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Electricity Act 1992

Powers and duties of electricity operators and other owners of electrical works

24A: Criteria for setting reasonable conditions

You could also call this:

“Rules for fair road work when setting up electricity lines”

When someone wants to do work on a road to set up electricity lines, the local authority or person in charge of the road can set some rules. These rules are meant to be fair and reasonable. Here’s what they might think about when making these rules:

They can think about keeping traffic moving safely, whether it’s people walking or cars driving. They also want to keep everyone safe, especially those who might be near the work. They try to stop damage to property and roads from the work.

They might think about money that needs to be paid if property gets damaged. They also want to cause less trouble for people living nearby and businesses. They try to work with other people who might be putting in different types of lines or fixing the road at the same time.

The local authority also thinks about how quickly the electricity company needs to set up their network. They can add other fair rules too, not just these ones.

If they want to make the area look nicer (not just keep it the same), they can only do this in special areas that are marked in a plan. If this costs the electricity company more money, the local authority has to pay for the extra cost.

When they talk about a district plan, they also mean a development plan under a law called the Urban Development Act 2020.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM3164401.

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"Rules for electricity companies working on roads"

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Part 3 Powers and duties of electricity operators and other owners of electrical works

24ACriteria for setting reasonable conditions

  1. In setting, varying, or revoking reasonable conditions under section 24(2), the local authority or other body or person having jurisdiction over the road concerned may consider all or any of the following matters:

  2. the safe and efficient flow of traffic (whether pedestrian or vehicular):
    1. the health and safety of any person who is, or class of persons who are, likely to be directly affected by the work on the road:
      1. the need to lessen the damage that is likely to be caused to property (including structural integrity of the roads) as a result of work on the road:
        1. the compensation that may be payable under section 57 for property that is likely to be damaged as a result of work on the road:
          1. the need to lessen disruption to the local community (including businesses):
            1. the co-ordination of installation of other networks:
              1. the co-ordination with road construction work by the local authority or other body or person who has jurisdiction over that road:
                1. the need of the electricity operator to establish an electricity network in a timely manner.

                  1. Nothing in subsection (1) limits a local authority's or other body's or person's ability to impose reasonable conditions under section 24(2).

                  2. However, a condition requiring a network operator to increase amenity values (rather than to merely maintain them) must not be imposed unless the work to be done is in an area identified in a district plan as an area in relation to which, under the district plan, there are particular considerations, or rules or requirements, relating to amenity values.

                  3. If the cost to the network operator of complying with a condition referred to in subsection (3) is higher than it would have been if there were not a requirement to increase amenity values, then the person imposing the condition must pay that increase in cost.

                  4. In subsection (3), a reference to a district plan includes a reference to a development plan under the Urban Development Act 2020.

                  Compare
                  Notes
                  • Section 24A: inserted, on , by section 15 of the Infrastructure (Amendments Relating to Utilities Access) Act 2010 (2010 No 99).
                  • Section 24A(3): amended, on , by section 6 of the Resource Management (Natural and Built Environment and Spatial Planning Repeal and Interim Fast-track Consenting) Act 2023 (2023 No 68).
                  • Section 24A(5): inserted, on , by section 300 of the Urban Development Act 2020 (2020 No 42).
                  • Section 24A(5): amended, on , by section 6 of the Resource Management (Natural and Built Environment and Spatial Planning Repeal and Interim Fast-track Consenting) Act 2023 (2023 No 68).