means on your land
TLC can
- Access, inspect, maintain, repair and replace its equipment.
- Upgrade equipment in line with the easement. Bigger changes are discussed with you first.
- Manage trees and vegetation for safety.
- Come onto your land in an emergency.
TLC will
- Give you notice before planned work.
- Use agreed access routes where reasonable.
- Leave gates as we find them and follow your stock and biosecurity rules.
Put right any damage we cause, such as to fences, tracks or crops.
You can
- Keep farming, grazing, cropping and mowing as normal.
- Sell or transfer your property.
- Set reasonable conditions on when we visit and the route we use.
- Ask about moving equipment (usually at your cost).
You must
- Allow reasonable access, including keys or codes for locked gates.
- Not build, plant trees, change ground levels or dig in the easement area without talking to us.
- Keep trees clear of power lines. There are minimum clearances set under the Tree and Electricity safety regulations.
- Avoid damaging TLC equipment.
When we come onto your land
| Type of visit | Notice you’ll get |
| Inspection | Reasonable notice. This may be a phone call. |
| Maintenance or repairs | At least ten working days’ written notice, including the date, time and type of work. |
| Emergency | We may come straight away and will let you know within five working days that we have accessed and work done. |
You can set reasonable conditions on timing and access, but these can’t delay entry by more than 15 working days or require payment.
Trees near power lines
If a tree is too close to a line, we’ll send the tree owner a notice. The first cut or trim is free. After that, keeping the tree clear is the owner’s responsibility and cost. Working near power lines are dangerous and therefor only approved contractors should work near power lines, so please don’t do it yourself.
How an easement is set up
- We talk with you about the proposed work.
- We send you an easement agreement to review. You may want independent legal advice.
- Every registered owner signs before work starts. Your lender may need to consent if you have a mortgage.
- We complete the work, survey the easement area and register it on your title.
Quick answers
Will I be paid compensation? Talk to us. We’ll discuss your situation when we discuss the work.
Planning to build, subdivide or dig? Contact us first and check for underground cables at beforeudig.co.nz.
Not happy? Contact us first. If we can’t resolve it, Utilities Disputes offers a free, independent service (utilitiesdisputes.co.nz).
We’re here to help
STAY SAFE
If you see a fallen or damaged power line, stay well clear and treat it as live. Call TLC’s faults line on 0800 367 328.