Tree owners are legally required to ensure their trees don’t grow too close to power lines because if they do, they have the potential to cause power fluctuations and appliance damage, power failure, fire, electric shock or electrocution.

Vegetation Control Programme

MLL operates an ongoing and extensive vegetation control programme to reduce the risk of:

• accidental electric shock or electrocution.

• fires caused by electricity.

• power fluctuations or interruptions caused by branches touching, or being blown into power lines.

For vegetation control work we endeavour to come up with a solution that is mutually acceptable to both the tree owner and MLL. We need to eliminate the problem for a reasonable period of time given we have over 3,300km of line which needs to be kept free of vegetation interference to help us provide a reliable power supply to the community.

MLL has an ongoing vegetation control programme in place to help maintain a safe clearance between trees and power lines where they are situated in a public location.

Service Lines

The property owner is responsible for the maintenance and repair of electrical lines and equipment, known as services lines, on their property. This means property owners are responsible for the costs of trimming trees near their service lines.

You can hire a qualified arborist, or you can do-it-yourself - but remember that unless you are using someone qualified to work around live lines, always have your power supply temporarily disconnected before working near service lines.

For a list of preferred contractors click here.

To arrange a temporary safety disconnection complete the form below.

How You Can Help

If you know of trees that are causing interference with a power line (or have the potential to), please call us on 03 577 7007 or report a fault here.

Keep our power lines free of vegetation interference by only planting recommended trees under or near our power lines. These are trees that grow less than four metres tall and don’t tend to shed branches or fronds.

Comply with any notice to cut or trim a tree - it’s in the best interests of all parties, including the tree.

If you have any non-urgent tree and vegetation related questions please click on the button below and our vegetation team will contact you. We also have a list of helpful frequently asked questions which can be viewed here.

These Regulations were introduced by the government because trees need to be kept at a safe distance from electricity lines for public safety and to protect electricity supply.

The regulations:

• define safe separation distances between trees and power lines.

• specify who is responsible for ensuring clearances are maintained.

• place potential liability on the tree owner if any damage or accident occurs when trees touch power lines.