Power Pole Replacement and Installation in Sydney
If your private power pole is leaning, rotting, rusted or has been identified as unsafe, it is usually the property owner’s responsibility to have it repaired or replaced.
Brilliant Electric can take care of the whole job. We supply and install timber and galvanised steel private power poles, handle the required network approvals and complete the compliance paperwork, so you do not have to coordinate multiple contractors yourself.
- ASP Level 2: Ausgrid, Endeavour, Essential
- NSW Contractor Licence 381215C
- Established 2016
- Fully insured
- We are available Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, and Saturdays by appointment.
Call 0422 631 213 →
Who owns the pole on your property.
The dividing line is the connection point. Everything on the network side of it belongs to Ausgrid. Everything on your side belongs to you.
Ausgrid puts it plainly: property owners are responsible for the electrical assets on their property beyond Ausgrid’s connection point, including all private power poles, powerlines and pole-top fittings. That covers everything between the first point of connection on your property through to your switchboard or meter.
In practice: if the pole is inside your boundary, it is yours. If a shared driveway pole serves several properties, ownership can be split, and that needs checking before anyone quotes.
When you need a new power pole installed.
Not every job is a replacement. Some properties have never had a private pole and now need one, and that is a different conversation to swapping out a pole that has failed.
Under the NSW Service and Installation Rules, a customer must provide a pole where an overhead service run exceeds 50 metres at up to 100 amps, or 30 metres above 100 amps. If your point of supply sits further from the street than that, the network will not connect you without an intermediate pole on your land.
The situations where that comes up most often in Sydney:
- A new dwelling or knock-down rebuild set well back from the street
- A battle-axe or rear block with a long driveway to the supply point
- A subdivision creating a second lot that needs its own supply
- A granny flat or secondary dwelling taking a separate metered supply
- Acreage and semi-rural blocks around the fringes of our service area
- A capacity upgrade above 100 amps where the existing span no longer complies, which is our switchboard upgrade specialty
A new installation carries no demolition and no disposal, but it usually involves a longer service run, a fresh network application rather than a notification, and more excavation, so it is priced separately from a replacement.
We will tell you at inspection which of the two you are actually looking at.
What our customers say.
Signs your pole needs attention.
Ausgrid lists the defects it looks for on private poles and powerlines.
- Rotting, rusting, split or leaning poles
- Termite damage
- Trees growing close to powerlines
- Wires that are touching, or hanging slack
- Frayed wires
- Damaged cross arms or pole fittings
Timber poles typically fail at ground level first, where moisture and termites do their work out of sight. A pole that looks sound at eye height can be substantially gone below the surface. Steel poles fail from rust at the base for the same reason.
If you can see a visible lean, movement in wind, splitting, soft or hollow-sounding timber at the base, or fittings at the top that have shifted or corroded, it is worth an inspection. Do not climb it, and do not attempt to prop or straighten it.
If a conductor has come down: keep well clear and call 000, then Ausgrid’s emergency line on 13 13 88, which operates 24 hours a day. That is a network emergency, not a job to book.
If you have received a defect notice.
A defect notice is a written direction from your network operator identifying work that has to be done on assets you own.
30
To make contact with Ausgrid after receiving the notice
Confirming either that the work has been done, or that it will be done within 60 days of the date the notice was issued.
Read the dates on your own notice, because your notice governs, not this page.
What happens if you do nothing
Your supply can be disconnected. Under the Electricity Supply (Safety and Network Management) Regulation 2014, a distributor may disconnect premises where it reasonably considers the installation is, or is likely to become, unsafe while connected. Ausgrid states that defects not repaired may result in supply being disconnected until repairs are safely completed.
We are not raising that to alarm you. We are raising it because the timeframes are short, and knowing what your notice actually requires is the difference between a straightforward job and a disconnection.
See our electrical defect notice rectification page for how we handle notices covering more than just the pole.
60
To have the work done, from the date the notice was issued
Where the property is on bush fire prone land, those timeframes are set by the Electricity Supply Act 1995.
What we do with a defect notice
- Read the notice and identify exactly which defects are listed and what standard the rectification has to meet
- Inspect on site and tell you whether the pole can be repaired or has to be replaced, since some notices are satisfied by a crossarm, conductor or insulator repair rather than a full replacement
- Give you a written, itemised quote before any work starts
- Do the work, including disconnection and reconnection of the service at the connection point
- Lodge the Notification of Service Work with Ausgrid through the Ausgrid Portal
If cost is the obstacle, say so early. Ausgrid operates a Customer Assistance Framework with payment plans for customers experiencing financial stress and hardship. It is better to open that conversation inside the notice period than after it.
How we replace or install a power pole.
01
Site assessment
We check the pole’s condition where there is one, the height and class required, the point of attachment, the consumer mains, ground conditions for the footing, the length of the service run, and access for plant. We also confirm which network your address falls under, since most of Sydney is Ausgrid but the Liverpool area is Endeavour Energy, and the paperwork differs.
02
Quote
Itemised and fixed, covering the pole, footing, fittings, conductors where they need replacing, disconnection and reconnection, network paperwork and site reinstatement. If something cannot be known until the ground is open, such as rock in the footing, we tell you up front rather than after.
03
Network application
A replacement is notified to the network. A new pole installation generally requires an application and approval before work can start, which adds time at the front of the job. We lodge either one, with Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy or Essential Energy as your address requires.
04
Scheduling
We book the outage window with you before the day.
05
Installation
Old pole out where there is one, new pole in and set to the required depth for the ground conditions, point of attachment installed so it is accessible from ground level with a ladder and meets the strength requirements in the NSW Service and Installation Rules, conductors terminated, service connected and tested.
06
Paperwork
The Notification of Service Work goes to Ausgrid through the portal. Where installation work is involved, the Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work is lodged with Building Commission NSW through the eCert portal.
07
Sign off
You get the documentation, and if the job was a defect rectification, what you need to close out the notice.
Half a day
How long you are without power, standard job
Where we are doing everything from the overhead service through to the switchboard, allow a full day.
Booked in advance
The outage window
We confirm the window with you when we book, so you can plan around it.
Timber or galvanised steel.
The NSW Service and Installation Rules provide for both, with strength tables for hardwood timber and for a range of steel grades, along with minimum sinking depths that vary by soil type.
Galvanised steel is the more common choice for a residential replacement or installation now. It does not rot, is not attractive to termites, and generally comes in at a lower installed cost.
Hardwood timber is specified where pole class, height, or a heritage or streetscape requirement calls for it. It is significantly more expensive to install.
We recommend one based on your span, load, height requirement and ground conditions rather than on preference, and the reasoning goes in the quote.
What power pole replacement and installation costs.
Our pricing starts at:
-
Work From
-
Private pole replacement $1,500
-
Overhead service replacement $2,000
-
New pole installation Priced on inspection
Both move from there depending on what the job actually needs: pole class and height, footing and ground conditions, whether the meter box is being relocated onto the pole, whether the consumer mains and conductors also need replacing, the length of the service run, and site access. We price each job on inspection and give you the figure in writing before we start.
For an independent reference point, Ausgrid publishes its own indicative costs for private pole and powerline work:
Work
Ausgrid indicative range
Steel pole
$3,000 to $5,000
Steel pole with meter box
$3,500 to $5,500
Large timber pole
$7,500 to $14,500
Large timber pole with meter box
$9,500 to $16,000
Crossarm replacement
$1,800 to $3,000
Conductor replacement
$3,600 to $6,000
Insulator replacement
$1,500 to $2,500
Source: Ausgrid, private pole and powerline repair costs. Those are Ausgrid’s figures, not our quote.
There is no NSW government rebate for private pole replacement or installation, and any site telling you otherwise is mistaken. The cost sits with the property owner.
Inclusions
What is included, and what is not.
Included
- Site inspection and condition assessment
- Written itemised quote
- Supply of the pole and pole-top fittings
- Excavation, footing, installation and setting
- Point of attachment installation
- Testing
- Notification of Service Work lodged with Ausgrid
- Removal and disposal of the old pole, on a replacement
- Basic site reinstatement
Not included unless quoted
- Switchboard or meter box upgrades
- Consumer mains replacement to the switchboard
- Asbestos removal from an existing meter panel
- Tree or vegetation clearing
- Traffic control
- Crane or elevated work platform on constrained sites
- Service disconnection and reconnection at the connection point
- Core holing, also called excavation through rock
- Landscaping or paving reinstatement beyond backfill
- Work on Ausgrid’s side of the connection point
Why a Level 2 ASP has to do this job.
Replacing or installing a private pole requires the service line to be disconnected and reconnected at the connection point, and that is ASP Level 2 work.
The relevant accreditation classes are 2A for disconnection and reconnection and 2C for overhead services. A general electrician cannot lawfully do that part of the job.
Worth knowing that accreditation alone is not enough. Under the NSW ASP Scheme Rules, personnel must also be authorised by the individual distributor whose network they are working on. We hold accreditation and authorisation with Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy, so we can work either side of a network boundary without handing your job to another contractor.
It also removes a margin. A general electrician has to bring a Level 2 in for the network side and mark that up on top of their own work. We are the Level 2. Deal direct and there is one contractor and one price.
Source: NSW Government, ASP scheme and contestable works. energy.nsw.gov.au
Our credentials.
Ausgrid’s own guidance sends people to the NSW Government ASP register. You can verify us on the list you were already pointed at.
- ASP Level 2, accredited and authorised with Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy
- NSW Electrical Contractor Licence 381215C
- Public liability and workers compensation insurance
- Member, National Electrical Contractors Association
- Established 2016, with a combined 20 years of trade experience across residential, warehouse, hospitality and industrial work
- Project history including TAFE NSW Miller Campus, Mona Vale Hospital, Wet and Wild Blacktown and PARKROYAL Parramatta
- Above 100 amps is a specialty. The distributor reviews every application at that level, and other electricians and other Level 2 contractors subcontract that work to us
- Regular safety and compliance training to AS/NZS 3000, the NSW Service and Installation Rules and network standards
What our customers say.
From our Google Business Profile, quoted as written.
★★★★★
“Our private pole collapsed and was disconnected by Ausgrid. Brilliant arrived within an hour of me calling them. Within several hours they got my power back on. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a Level 2 Electrician. Thanks again!”
Jenny L | Read on Google
★★★★★
“Both Aldrae and Rex where amazing. Focused on solving problem on what exactly was needed. Really happy with it… after getting quotes from 2 other level 2 electricians, I found him to be best and also reasonably priced. Quality of work couldn’t have been any better… they replaced the cable from the street to the house with thicker ones.”
Anju’s Kitchen | Read on Google
★★★★★
“Great service from start to finish. The staff were friendly, helpful, and easy to deal with. Prices were very reasonable, and the whole experience was hassle-free. I would definitely use their services again and would happily recommend them to others!”
T&G Accounts | Read on Google
Where we work.
Brilliant Electric works right across Sydney from a base in Riverwood. Most of our work sits in four areas.
Ryde and Eastwood
Including Marsfield, West Ryde, Denistone, Meadowbank and Macquarie Park.
Chatswood and the lower North Shore
Including Willoughby, Artarmon, Northbridge, Lane Cove and Roseville.
Randwick and the eastern suburbs
Including Coogee, Kensington, Kingsford, Maroubra and Clovelly.
Hurstville and the St George area
Including Bexley, Oatley, Peakhurst, Carlton, Beverly Hills, Kingsgrove, Mortdale, Penshurst and Riverwood.
We also work regularly through East Hills, Panania and Revesby in the Canterbury-Bankstown area, and out toward Liverpool.
Why the network operator matters here
Almost all of that footprint is in Ausgrid’s distribution area: Ryde, Willoughby, Lane Cove, Ku-ring-gai, Randwick, Georges River, Bayside and Canterbury-Bankstown are all Ausgrid council areas. Liverpool is Endeavour Energy.
Because we are accredited with all three NSW networks, we can work either side of that boundary. For an address near the Georges River around East Hills, or anywhere out toward Liverpool, we confirm the network operator against Ausgrid’s network area check before quoting, so the paperwork goes to the right place first time.
Frequently asked questions.
Who owns the power pole on my property?
You do. Ausgrid’s position is that property owners are responsible for the electrical assets on their property beyond Ausgrid’s connection point, including all private power poles, powerlines and pole-top fittings.
When do I need a new power pole installed rather than replaced?
When there has never been a private pole and the network requires one. Under the NSW Service and Installation Rules a customer must provide a pole where an overhead service run exceeds 50 metres at up to 100 amps, or 30 metres above 100 amps. That commonly applies to rear blocks, long driveways, new dwellings set back from the street, subdivisions and secondary dwellings taking their own supply.
Is installing a new power pole different to replacing one?
Yes. There is no demolition or disposal, but a new installation generally needs a network application and approval before work starts rather than a notification afterwards, and the service run and excavation are often larger. It is quoted separately from a replacement.
I have received a defect notice. How long do I have?
Ausgrid asks that you make contact within 30 days of receiving the notice, confirming the work is done or will be done within 60 days of the notice date. Where the property is on bush fire prone land those periods are set by the Electricity Supply Act 1995. Always check the dates on your own notice, since it governs.
What happens if I ignore a defect notice?
Your electricity supply can be disconnected. A distributor may disconnect premises where it reasonably considers the electrical installation is, or is likely to become, unsafe while connected. Ausgrid states defects not repaired may result in disconnection until repairs are safely completed.
Do I need a Level 2 electrician to replace or install a private power pole?
Yes. Both require the service line to be disconnected and reconnected at the connection point, which is ASP Level 2 work under accreditation classes 2A and 2C. A general electrician cannot lawfully carry out that part of the job.
Can my private power pole be repaired instead of replaced?
Sometimes. Crossarms, insulators, conductors and pole-top fittings can often be replaced on a structurally sound pole, and Ausgrid prices those repairs separately from a full replacement. It depends on the condition of the pole and what your notice specifies. We tell you at inspection.
How much does power pole replacement and installation cost in Sydney?
Our pricing starts at $1,500 for a private pole replacement and $2,000 for an overhead service replacement, moving from there depending on what the job needs. For context, Ausgrid publishes indicative ranges of $3,000 to $5,000 for a steel pole and $7,500 to $14,500 for a large timber pole, before extras such as a meter box. Actual cost depends on pole class and height, footing conditions, conductor condition and site access.
Is there a government rebate for private power pole replacement?
No. There is no NSW rebate for private pole replacement or installation, and the cost sits with the property owner. Ausgrid does operate a Customer Assistance Framework with payment plans for customers experiencing financial hardship.
Will my power be off, and for how long?
Yes. Around half a day for a standard pole replacement, because the service must be disconnected at the connection point and reconnected once the new pole and point of attachment are installed. Where the job runs from the overhead service through to the switchboard, allow a full day. The outage window is booked with you in advance.
Should I choose a timber or galvanised steel pole?
Both are permitted under the NSW Service and Installation Rules. Galvanised steel is the more common residential choice because it does not rot or attract termites and generally installs at lower cost. Timber is specified where pole class, height or streetscape requirements call for it.
How often should a private power pole be inspected?
Ausgrid recommends owners arrange inspections before each bushfire season, after major storms, and any time damage is suspected. In bushfire prone areas Ausgrid also carries out free annual visual inspections of private poles and overhead powerlines.
Which network operator covers my suburb?
Most of Sydney, including Ryde, Eastwood, Chatswood, Willoughby, Lane Cove, Randwick, Hurstville and the St George and Canterbury-Bankstown suburbs, is in Ausgrid’s distribution area. Liverpool is Endeavour Energy. We are accredited with Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy, so we can work either side of the boundary, and we confirm which network your address falls under before quoting.
Do you handle the network paperwork?
Yes. The Notification of Service Work is lodged with Ausgrid through the Ausgrid Portal, since paper NOSW forms are no longer accepted. Where an emergency NOSW applies it must be submitted within two working days of completion.
Do you work above 100 amps?
Yes, that is our specialty. The distributor reviews every application at that level, and other electricians and other Level 2 contractors subcontract that work to us.
I am a tenant and the notice came to me. What do I do?
Forward it to the property owner, property manager or landlord as soon as possible and follow up until it is resolved. It is the property owner’s responsibility to comply with the direction in a defect notice.
Received a defect notice, or need a pole installed?
Call us and we will talk you through what your notice or your site actually requires before you commit to anything.
0422 631 213
If a pole is down or a wire is on the ground, call 000 first, then Ausgrid on 13 13 88. That line operates 24 hours. We work business hours and do not run an emergency service.
Brilliant Electric ASP Level 2
76-84 Karne St N, Riverwood NSW 2210
0422 631 213
Office hours Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm. Saturday by appointment. For urgent concerns, call and we will tell you where you sit. We do not run a 24/7 emergency service. If a pole is down or a wire is on the ground, call 000 and then Ausgrid on 13 13 88.
Accreditation
- ASP Level 2, accredited with Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy
- NSW Electrical Contractor Licence 381215C
- Public liability and workers compensation insured
- NECA member, established 2016
Our guarantee
12 months on items and materials, and a lifetime guarantee on our workmanship, provided no other contractor has worked on it since. During business hours we answer the phone straight away. How quickly we can get someone on site depends on the run that day, and we will tell you honestly when we book.
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