123 poles, four teams, one stronger network

7 October 2026

Over the last few weeks, our Overhead Lines Team has been hard at work on Palmer Road, Rangitata, delivering an important programme of upgrades to strengthen the local electricity network and support the wider Geraldine and Woodbury communities.

The project focused on replacing and maintaining ageing infrastructure to help provide a safer, more reliable, and more resilient electricity supply for local homes, farms, and businesses. By proactively upgrading these assets now, we're helping reduce the likelihood of unplanned outages and ensuring the network is better prepared to meet future challenges.

To complete the work, the team replaced 123 poles, six transformers, six crossarms, one air break switch and three spans of conductor, while also carrying out maintenance on a further four air break switches. It was a significant undertaking that required careful planning, coordination, and a strong focus on quality throughout the project.

With a tight delivery timeframe, we were grateful to have crews from Electricity Ashburton, Network Waitaki and Delta working alongside our team. Their support played an important role in helping us complete the project on schedule, and it was great to acknowledge everyone's efforts with a well-earned BBQ lunch.

We'd also like to thank the local landowners who generously provided access across their properties, allowing our crews to safely reach network assets in remote locations. Their support, including providing space to store equipment and materials during the project, played an important part in helping the work progress efficiently.

This investment in the local network will help provide a more dependable electricity supply for the community for years to come. A big thank you to everyone involved. We're proud of the teamwork, expertise and collaboration that made this project a success and the positive difference it will make for our customers.