Demarcation of Private Line Ownership (NI05/40)

NETWORK WAITAKI
NI05/40
March 2015
Demarcation of Service Line Ownership
Service Lines:
Network Waitaki owns the high voltage and low voltage network distribution line
along public roads. Network Waitaki will also own other assets on private property
such as transformers, service fuses and metering equipment.
You own the service line which conveys electricity between the network of lines
owned by Network Waitaki (the network) and your meter box. The point at which
the network ends and a consumer service line begins is the ‘point of connection’
(POC). You are responsible for keeping this line properly maintained and safe to
use.
A consumer service line is owned by the end user, either alone or in part by a third
party (for example, where the last length of line to a consumers property branches
off a line owned by a neighbouring property). A consumer service line may be
located on private land (the end users private land or a third party’s private land)
or, for example, it may be located on public land, such as road reserve.
The ‘point of supply’ (POS) is the point at which the service line crosses your
property boundary.
The location of the POC must be identified on a case by case basis for each
consumer. The POC for a particular consumer, for example, could be well on the
network side of the POS. For another consumer, the POC and the POS could be
at the same location.
Contact us and we will be happy to help you to determine the point of
demarcation.
Typical Urban Low Voltage Line Ownership
Owned by Network
Revision: 002
Owned by Consumer
March 2015
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NETWORK WAITAKI
NI05/40
March 2015
Low Voltage Service Line - Additional Provisions:

A right-of-way (ROW) is private property from the public road boundary with
ownership shared by the property owners supplied by the ROW.

Lines in the ROW that are separately fused at the public road are privately
owned from the public road boundary.

Lines in the ROW that are hard connected (un-fused) at the road but, are
provided with service fuses on the poles in the ROW are owned on a shared
basis between the property owners. Each privately owned portion starts form
the pole service fuse.

Lines fused at the public road boundary that supply a single building with
multiple tenancies (flats, home units, commercial premises and the like) are
owned by the building owner. The separate isolation fuses for metering each
tenancy are owned by each consumer but, are controlled by Network Waitaki.
The individual service main to each unit’s main switchboard is also owned by
the consumer.

The property owner or consumer must ensure that each portion of an
installation for which they have responsibility is properly maintained and
remains electrically not unsafe.
High Voltage Service Line (spur) - Additional Provisions:

You own the high voltage service line and poles that connect your property to
the (POC) at network’s distribution line. You are responsible to ensure
regular maintenance and safety checks are done and the line is clear of trees.

A high voltage service line may run along or across a public road, or over
neighbouring property before it crosses the end users property boundary.

A high voltage service line may be owned by the end user either alone or
(shared) in part by a third party, (example is where the last length of line to a
property branches off a line owned by a neighbouring property).
Operating Service
Network Waitaki will provide an operating service for your high voltage service
line and will include emergency fault response and the mandatory regular safety
checks. The result of these safety checks will be notified to the line owner with
any necessary repairs or maintenance.
A line owner may nominate an alternative suitably qualified operator. Privately
owned HV assets will not be permitted to remain connected to the network
without a qualified operator being nominated by the line owner and recorded on
file by Network Waitaki.
Unsafe Service Lines:
Network Waitaki carries out regular inspections on our network of lines. If unsafe
lines are identified during this process, we are obliged to notify the property
owner or consumer of the condition of their line and what needs to be done to
make them safe. If the unsafe line is a shared line, we will notify all affected
owners.
Network Waitaki is obliged by regulation to disconnect a line from our network of
lines which present an immediate danger to life or property damage.
Revision: 002
March 2015
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