Moving Powerline Because of Neighbour

George Washington on 04/05/2022 - 15:00
Last edited 04/05/2022 - 15:24 by 1 other user

Hi

Need some advice, neighbours are doing a knock down rebuild and my power-line which runs from the street cuts into a corner of their block. They have asked us to move the power-line so they can get more clearance to do the work. It cost roughly 3-4k for the new private pole with the hook up to meter box. Due to the terrain trees and access to work.

Who would pay for this?

I don't see why I would need to, as I didn't choose to do a knock down rebuild and going by grandfathered rule it can remain there for as long as it like until we ourselves do a knock down rebuild.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • elgrande on 04/05/2022 - 15:08
    +5

    Bloody neighbors, always causing problems.

    • George Washington on 04/05/2022 - 15:23
      +3

      Im going to tell them to go away, if they hit it there fault and their responsibility to hook it up again at their cost

  • Muzeeb on 04/05/2022 - 15:10
    +1

    I recall a similar thread recently.

    Edit: Found it. Disregard.

  • ESEMCE on 04/05/2022 - 15:24
    +6

    Not your problem as it's not owned by you AFAIK.
    It's the Utilities' problem to resolve.

    • bmerigan on 04/05/2022 - 22:35

      This is a good point. When the house was built I expect they didn't choose where the pole was. Not your problem to fix.

  • Domingo on 04/05/2022 - 15:25
    +3

    I'd either look up the legislation, or even better get someone who knows what they are doing to do so on your behalf.

    Section 53 of the Act provides that power lines erected on private property without an easement prior to 26 May 2006 (when this section commenced) are entitled to remain in place and be maintained and upgraded despite the absence of an easement. This protection is not available for new assets constructed on private land after 26 May 2006, so easements must be acquired prior to the installation of all such assets unless otherwise specified by the NO.

    Source: https://energy.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-09/ISSC-2…

    This is intended to be fairly illustrative, I'm not saying that the above applies in your situation but gives a flavour of how these things can play out - you'll need to find the right bits that apply to you.

    Is there an easement? When was it installed? There's a few things worth knowing here that inform what the outcome is likely to be.

  • freefall101 on 04/05/2022 - 15:26
    +2

    Might differ in NSW but in Victoria you don't own your powerline, the utility provider does.

    I wouldn't be paying for it, there's no reason to. If it overhangs their property, either there was an easement on their title, it was put in before easements on titles were a thing with power or the power company shouldn't have run it there and it's on them to move it. Otherwise they can pay for it (and you're a nice neighbour for letting them pay to do it).

  • JimB on 04/05/2022 - 15:29

    Have you assumed that your neighbours would not pay for it?

    • George Washington on 04/05/2022 - 15:30

      He is the type to not pay for it im a tradie by trade and he is the type of customer who counts his screws. He even mentioned it

      • JimB on 04/05/2022 - 15:31

        Have you asked him?

  • Drakesy on 04/05/2022 - 15:30
    +3

    How we'd work in government is if we need to move it (the utility) we have to pay for it.
    The same would be the case here.

    The powerline/pole would've been installed to the standard of the day and naturally over time this would change.

    As soon as you touch it everything would have to be brought up to code (including your meterbox) before the utility will reconnect your supply, which may get expensive.

    Neighbours in this case would need to foot the bill

    • JimB on 04/05/2022 - 15:33
      +1

      Of course Neighbours in this case would need to foot the bill

      I've had to pay 100% for an electrical power pit which my neighbour can access at no cost.

  • brad1-8tsi on 04/05/2022 - 19:14
    +2

    It will be on your neighbours dollar.

    I've just paid $5k "rental" to the owner of the neighbouring property so I could get 18 weeks access and scaffold placement to the boundary wall.

    Their joint had been empty for 12 months previous and is still empty now.

    What the issue will be is who pays for any additional electrical work required s part of your electrical "upgrade". Be prepared for Land & Environment court if they can't see sense and don't have an experienced Project Manager to explain the law to them.

    • George Washington on 04/05/2022 - 20:00
      +2

      Spoke to a sparky mate of mine, he said dont bother tell them to put tiger tails on the line and get a smaller excavator and call it a day.

      • bmerigan on 04/05/2022 - 22:40
        +2

        Get out of here with your common sense.

  • conan2000 on 04/05/2022 - 23:22

    We needed to get our neighbours to do this when we rebuilt our property in Victoria. The builder refused to do any work until it was done for safety reasons. We paid for all of the works, completely unreasonable to expect them to pay for it.

  • Chris Topher on 05/05/2022 - 12:28

    In Victoria, I had that issue of the neighbour's power line ran from the power pole approximately middle front of my property right on my front boundary line.

    I lodged a complaint with the power company and the line in question was moved to a 'mid span' connection somewhere suitable between the power poles. No charges were levied that I know of.

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