Private power poles are power poles located on private land – rather than on a council verge or within a designated easement.

We’ll be inspecting only those private power poles that are directly connected to our network. These are sometimes referred to as the ‘first pole’. There may be other private poles connected to the ‘first pole’ on private property, which we will not be inspecting. It is the responsibility of the property owner to check the condition of all power poles on their property including the ‘first pole’.

Unsafe or damaged power poles not only put our electricity supply at risk, they can also cause bush fires and even serious injury or death.

As noted above, please ensure that you regularly inspect any private power poles on your property for the same purpose. As the property owner, you are responsible and accountable for inspecting these poles and ensuring they are safe.

Powerlines which transport electricity from your main switchboard and meter to your home or other buildings are private powerlines. This includes the pole where our overhead service cable is attached and/or the pole where the switchboard/meter box is located. If you have private powerlines or a private power pole on your property, it is your responsibility to inspect and maintain them.

As the property owner, you are responsible and accountable for the maintenance of all private power poles on your property. This includes a power pole that is connected to the Horizon Power network.

Notwithstanding this, we’re undertaking a program of inspecting those private power poles that are directly connected to our network. We’ll notify you if maintenance or replacement is required to those poles.

We will not inspect any other power poles on your property. This work needs to be done by a private electrical contractor.

More information about private power poles can be found on the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s website https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/publications/private-power-poles-and-lines-brochure

Yes, if you wish to replace your pole with an underground service connection, we can discuss your requirements and work with you on an expected delivery date depending on the complexity of the connection.

You can request this at any time, however if you have received a notice to repair or replace your private power pole, we suggest you apply as soon as possible. Please advise us that you have received a private power pole replacement notice at the point of application.

The property owner will need to pay any costs associated with this work.

If a private power pole connects multiple properties to the Horizon Power network, then all property owners served by the pole are responsible for its maintenance. We advise you contact your neighbours to agree on a course of action to make your shared private poles safe.

If you’re a tenant at your property and receive a notice, please forward it to your landlord or property manager. The private power pole is likely to be their responsibility to maintain, depending on the terms of your tenancy arrangement.

We’ll need to access your property to inspect your pole. If we need your help to access the pole (e.g. opening locked gates or ensuring animals don’t escape the property), please contact us to arrange an inspection time convenient for you. If you need to provide us access to your property or if you have any questions about this work, please call your local office.

There is no cost to you for this inspection. However, any maintenance or replacement will need to be arranged by you and carried out at your expense.

We’ll visually inspect the private pole on your property and, if safe to do so, check the condition of the pole below ground level. We don’t anticipate an electricity outage will be required, but if we find the condition of your power pole poses an immediate safety risk, we’ll need to disconnect the property to maintain community safety.

If you receive a notice to repair or replace a private pole, it’s best to contact a local electrical contractor as soon as possible.

Making your pole safe may involve pole reinforcement through to full pole replacement. Your electrical contractor will provide you a quote to undertake the work.

The notice will also outline the timeframe you have to make your pole safe. Contacting a qualified electrical contractor as soon as you receive your notice will ensure that work is completed before the end of the notice period and will help to avoid any service interruptions.

You may also wish to take the opportunity to arrange inspection of any other private power poles on your property at the same time to ensure they are safe.

If you receive a notice and have any questions, please contact your local office. 

If your pole is found to be unsafe, you will have 30 days to address this.

You’ll need to engage a licensed electrician to undertake this work and make the pole compliant to Australian Standards within the advised timeframe - otherwise for safety reasons we’ll need to disconnect your property until the installation is made safe.