Better Tree Regulations Will Mean Fewer Power Cuts During Storms

A government review of the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003 is strongly endorsed by the Electricity Networks Association (ENA).

ENA chief executive Graeme Peters says Cyclone Gabrielle showed once again the need for electricity distribution businesses, or lines companies, to be able to effectively manage vegetation near power lines.

“The ENA wholeheartedly embraces the Government’s commitment to urgently review the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003,” Peters says.

“We estimate that about half of the 225,000 people who lost power at the height of the cyclone had an outage because of trees falling or flailing into lines.

“Our affected North Island members were left frustrated, disappointed and angry that the current regulations don’t allow them to properly manage vegetation around their lines. The cyclone was consequently able to cause tree-related damage that left customers without power for many days and, in some cases where access was blocked, weeks.”

Peters says ENA members are largely in agreement on what better regulations would look like.

“There are a range of potential options that would improve both the workability of the tree regs from a practical standpoint, and more importantly increase overall security of electricity supply, both in normal weather and storm scenarios, and enhance public and worker safety.

“Increasing the growth limit zones around power lines, making these zones ‘clear to sky’ –– so not allowing branches to hang directly over lines – and including some consideration of tree fall zones would go a long way towards improving the effectiveness of the tree regulations.

“Such changes would result in a lot fewer tree-related outages.”

Peters acknowledges that the public is concerned about the amenity value of trees, and that removing or cutting back high-risk trees can be controversial.

“But unnecessary power outages to medically-dependent customers, town centres, schools and hospitals is the result of too many old, diseased or wind-sensitive trees near power lines.

“ENA will be strongly supporting the review and we look forward to an outcome which results in fewer outages to customers, improved public and worker safety, and reduced cost of maintaining lines companies - savings which ultimately will be pass to homes and businesses.”

Graeme Peters, 027 667 7400

The Electricity Networks Association (ENA) is helping deliver a low-carbon future for New Zealanders — a future based on reliable, safe and affordable electricity networks.

We represent all 27 lines companies which operate the poles and wires delivering electricity to every region across New Zealand. (See how we fit into the wider electricity system here.)

Our industry:

• employs 10,000 people
• delivers energy to more than two million homes and businesses
• has spent or invested $8 billion in the last five years.

What we care about most is climate, customers and collaboration.

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