Private Power Pole Installations Sydney 

In and around the bustling city of Sydney, where urban and suburban landscapes seamlessly intertwine, the installation of private power poles plays a crucial role. They ensure reliable electricity power supply from the grid to where it’s needed. 

Whether a large Industrial site, a small business or a home, understanding the requirements for a private power pole installation is essential in getting it right the first time. Let’s take a closer look at the process, regulations, and benefits associated with private power pole installations across Sydney. 

The Necessity for Private Power Pole installation 

Private power poles serve as a vital link between properties and the electricity grid. It ensures a solid point of connection for consistent power supply. Many commercial, industrial and residential areas in Sydney are connected to overhead power lines. This connection is usually from the street pole to a point of attachment (POA) on the awning, wall or roof of a building. Electricity installations not utilising a private power pole generally require a long cable to span over a driveway or open space of a property which causes a few issues.  

It’s not aesthetically very pleasing, making the property look messy. The second issue is that electrical lines swaying in the wind or birds sitting on them cause damage to the point of attachment. Defective POA’s that need to be repaired or replaced are very expensive. A third consequence of not having a private power pole could be low hanging cables running over the property. Resulting in lower clearances for large vehicles to drive underneath live cables when entering or exiting a property. 

The above issues can be alleviated by installing a private power pole on the property. The private power pole will allow a cable to be run from the Energy distributors power pole to the top of the site private pole. The cable can then be run within the pole and underground to a metre box on the side of the property. The property will now look clean and allow for clear access to vehicles of all heights. Check out our Pole install projects for some great examples. 

There may arise situations where it’s difficult to run a service mains cable underground from a private power pole to a main switch board on the side of the property. In such a scenario, an aerial cable may still be necessary to run an aerial cable from the top of a private pole to a POA on the property’s roof, wall or awning.  Although there will still be a cable over the property, it will not be an entire span from the distributor’s power pole on the street to a POA. This will reduce the pressure on the POA and reduce the need for costly repairs or replacements to the POA. Larger and more complex situations will require an electrical engineer or designer to better assess requirements. 

What is a UGOH? 

It’s possible to remove the entire need for an overhead cable by choosing an Underground to Overhead (UGOH) option. This allows for the cable to run underground from the street pole all the way to the Meter box on the side of the property. Although a UGOH connection in Sydney can be a little more expensive than just installing a private power pole, in most cases it’s a strictly better option. It completely removes any need for aerial cables and allows for easy access during maintenance.  

Difference between timber and steel poles? 

Not all Electricity poles are built the same. They differ in the materials they are made from, they come in different lengths and diameters and they all must be installed using the correct procedure and fixtures. 

Timber Poles 

There are approximately 5 million Timber Poles around Sydney holding up our electricity and communications infrastructure. High pressure is used to drive preservatives into logged hardwood trees to prepare them for a lifetime of service. The external coat is also treated to allow the pole to withstand the mould, fungi, termites and any other threat to its longevity.  

They are a great option when you are looking for a natural look and/or need more height for your installation. Timber power poles can be more cost effective than concrete or steel poles when you need anything greater than 10 metres. There are some pros and cons when it comes to timber poles.  

As mentioned above, great for height and look. The downside, they are more difficult to install. The height adds weight, and the rough surface demands special equipment.  

A timber pole’s lifespan can be a great advantage in the right circumstance. So long as there’s no wood loving critters around and the pole is installed in locations with low moisture then you could get a solid 30 years out of your timber pole.  

Fibreglass re-inforced cement poles 

A great alternative to timer poles is the new up and coming superstar of the industry, the fibreglass reinforced cement poles. Due to their light weight and no conductive characteristics, these poles are increasing in popularity especially. The light weight allows for ease of transportation as well as installation. Its non-conductive nature means when things go wrong, they are isolated from the pole’s anchor point.  

Another great benefit of fibreglass poles is its ability to withstand bushfires. Timber poles generally burn easily during our bushfire season making firefighting and power restoration very difficult. Although fibreglass poles are more expensive, in the long run they pay for themselves. They have a longer average life span and when removal is required, its light weight makes it easier to do so. 

Concrete Poles 

Large Transmission cables require substantial ‘heavy set’ power poles that can deal with the high tension and great weight of the cables spanning across their supports. They must be able to stand up to natural disasters and/or manmade disasters. These Poles are installed by the distributor across NSW. 

Steel Poles 

Steel poles are the most common type of poles utilised across Sydney for power transmission, lighting and electronic signage, and demand is increasing swiftly for steel poles. More businesses and homeowners are moving away from POA’s that are attached to buildings and opting in for private power poles.  

Steel galvanised private power poles come in 6.5 metres, 7.2 metres, 9 metres and 11 metres. The depth will depend on the quality of the soil, exact regulations for pole depths can be found in the NSW services rule book.  

Clearances are especially important for private power poles. There are minimum clearances over roads, footpaths, driveways and boundaries. All these details can also be found in the NSW services rule book and AS3000 standards.  

Temporary Power Poles 

Generally, temporary power poles are erected for building sites as they will require power during the construction phase to use AC equipment, charge batteries and power pumps,  and operate cranes, and other machines. Multiple poles may be needed across the site to provide power where it’s required. The poles will normally have an enclosure attached to it, housing safety switches and meters.  

Smaller construction sites will also have temporary poles when supply is from an underground service. A conduit would be run from a green pillar to the the bottom of the pole to a meter box installed on a half-sized pole until the construction has been completed.  

Regulations and Approval Process: 

The installation of private power poles is subject to approval from the relevant authorities, such as Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy, depending on the location you are. This process involves obtaining permits and adhering to specific guidelines to ensure the safety and compliance of the installation. Before embarking on a private power pole installation project in Sydney, it’s crucial to be aware of the regulatory framework governing power pole installations.  

Factors Influencing Installation: 

Several factors come into play when determining the need for and feasibility of private power pole installation: 

Property Location: The distance from the nearest power source and the density of nearby properties can influence the decision to install a private power pole. 

Topography: The geographical features of the land, such as hills, valleys, or uneven terrain, may impact the number of poles required and length and material of poles required.  

Property Size and Usage: Larger properties or those with higher power demands may require larger private power poles and bigger connectors.  

Cost Considerations: The cost of private power pole installation can vary based on factors like accessibility, distance to the grid, and the complexity of the installation. 

Electricity consumers bear the responsibility for ensuring the secure upkeep and operation of electrical installations on their premises, including private steel or timber poles set in concrete, such as those incorporated into driveways. 

A practical approach to ensuring the safety and integrity of a pole involves inspecting its condition below ground. This necessitates the removal of surrounding concrete or soil to a depth of at least 200mm. It’s important to note that removing soil or concrete may render the pole unstable, even if its overall condition is sound.  

Poles should be installed so that any concrete stabilisation concludes at least 300mm below ground level, in accordance with the Service and Installation Rules of NSW. 

Existing poles with concrete stabilisation finishing at or near ground level should be inspected by a qualified individual. If concrete removal and reinstatement are necessary, ensure it concludes at least 300mm below ground level whenever possible. 

Corrosion is a common issue with steel power poles, typically occurring where the pole enters the soil and to a depth of approximately 200mm below ground. To mitigate this risk, many poles are set in concrete above ground level. However, this measure is not foolproof, and hidden corrosion within the concrete may necessitate the replacement of seemingly sound poles for safety reasons. 

Timber power poles are susceptible to decay, particularly where they enter the soil and to a depth of about 200mm below ground. Decay is often the result of higher oxygen and moisture levels. Setting timber poles in concrete can expedite deterioration as the concrete tends to retain moisture, fostering decay. While a pole may appear sound above the concrete, insufficient sound timber embedded inside can compromise its safety.  

When installing a pole, considering the height of the pole is very important. Factors to consider include: 

Clearance requirements 

Cable attached to poles must allow safe passage below them for all manner of vehicles. Cable cannot be less than 5.5meters lower than the centre of a road or less than 3 metres from the middle of a footpath. They must also be out of reach at POA, at least 2.7 metres from the bottom of a cable and 4.5 metres above driveways used by heavy vehicles.  

Benefits of Private Power Pole Installation: 

Cost Effective: Removes the need for Constantly repairing and replacing point of attachments. 

Safety: Private power poles minimise the risk of damaged POA’s on the property. 

Enhanced Safety: Allows greater clearances reducing overhead strikes. 

Boundary Crossings: Private power pole installations eliminate the need for crossing neighbouring properties. 

Aesthetics: The property looks better without cables spanning overhead.