Arcing lines spark debate over who should foot bill

Households around Marlborough have witnessed ‘‘big’’ sparks, flashing lights and power outages this summer, as the region’s lines company responds to a ‘‘spike’’ in arcing lines.

Some people thought it was fireworks, others thought it was lightning, but the discharge in electricity had been caused by ageing insulation broken down by the region’s weather.

Marlborough Lines has responded to about 100 calls to replace ‘‘customer service lines’’ this year, of which 60 were in the past week. Last year, they replaced 30.

As problems were occurring on the lines conveying electricity from the network to households, the latter were footing the bill.

Marlborough Lines acting chief executive Gareth Jones said there had been a ‘‘bit of a spike’’ in call-outs and it was ‘‘not a common occurrence’’.

‘‘They will all have been from a certain vintage, they will all have seen so many Marlborough summers and winters, and they are essentially coming up for renewal now,’’ Jones said.

He estimated most of these lines would have been installed 30 or 40 years ago.

The dry wind and heat created cracks in the insulation, and the humidity caused the lines to fail, he said.

Jones said the customer service lines were being replaced with a ‘‘more sound technology’’ that would ‘‘last a lot longer’’.

The price to repair a line in residential houses ranged from about a few hundred dollars to $1000.

There was ‘‘national debate’’ around whether responsibility over ownership of the service lines should change, he said.

According to the New Zealand Electricity Authority, determining who owned and who was responsible for maintaining a customer service line was ‘‘problematic’’.

‘‘It’s unlikely that consumers will have maintained their service line, therefore the cost of upgrading them will be quite significant,’’ Jones said.

Customer service lines were the responsibility of households throughout New Zealand and Jones said Marlborough Lines would not abandon nationwide industry standards to start taking responsibility for them.

He likened the lines to water pipes. ‘‘Over your side of the boundary, the water pipes are your responsibility and if it leaks, it’s at your cost.’’

Blenheim rental tenant Kane Calder said they first saw lines arcing ‘‘right outside’’ their bedroom window on January 14.

‘‘It was a big spark,’’ he said.

The line which extended from the road to their house was ‘‘sparking away’’, he said.

Marlborough Lines attended and repaired the line free of charge.

About two weeks later, it was sparking again, and they lost power in the dining room and lounge. Lights and power points on one side of the house continued to work.

Following this incident, Marlborough Lines attended and replaced the ‘‘whole line’’ from the road to the house.

The landlord had to foot the $1000 bill for that repair.

If you see a power line arcing near your property, call Marlborough Lines on 03 577 7007. Or, if you feel unsafe, call 111.