What Is Involved in Converting Overhead Power to Underground? An Inner West Step-by-Step Guide

What's involved in converting overhead power to underground? A Level 2 ASP replaces your aerial service line with underground consumer mains in conduit, connected at the street pole or pillar, then removes the old overhead line. The job has five main stages: a site assessment, distributor and council approvals, trenching or boring, the switchover, and removal of the old service. The on-site work usually takes one to three days, but the approvals and scheduling mean the whole process commonly runs over several weeks.

⚡ Quick Answers: Converting Overhead Power to Underground

• Who does the work? A Level 2 Accredited Service Provider. Standard electricians can't connect to or alter the network service.
• How long does it take? One to three days on site, plus several weeks for approvals and scheduling.
• Will I lose power? Only for the switchover, usually a few hours.
• Is a council permit needed? Only if the trench or bore crosses the council footpath or road.
• What drives the cost? Cable length, trench or bore method, road crossings, ground conditions, surface restoration and any switchboard or meter changes.
• Can my private pole go? Usually yes. Going underground is the most common way to remove a private pole for good.

Step 1: Site assessment

Everything starts with a site visit. We check where your supply comes from (street pole or pillar, and which side of the street), where the meter and main switchboard sit, the condition of your existing service and any private pole, and the most practical route for a trench or bore. On Inner West blocks, that route often has to work around narrow side passages, shared driveways, tiled terrace paths, tree roots and sandstone. We also check whether the switchboard can accept new consumer mains, and whether the meter panel contains asbestos, which can change the scope entirely.

Step 2: Distributor approval and paperwork

In the Inner West the distributor is Ausgrid. Because the job alters your connection to the network, the Level 2 ASP arranges the connection application for the new underground service and confirms the connection point, whether that's the street pole (with the cable running down the pole in protective covering) or an existing street pillar. The ASP also lodges a Notification of Service Work, and once the job is complete, a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work. If the cable has to cross the footpath or road, council road opening approval is also needed, which can add time.

Step 3: Trenching or boring

Consumer mains are installed in heavy duty conduit at the minimum depths and with the marker tape or protection required by AS/NZS 3000. There are two main ways to get the conduit in the ground:

• Open trenching suits garden beds, lawns and unpaved side passages, and is usually the lower cost option.
• Directional boring runs the conduit under driveways, paths, footpaths or roads without digging them up, which often saves restoration costs on established Inner West properties.

Longer runs may need pits along the route to pull the cable through. Cable size is calculated for your maximum demand and the length of the run, so a long run can need a heavier cable to keep voltage drop within limits.

Step 4: Switchboard and meter work

The new consumer mains terminate at your meter position and main switch. If your existing board is old, overcrowded, missing safety switches or contains asbestos, it often makes sense to upgrade it at the same time rather than terminate brand new mains into an old board. If the meter needs to move, the retailer's metering coordinator also gets involved. Our guide to switchboard upgrades for older Inner West terraces covers what that usually involves.

Step 5: The switchover

Most of the work happens while your overhead service stays live. On switchover day, the Level 2 ASP isolates the supply, disconnects the old aerial service, connects the new underground mains at the pole or pillar and at your board, then tests polarity, insulation resistance and earthing before re-energising. The outage is usually a few hours, and we'll tell you in advance so you can plan around fridges, medical equipment or home offices.

Step 6: Removing the old service

Once the new supply is proven, the old service line comes down. Where agreed, we also remove the point of attachment bracket or the private pole. Removing a private pole means you no longer have to inspect, maintain or eventually replace it, which is one of the biggest long term benefits. Our comparison of private power pole replacement versus removal goes into that choice in more detail.

What affects the cost?

• Length of the cable run from the connection point to your meter.
• Trenching versus boring, and what surfaces need restoring.
• Whether the route crosses the footpath or road.
• Ground conditions such as sandstone, tree roots or existing services.
• Switchboard, meter or main switch upgrades needed to accept the new mains.
• Removal of any private pole.

Because these vary so much between properties, we don't quote without seeing the site. If you're still deciding, our guide to overhead vs underground power compares the two options side by side.

How High Demand Electrical helps

We're a Level 2 ASP (Licence 397193C) and we handle the whole conversion: site assessment, Ausgrid paperwork, trenching or boring, switchboard work, the switchover and removal of the old service. That means one team coordinating the job instead of you managing a civil contractor, an electrician and the network separately.

Overhead to Underground Conversion FAQs (Inner West)

How long does converting overhead power to underground take?

The physical work is often completed in one to three days, but the full process, including the site assessment, distributor approval, any council road opening permit and scheduling the switchover, commonly takes several weeks.

Will I lose power during the conversion?

Only briefly. Most of the trenching and cable work happens while the old overhead service stays live, and the outage is limited to the switchover when the Level 2 ASP disconnects the old line and connects the new underground mains.

Do I need council approval to go underground?

Work entirely on your own land usually doesn't, but any trenching or boring through the council footpath or road reserve needs a road opening permit from council.

Does my switchboard or meter need to change?

Sometimes. If the meter position, switchboard or main switch can't accept the new consumer mains, or contains asbestos, it may need upgrading or relocating as part of the job.

Who removes the old overhead service line?

The Level 2 ASP disconnects and removes the old aerial service line and, where agreed, the point of attachment or private pole once the underground supply is live.

Book an Underground Conversion Assessment

Ready to take your power underground? Get an underground service mains quote or call 0402 559 777. We'll walk the cable route with you and give you a fixed scope before any digging starts.