More often than not, you’ll always find a power pole in every street, neighbourhood, and almost every corner in Sydney’s hilly suburbs. These tall structures distribute electrical power to residential and commercial establishments, and their height isn’t a mere estimation.

Furthermore, overhead power lines, whether public or private property, are subject to strict guidelines and protocols. Whether a power pole is out in the highways, sidewalks, or in a private lot, it exposes people and infrastructures into various safety hazards.

Hence, a power pole should meet the height requirement for installation, in which only an accredited level 2 electrician can perform. With that, Hills District Electrician provides reliable and remarkable service to deal with power poles you see every day.

Standard Pole Height

When planning to install your private pole, you might find yourself stuck on questions such as: How high should my power poles be? What standard procedures should I follow?

According to Australian Standards in Powerline Safety, a power pole’s height depends on the voltage supplied by the cables. In a nutshell, the higher the voltage rating, the taller the poles should be.

Keep in mind that some local policies may vary from the guidelines set by the NSW local government. Nevertheless, the power poles should sufficiently handle the power lines and their corresponding voltages.

Here are the standard pole heights for a particular AC voltage rating:

• 415 V power lines — 6 to 7-metre power pole (can go as low as 4.5 metres)
• 11 kV power lines — 8 to 9-metre power pole
• 19 kV power lines — 11 to 13-metre power pole
• 33 kV power lines — 10 to 20-metre power pole
• 66 kV power lines — 10 to 20-metre power pole

Moreover, taller power poles should have a two-metre depth ground placement. Burying enough portion into the ground ensures that the structure is safe from wind or other external forces that could damage it or threaten anyone within the vicinity.

Aside from that, having an adequate pole depth minimises the effects of vehicular accidents involving power poles. Hence, power poles should be sturdy to prevent a chain reaction of power-line failure from a car crash.

Besides, the premises covered near a power line permits a no-dig zone, especially in a rural landscape. For public transmission poles and towers, local councils prohibit people from building just about anything around them.

Reasons for Clearance Height Requirement

As discussed, every voltage rating has a dedicated pole height to ensure your safety from live electrical wiring. Also, you have to consider vertical vehicle clearance as to why the local government put these standards in place.

While passers-by and most vehicles have a low vertical clearance, heavy equipment and mass transport systems are usually taller. Hence, they should have adequate distance from hanging cables. In short, everything that passes below hot wires should be as far away from them as possible to avoid accidents and injury.

Additionally, power poles can also have attachments to them which adds weight to the structure. Usually, these attachments should also have enough distance from the ground. That’s why the local and national government set clearance height standards in a way that can give more room for equipment such as:

• Main power cables
• Streetlights
• DSL/Fiber internet wires
• Insulators and aerial bundled cables
• Transformers

The Case of Private Power Poles

A private pole differs from public poles in a way that it has less traffic beneath it, and it usually carries less load than the latter. However, the same standard applies to power poles inside a private property.

Furthermore, level 2 electricians such as our team from Hills District Electricians strictly adhere to the specified power pole height guidelines to ensure safety and reliability. As electricity is a basic need for modern households, we recommend that you look after your power pole the way you look after your home.

Cheaping out from private pole installation will cost you a lot more in the future from all the repairs and electrical emergencies that could manifest over time. To keep your lives safe from potential power accidents, prevent them from happening in the first place.

Conclusion

The local government has set the high bar for power pole height to ensure uninterrupted, safe, and reliable utility grid distribution. With that, you should only have a licensed electrician deal with your power poles, as they are well-aware of the guidelines and policies in play.

Hills District Electrician has fifteen (15) years of reliable service as an accredited level 2 electrician. Our team of professionals offers private pole installation for your property.

There is a lot more into drilling at the right spot and running the main cables to your electrical system. That’s why we’re here to help.

With integrity, we are treating you and your property with the utmost care and respect. Hills District Electrician has a team of licensed and insured electricians available 24/7 to help you on your most convenient time.

Call us at 02 8378 2838 for an appointment or inquire with us via email.