Disconnection and reconnection services

Sometimes it’s safer to disconnect your power – either briefly for planned work near service lines, or permanently when a connection is no longer needed. This page explains our temporary safety disconnection and reconnection service, how to book, and how permanent disconnections are managed through your electricity retailer.

If there’s an urgent safety risk, please call us immediately on 0800 800 769. Safety disconnections in emergencies are free 24/7. 

Temporary safety disconnections and reconnections

Our temporary electricity disconnection and reconnection service ensures safe work, such as painting, tree trimming, or water blasting, on or near electricity service lines. It involves temporarily de-energising the service main at the point of supply while work is carried out, then re-energising it once it is safe to do so.

Fees for this service are detailed in the table below.

* A standard temporary safety disconnection and reconnection service covers low-voltage (LV) jobs that can be completed on site within standard business hours (8:30 am – 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays). Additional surcharges may apply for disconnecting high-voltage (HV) lines and for work that requires multiple site visits or complex switching. Note that we require at least 20 working days of notice for high-voltage (HV) disconnection and reconnection work. This more complex service involves both switching and a possible power shutdown.

** Dropping and cutting of lines is only required for some temporary safety disconnection and reconnection jobs. The charges for this additional service cover only the drop and cut of lines; the line item (s) above capture travel and mileage to/from the site, as well as supply deenergising and reenergising. The cost varies based on when the drop and cut is completed – within or outside of standard business hours. 

*** Standard temporary safety disconnection and reconnection service jobs required outside of our standard business hours: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

For full terms and conditions relating to our temporary electricity disconnection service, click here. 

Need to arrange a safety disconnection for upcoming work? Please contact us on 0800 800 769

Safety disconnection booking already confirmed? Click here for our service process and associated terms and conditions.

Looking to permanently disconnect from the network?

If a connection is no longer required (for example, if a building is being demolished, or a house removed), you’ll need to request a permanent disconnection through the relevant electricity retailer. This process ensures the installation cannot be re-energised, and that the site remains electrically safe.

Here’s how it works:

1. Contact the relevant retailer and let them know you’d like the site to be permanently disconnected from the network.
2. The electricity retailer will communicate with one of Waipā Networks’ approved contractors.
3. The bill payer will settle the final bill with the retailer and confirm next steps with them.