Before You Dig Or Work Near Lines

If you’re planning to dig or work near Contact Energy’s overhead power lines, please contact us first. You’ll need our written permission before you start, to help keep everyone safe and meet New Zealand electricity safety requirements.

To apply for our permission, please complete and send these forms to us:

• Close Proximity and Excavation request and permission application
  Use this form to apply to excavate/dig or change the ground level near our power line structures (towers, poles, and stay wires). This is in compliance with the New Zealand Electrical Code of Practice 34: 2001 Section 2.
  
  
• Mobile Plant and Vehicle Minimum Approach Distance request and permission application
  Use this form to apply to reduce the minimum distance requirement for equipment and or/vehicles to work near our live conductors. This is in compliance with the New Zealand Electrical Code of Practice 34: 2001 Section 5.2.

Send us your applications

Email a scanned copy of your completed application form to [email protected]. If you have not heard back within 3 working days and your query is urgent, please call us on 0800 35 35 35. 

If you have questions, or need advice on how to work safely around our power lines and infrastructure, call us on 0800 35 35 35.

Please note, our permission only applies to work carried out near Contact Energy power lines and infrastructure. It does not cover power lines or assets owned by other lines companies or generators, such as Transpower. You’ll need to apply directly to those companies if needed. 

Important safety reminder: All power lines have the potential to cause serious harm or death if someone touches them, or gets too close to a conductor or line. Do not use any measuring device, stick, rod or other material to check distances around any power line.