Undergrounding overhead lines

Our policy is to underground most new extensions in urban areas of our network. In rural areas it is often up to the developer to decide whether to put cables underground or lines above ground. Some of our network reinforcement, safety and improvement projects include undergrounding.

The main motivation to underground existing overhead lines is to improve the visual appeal of streets – our shareholder Councils have agreed that they are the appropriate organisations to set priorities for this undergrounding and pay for such work.

Additional benefits of an underground network are:

• a safer road environment – there are fewer poles for cars to hit
• higher reliability of electricity supply
• reduced maintenance costs
• longer asset life.

Undergrounding is very expensive. It costs approximately $700,000 to underground 1km of existing overhead lines.

If the Christchurch City Council or Selwyn District Council has no plans to underground existing lines in your street, and you are interested in funding the work yourself, please email our Reticulation Asset Manager, Mike Miles or call Mike on 03 363 9824. We would need to assess the feasibility of your proposal and estimate the costs.