Frequently asked Questions

What is the difference between a lines company and a retailer?
How do I apply for electricity supply?
How long should the process take?
What is an ICP number?
How do I organise metering for a new connection?
How do I organise Current Transformer metering and test blocks for a new connection?
Who owns what?
Why do I have to pay towards the cost on my new connection?
WEL will charge me for the use of the network every month after I have been connected - does this mean that I am effectively paying twice?
As I have paid for my new connection why do I have to pass ownership to WEL?
My local electrical contractor can lay cable in ground cheaper than WEL can. Is there any problem in using him?
How do I get my service line livened?
How do I arrange a Temporary Supply for building purposes?
What is deemed to be an increased load to a Network Supply?

What is the difference between a lines company and a retailer?

WEL Networks is a lines company which distributes power from Transpower to the end users in a set geographic area (refer Network area plan). WEL Networks is responsible for seeing that the local network of power lines, poles, underground cables and other electrical equipment is maintained and managed so that your supply is as reliable as possible.
The retailers actually sell you the electricity. Your power account includes the fee charged to the retailer by the lines company for its services and those of Transpower.

How do I apply for electricity supply?

If you are building a new property or upgrading your existing supply you need to apply to connect to our network first. See our connections to WEL's Network page for more information. If you are moving into an existing property you can call any of the retailers connected to the network serving the WEL Networks area.

How long should the process take?

If the application is to connect the electricity supply for a house or other straightforward installation and suitable network is available then the form will be approved within 2-4 working days.
For larger projects the length of time that is required may vary between 4-12 weeks. This allows time for the design to be completed and priced, the customer contribution quotation sent and accepted and the construction works installed.

What is an ICP number?

An Installation Control Point is a unique number that identifies an individual metering point. If you change your retailer the account number will change but your ICP will always stay the same and using this your supply should not be confused with any other. Your lines company assigns your ICP and if you join a new retailer they may well ask you for this number.

How do I organise metering for a new connection?

Complete an Application for Connection to WEL's Network and forward to your Energy Retailer.

How do I organise Current Transformer metering and test blocks for a new connection?

Complete an Application for Connection to WEL's Network and forward to your Energy Retailer.

Who owns what?

YOU OWN that part of the service line which is located inside the boundary of your property.
WE OWN that part of the service line which is located outside the boundary of your property. Where there are any unformed (or "paper") roads between the boundary of your property and the nearest public (or "formed") road maintained by the local district council, you own the service line to the point where it reaches the public road.
Any transformer which we have installed on your property, and which is connected to our network, is owned by us (unless we have specifically agreed that you or someone else owns this; this is not normally the case).
You must pay for any repairs or alterations: This can be done by WEL Networks or by other qualified contractors.

Why do I have to pay towards the cost on my new connection?

Current customers have over the years paid for the existing electrical network. It is not reasonable that they subsidise the cost of connecting new customers to this network.

New customers are asked to contribute on a 'user pays' basis for the cost of connecting them to the existing network.

WEL will charge me for the use of the network every month after I have been connected - does this mean that I am effectively paying twice?

No. The capital contribution requested for new connections is reduced to take into account the ongoing value to WEL.

Capital contributions are required as the cost of the cables, transformers, pillars and any switchgear is often far greater than the ongoing line charges collected from customers.

As I have paid for my new connection why do I have to pass ownership to WEL?

Once WEL has ownership of any new reticulation we take permanent responsibility for managing, controlling and maintaining the reticulation.

My local electrical contractor can lay cable in ground cheaper than WEL can. Is there any problem in using him?

WEL have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of electrical reticulation that will form part of our network. We also need to ensure that all electrical reticulation is installed to specified standards so that we can provide a reliable service to customers. We therefore require installation contractors to be certified to work on our network.

Where contractors are certified to work on our network we still need to manage the installation process to ensure the ongoing quality and safety of the reticulation installed. This also requires us to ensure that all new reticulation is recorded correctly on our networks plans and control systems.

How do I get my service line livened?

Only when the Application for New Supply/Increased Load to the WEL Network is approved, the metering installed, all WEL endorsements complied with, the service main connected and the electrical compliance completed, will the installation be livened.

How do I arrange a Temporary Supply for building purposes?

METERED TEMPORARY SUPPLY
Application should be made as for a new connection. Complete a new supply form and send to your Retailer. In the 'Description of Installation' box indicate the type of eventual connection (e.g. 'House') , and also tick the 'Other' field and write 'BTS' or 'Temp Supply' . You will need to complete a subsequent new connection form when the site is to be permanently connected.