What we do on farms
From the grain and sheep country around Coolamon, Lockhart and The Rock to the irrigated country towards Narrandera and Leeton, the electrical on a farm covers a lot of ground. We handle:
- Pumps: bore, stock and domestic, transfer and irrigation pumps, including new circuits, starters, isolators and fault finding when a pump won't run.
- Three-phase work for pumps, grain handling, workshop machinery and large sheds.
- Machinery and hay sheds, workshops and shearing sheds: power, lighting, sub-boards. See sheds and workshops.
- The homestead and workers' cottages: switchboard upgrades, safety switches, smoke alarms, lighting, aircon circuits and rewires on older homes.
- Underground and overhead runs between buildings on your side of the main switchboard.
- Test and tag and RCD testing for farm workplaces.
- Fault finding on long runs and outbuildings, where faults are harder to trace.
Private poles and lines: who's responsible
On most rural properties, the connection point to Essential Energy's network is the first pole on the property. Poles, lines, crossarms and fittings past that point are generally private, owned by you, and yours to maintain. Private poles carry a "PP" label.
What that means in practice:
- Essential Energy recommends getting private poles and lines inspected by a qualified contractor every year before bushfire season and after major storms.
- Maintenance of a private pole connected to the network has to be arranged with the distributor or an authorised Accredited Service Provider (ASP), under the NSW Service and Installation Rules (clause 1.12). That's not work we do ourselves.
- Essential Energy can patrol private lines under the Electricity Supply Act 1995.
Nelson looks after the installation from your main switchboard onwards, and can help you work out what's private, what's network, and who to call. Our private power poles guide explains it in more detail.
Three-phase, pumps and irrigation
Bigger pumps and machinery often mean three-phase. Under the NSW Service and Installation Rules (April 2026 edition):
- supplies up to 100 A per phase may be single, two or three-phase;
- supplies above 100 A per phase must be three-phase;
- the imbalance between phases must not exceed 25 A.
Adding a large irrigation pump or a big shed may need a written connection application to Essential Energy, with a maximum demand calculation, if it would raise your maximum demand above your existing connection agreement. We can do the calculation and work out what the property needs. New or upgraded service lines, service fuses and metering are Level 2 ASP work, and you choose and pay the ASP directly. See our three-phase power guide.
Pumps left off over winter or through a dry spell: if an installation has been de-energised for 6 months or more, a qualified electrician must do a safety inspection before it's turned back on, and complete an Electrical Installation Safety Inspection Certificate for your retailer.
Safety around powerlines
Overhead lines are a serious risk on any farm. Augers, booms, tipper trucks, headers and irrigators can reach them.
- Look Up and Live. Essential Energy's free Look Up and Live map and app shows overhead powerlines. Essential Energy also offers aerial markers and property powerline maps.
- Tall machinery. Essential Energy flags machinery over 4.6 m as a higher risk around powerlines.
- Safe approach distances for untrained people and machinery (SafeWork NSW): 3 m for lines up to 132 kV, 6 m for lines over 132 kV up to 330 kV, and 8 m above 330 kV. Use a safety observer.
- Fallen lines. Stay at least 8 m away and call Essential Energy on 13 20 80, or 000 if life is at risk. Don't try to move a line or anything touching it.
More in our farm electrical safety guide.
Farm workplaces
Farm sheds, pumps and workshops are workplaces, so WHS duties apply. Portable tools used in dusty, wet or outdoor conditions are hostile-environment equipment. Under the NSW WHS Regulation 2025 they need RCD protection (section 164) and regular inspection and testing (section 150), generally at least every 12 months and every 6 months for workshop equipment. We do test and tag on farm gear as well as the fixed wiring.
Cost and travel
Hourly work like pump fault finding is charged on time, so a clear description of what the pump does (or doesn't do) helps. Everything else is quoted in writing before we start, and depends on things like cable run lengths, trenching, the size of the load and access. Travel is free close to Wagga and charged further out, and we cover about 150 km from Wagga. Call 0416 085 416 or send the job through, and give us the property address so we can work out the travel. If there are a few jobs around the farm, grouping them into one visit makes the trip better value.
Common questions
Who owns the power poles on my farm?
Generally, poles and lines past the connection point, which on rural properties is usually the first pole on your property, are private and the owner's responsibility. Private poles are labelled with a "PP" prefix. Maintenance on them is arranged through Essential Energy or an authorised Accredited Service Provider.
How often should private power poles be inspected?
Essential Energy recommends an inspection by a qualified contractor every year before bushfire season and after major storms.
Do I need three-phase for an irrigation pump?
It depends on the pump size and your total load. Supplies above 100 A per phase must be three-phase. A big new pump may also need a connection application to Essential Energy. We'll work out the load first.
My pump has been off for months. Can I just turn it back on?
If the installation has been de-energised for 6 months or more, a qualified electrician must do a safety inspection before it's re-energised. That's worth doing anyway: mice, water and heat get into pump starters and switchboards in sheds.
What should I do if a powerline comes down on my property?
Stay at least 8 m away, keep everyone else away, and call Essential Energy on 13 20 80, or 000 if anyone's life is at risk. Treat the line and anything touching it as live.
How far out do you travel?
About 150 km from Wagga, with Albury the furthest. Travel is free close to Wagga and charged further out, worked out from the property address and included in your written quote.