Undergrounding & Other Projects

Growing for Auckland

Auckland is growing rapidly, with demand for thousands of new electricity connection points each year. We work closely with a number of companies on projects to meet this demand and each year we invest tens of millions of dollars upgrading assets, technology and information systems relating to our networks.

Electricity and gas in new subdivisions

We are working on new subdivisions where all of the infrastructure will be underground. This ensures a modern environment for these new dwellings.

Equipping the subdivisions with both gas and electricity provides choice and flexibility for new residents allowing them to take advantage of new energy technologies. Check out our electricity and gas pages to find out how to get these energy services into a new subdivision.

Undergrounding of power lines

So far, more than 300 undergrounding projects have been completed, and around 72.3% of power lines in communities all over central, east and south Auckland are now underground, as at March 2024.

Some of this is funded through our agreement with our majority shareholder, Entrust, with whom, under our deed, we have committed to spend $12.5 million a year on undergrounding and new technologies.

All new residential developments since the late 1960s were undergrounded at the time of construction. This means parts of Auckland, such as South Auckland, have a significant proportion of the network underground already.

Entrust was formed as part of reforms to the electricity industry in 1993 and represents electricity consumers that were served by the Auckland Electric Power Board (AEPB) in the former Auckland, Manukau and Papakura areas. Our deed with Entrust does not extend to the northern part of our network in the former North Shore, Waitakere and Rodney areas; we purchased this part of the network in 2002.
 

Recently completed projects - St Heliers undergrounding

The St Heliers undergrounding programme, which began in January 2022, is now complete. In total 420 power poles and associated overhead lines have been removed and replaced with new underground cables and new Auckland Transport streetlight stands.

Current projects - Beachlands undergrounding 

The Beachlands undergrounding project, which is proudly funded by Entrust, majority shareholder of Vector, will be starting in October 2024 and is expected to be complete by September 2026. Read more about this project here.
 

Selecting areas to underground

We use a number of criteria to select areas for undergrounding, including:

• the condition of the lines and equipment in the area

• performance history (capacity and outages)

• the number of customers who will benefit

• the level of other utility works planned for each area

Residents of a street can apply to be considered for a resident-initiated, co-funded undergrounding project. For more information on the process and the requirements, email us at: info@vector.co.nz

'Dig once' policy

Along with undergrounding power lines, we are working together with Auckland Transport and Chorus so other services are included at the same time to limit disruption.
 
This means areas may also benefit from new street lighting and undergrounded telephone services at the same time.
 

Before	After

List of completed undergrounding projects (including resident-initiated projects)