Vector > Contact us > Get connected > Electricity - residential & business

Electricity connections - residential & business

Vector is responsible for connecting its electricity network to the boundary of your property. When this is complete you can arrange the rest of the connection through your electrician.

Our connection usually involves installing underground cables and a pillar or in-ground pit at your boundary, the location of which will be identified on your quote. Where possible we try to thrust cable in the berm to minimise digging and trenching but this is not possible in some areas. Where we have to dig up the berm or footpaths, the reinstatement of this will be covered in our quote.

How do I apply?
You can submit an online request now or phone 09 529 8444.

How much will it cost?

To connect between your property boundary and our network

We will quote on all electricity connections on a Price On Application (POA) approach. Costs will vary widely depending on the work required, the equipment and labour used and the testing of the supply to make sure it is safe.

Factors that will contribute to the cost of your connections are:

  • The distance between your property boundary and our existing network (i.e. how far you are from the nearest power pole and transformer)

  • What connection capacity you require to meet your energy needs

  • The type of soil the connection needs to be laid in - specifically whether or not rock is present (which is harder to dig through)

  • Whether our existing network needs to be reinforced to provide electricity to you

  • Additional costs imposed by councils or for legal property reasons such as traffic management, road opening charges and easements and consents

To connect between your property boundary and your house
You will need to talk to your electrician or builder regarding the cost of connecting between your property boundary and your electricity meter.

To liven your connection
You will need to talk to your electricity retailer about livening costs.

How long will it take?
To connect between your property boundary and Vector’s network
Standard connections
Most residential connections in urban areas will be a standard residential connection defined as <60 amps; single to three phase. All industrial connections, commercial connections and rural residential connections are generally non standard.

Quotation timeframes:
Standard connections
You should receive a quote in about 2 weeks. Once the quote has been accepted and payment made, it should take approximately 3-6 weeks, depending on council processing times for obtaining maps and plans and any other requirements such as Transit Service Agreements. If a delay is likely, we will inform you as part of the information we include with your quote.

Non standard connections
Commercial, industrial and rural customers please see ‘Getting connected to electricity - commercial’.

To connect between your property boundary and your house
You must liaise with your electrician about timeframes for connecting your house to your electricity connection at the boundary.

To liven your connection
Livening is arranged by your electricity retailer and should be completed within 2 days.

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ELECTRICITY CONNECTION PROCESS
Step Process
1. Once your electrician has determined your requirements, either they or you need to submit a request for supply to Vector You can submit an online request or phone 09 529 8444. Our call centre staff will log a job and provide you with a reference number.
2. Vector will provide a quotation We will check whether your capacity requirements can be met by a standard connection to our network. If a non-standard connection is required we will contact you and you may need to provide more information. For standard connections, a quote will be provided within 2 weeks.
3. Sign quotation and pay Payment is required before any works can start. For standard connections the quote will be valid for 90 days.
4. Arrange the easements and consents you are responsible for For standard connections there is generally no need for easements but sometimes we do need consents especially around trees. If you are legally required to obtain any easements or consents for the works we will advise of this when we provide the quote. You will need to provide us with copies of the consents or easements before we start work
5. Vector will obtain equipment, maps and plans required We will obtain any maps, plans, permits and consents that are required, except any easements and consents indicated in your quote which you are responsible for. Vector is reliant on council processing times, so this may take up to 4 weeks before construction can be scheduled. If a Transit Service Agreement is required by the council, the delay may be even longer.
6. Vector will schedule a start date for construction with you We will contact you to arrange a date for construction of the connection.
7. Vector will connect your property boundary to our electricity network We will build the connection between your property boundary and our existing network. For standard connections construction should take about 2 weeks from scheduling.
8. Arrange for your electrician to connect your supply to the pillar or pit at your boundary You will need to arrange with your electrician the installation of the service cable/line from your house to our connection at your boundary. This is known as a service line and as the property owner you own and are responsible for this line. The cost for this work will be separate from our quotation.
9. Arrange livening of your supply with an electricity retailer Livening can occur once your electrician has finished the wiring on your property. You should allow a minimum of 2 working days for livening to be completed. Your electricity retailer will advise if there are any costs involved. When you convert a temporary supply to permanent supply your electrician and retailer will organise the connection and livening.
 

Standard Policies for Low Voltage Connections

Vector’s Northern Network

(North Shore, Waitakere, Rodney)
All new low voltage connections to Vector’s Northern network are underground connections and the cost of the connection is covered by the person making the request.

  • Ideally, each new connection will by way of an underground pit installed on the boundary. However, a pillar maybe used when there is no kerb or channelling (normally in rural areas).
  • There are no overhead low voltage pole top connections permitted
  • Underground to overhead pole top connections (without the installation of a pit or pillar on the boundary) can only be used where the pole is 1 meter or less from the boundary with the service cable installed directly across at 90 degrees to the boundary line. All cables in the berm shall be installed by Vector and recorded on GIS (Vector’s mapping system). The cable in the berm will be owned by Vector, within the private property the cable shall be owned by customer.
  • The above rules apply irrespective if the installation is in a rural or urban area.

Please note that to connect a service cable to pits the cable needs to be double-insulated, non-screen cable manufactured in accordance with AS4026 - 1992.

Vector’s Auckland Network

(Auckland City, Manukau and parts of Papakura district)
All new low voltage connections to Vector’s Auckland network are underground connections and the cost of the connection is covered by the person making the request.

  • Ideally, each new connection will by way of an underground pit installed on the boundary. However, a pillar maybe used when there is no kerb or channelling (normally in rural areas).
  • There are no underground to overhead pole top connections without the installation of a pit of pillar on the property boundary or direct overhead pole top connections anywhere on the Auckland network with the exception of Waiheke Island. On Waiheke a pole top connection can be performed where there is a current pole installed (in fit condition) and where there is no kerb or channelling as long as no aerial trespass is caused. New poles can not be installed to support new connections, nor will we upgrade a pole to take a new connection.
  • All cables in the berm shall be installed by Vector and recorded on GIS. The cable in the berm will be owned by Vector, within the private property the cable shall be owned by customer.

Please note that to connect a service cable to pits the cable needs to be Double-insulated, non-screen cable manufactured in accordance with AS4026 - 1992.