Do you have a property pole on your property?
A property pole is a pole within your property’s boundary that supports the overhead powerlines to your home or other buildings on your property.

The poles are usually made of timber, concrete or steel and were initially installed on behalf of the home or property owner.

To help ensure safety and reliability of electricity supply, it’s important that property owners regularly maintain and check property poles.

Property poles are your responsibility
Regularly check property poles and have a qualified electrical asset inspector carry out inspections to help ensure reliability of electricity supply and safety around your property.

Do you rent a property that has a property pole?
It’s important that you notify the property owner or your rental agent immediately if you think that a pole or powerline on the property you are renting requires maintenance or repair. If the property owner or your rental agent does not take prompt action to ensure the pole or powerline is restored to a serviceable condition, contact Ergon Energy on 13 22 96.

Property poles, powerlines, and safety
When checking a property pole, the cross arm supporting the powerline, or the powerline itself, always check from the ground and maintain a safe distance from any powerlines. Do not climb the pole.

If a powerline from the property pole to a building on your property falls to the ground, stay well clear and call triple zero (000).

Be aware of the location of any powerlines on or near your property. Whenever you are moving equipment or ladders around your property (especially metal), look out for overhead powerlines.

Take care when you are cleaning gutters or working near the electrical connection point to a building or other structure.  Trees growing into or near powerlines are dangerous. They can bring down powerlines or interrupt your electricity supply. Generally, the clearing of trees away from privately owned powerlines is the responsibility of the home or property owner.

Never trim trees that have grown close to powerlines yourself.  Always contact a qualified arborist in your area who has expertise in trimming near powerlines.  For a list of possible contractors, check in the Yellow Pages under “Tree felling and/or stump removal”.

Maintain property poles
For safety and reliability of your electricity supply, it’s important to maintain poles. This is generally the responsibility of the property owner.

Over time, the pole can deteriorate through decay, termite damage, or rust.  If this occurs it can weaken the pole resulting in the pole leaning or falling over, potentially causing injury to people or damage to surrounding property.

A fallen pole may also bring down the powerline supplying electricity to your home. This is not only dangerous, as fallen powerlines can kill, but will also interrupt the electricity supply to your home until the pole can be replaced by a licensed electrical contractor.

Checking a property pole, what to look for, and what to do
Regularly inspect around the base of the pole to make sure there is no decay, sign of termites, rust or other damage.

If your pole has a cross arm (a structure attached near the top of the pole that supports the powerline), look at it from the ground and check that it appears to be in good condition.

If you suspect the pole has rust or decay, or are concerned about the cross arm or the general condition and/or safety of the pole, contact a qualified electrical asset inspector and have them check the pole and repair it if necessary. Do not rely on your judgement as to the safety of the pole.

Have the pole inspected by a qualified electrical asset inspector at least every five years.