• Close Approach Consent

    A Close Approach Consent (CAC) is required if you’re carrying out work near our electrical equipment. Examples of work include building works, road construction, installing stormwater culverts, farming near powerlines, or DIY work close to overhead lines or underground cables (digging in your backyard).

    Working with Trees on our Network?
    Get the right forms, safety resources, and expert help here.

    Please use this form to apply for a Close Approach Consent (CAC), which enables us to assess your request for safety near our network. In some cases, a safe disconnect may also be required. This is when we turn off the power for the duration of your work.

    Our team will review your application and aim to respond within five business days.

    A B4UDig request must be completed prior to applying for a Close Approach Consent when there is excavation work taking place.

  • Close Approach Consent

  • Understanding your worksite

    This section is designed to help us understand the specific work being carried out near our assets or equipment.

    To ensure you meet the requirements, make sure you’re clear on the type of work and location you’re applying for. 

    To and From Address

    Please specify the area where your work will be conducted. Use the From Location for the starting point and the To Location for the ending point. If it's a single location, please enter the same address in both fields.

    This helps us understand that you are seeking consent for activities within the specified area.

  • Work start date *
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  • Work end date*
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  • What type of work will be completed inside the CAC area?*

  • Please refer to the zone diagram provided below, as the following questions will ask you about work in relation to these areas.

  • Applicant Details

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  • What asset types at your worksite need a Close Approach Consent*
  • Does any aspect of your work involve breaking soil?
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  • Select ALL statements that apply?*

  • Excavations

    This section helps us understand the type of excavation work you will be doing such as digging and construction and how close it will be to our assets based on the diagrams. This information ensures we can keep you and your contractors safe by assessing the risks and providing the right consent for working safely near our network.

    These questions relate to the closest asset(s) you will be working close to, within five metres.

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  • How close will the excavation be from a Counties Energy asset? This applies to assets buried or at ground level.*
  • Select the type of excavations taking place within the applied consent area?*
  • Select the maximum depth of the excavation*
  • Select the maximum width of the excavation*
  • Select the maximum distance of the excavation*
  • What is the largest excavator size that will be used in proximity to, or in relation to, our asset(s)?*
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  • Are there any powerlines or support structures within 5 metres of your proposed excavation?*

  • Cranes and Construction

    This section covers the use of equipment, construction activities, and movement of plant near Counties Energy’s assets.

    Please refer to the diagram to understand the zones and consent requirements before work can proceed near our assets.

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  • When carrying out work, what is the minimum distance people/equipment will be from overhead lines?*
  • Will your oversized plant move next to/or under overhead lines?*
  • Will you be stockpiling or raising the ground level under or near Counties Energy lines?*

  • Applicant Contact Details

    This section collects applicant contact and billing details. Please note, if the consent is approved, then the applicant will receive it.

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  • Would you like to add details for an additional site supervisor?*
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  • Format: 0000000[0][0][0][0][0][0][0][0].
  • Do you need to update or provide billing information to Counties Energy? Billing will take place after consent is in place for the agreed sites.
  • Format: 0000000[0][0][0][0][0][0][0][0].
  • Have you been in contact with a Counties Energy representative for this project or site?
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  • General Consent Conditions 

    1.  Close Approach Consents shall be treated as formal notification that Counties Energy Ltd has granted permission for the consent of the applicant or site supervisor as named on this form (non-electrically competent person) only to work in proximity to Counties Energy's network with reduced minimum safe approach distances (M.A.D) as specified within the issued consent.

    2.  All Power Lines are to be treated as 'live' at all times. All workers shall observe the - Minimum Approach Distances (M.A.D) from power lines shown within an issued consent.  The 'Minimum Approach Distances (M.A.D)' are the minimum distances under ideal environmental, weather and working conditions.

    3.  Permission will be granted in accordance with requirements of the SM-EI, NZECP 34 and the Worksafe – ACOP Maintenance of Trees Around Power Lines and under strict observance of any restrictions and conditions specifically identified within the issued consent.

    4.  Advice shall be given to the Counties Energy Network Operations Centre (NOC) at the commencement and completion of work each day.  Phone 09 238 1764.

    5.  The site Supervisor is responsible for compliance with all relevant Acts and Regulations and is to remain on site when mobile plant is within 4.0 meters of the overhead lines.

    6.  A Safety Observer is required when any part or attachment of mobile plant is within 4.0 meters of all overhead lines. Responsibilities of the Safety Observer are to monitor the working distance between the device and the lines, maintaining communication with the operator of the plant at all times to warn them when the approach distance restriction could potentially to be exceeded. The communication method must be heard and acted upon over all other distractions and/or noises throughout the monitoring period.

    7.  If required as a condition of this consent, please allow 3 working days to arrange for a Counties Energy Safety Observer to be assigned to site.

    8.  The issued consent is not transferable to any other individual or organisation not named in the issued permit.  Only the site supervisor can be changed, once you have formally informed Counties Energy NOC.

    9.  The issued consent shall be held onsite during work activities.  It must be available to be inspected at any time by a Counties Energy employee or nominated representative.

    10.  Any hand-written changes on an issued consent will automatically 'cancel' the consent.

    11.  Counties Energy reserves the right to cancel a consent at any time where the Applicant or Site Supervisor is found to be in breach of any of the consent conditions.  

    12.  Any overhead line or underground cable contact is to be reported to Counties Energy NOC immediately.  Counties Energy NOC Emergency phone 09 238 1764.

    13.  A Warning Notice 'WARNING, KEEP CLEAR OF POWER LINES' shall be placed as near as practicable to the mobile plant operator's position.

    14.  If any work involving excavation or interference of land is within 8 meters of a pole or stay wire of an overhead electric line the work must comply with NZECP 34 section 2, otherwise consent shall be required in writing from the line owner. NZECP34 can be downloaded free from here.

    15.  Any excavation near Strategic Underground Cables or Equipment closer than the 'M.A.D' must be dug by hand and supervised by Counties Energy or one of Counties Energy's approved Safety Observers.

    16.  The maximum allowable period for the issue of a close approach consent is between the applied start and completion date. However, where the worksite significantly changes during the course of the work being undertaken (in terms of the location or work conditions or operator applied safety measures are applied) the maximum allowable period for the issue of consent is 48 hours.

  • Authorisation*
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