Knockdown Rebuild Power Sequence: From Disconnection to Permanent Supply (Sydney Guide)

What happens to the power when you knock down and rebuild? The supply goes through four stages: permanent disconnection of the old house, a temporary builder's supply during construction, installation of the new permanent supply (a pole, a pit or a point of attachment on the new building), and final connection and energisation. Each stage needs Level 2 ASP work and paperwork with your distributor and retailer. Getting the sequence right keeps your builder on schedule. Getting it wrong is one of the most common causes of demolition delays and late handovers in Sydney.

Stage 1: Permanent disconnection and meter removal

Before an excavator touches the house, the power has to be safely and permanently disconnected. This involves:

• Contacting your retailer to request meter removal and supply abolishment. They coordinate with the metering provider.
• Physical disconnection by a Level 2 ASP at the network pole, your private pole or the pit, depending on how the house is supplied.
• Removal of the service line and, where needed, the private pole or point of attachment hardware.
• Written confirmation that the site is disconnected, which your demolition contractor and certifier need.

Lead times for meter removal vary. Start this as soon as you have a demolition date. Our disconnect and reconnect service handles the physical work and helps you through the paperwork.

Stage 2: Temporary builder's supply

Your builder needs power throughout construction for tools, site sheds and lighting. A temporary builder's supply is a compliant temporary pole with a board, connected by a Level 2 ASP. Good placement matters:

• Clear of the excavation zone, slab and scaffold footprint
• Accessible for deliveries, without obstructing the driveway crossover
• Where it can remain until the permanent supply is live, avoiding a costly relocation mid-build

Stage 3: Install the new permanent supply

This is where the biggest decisions and costs sit. You have three main options.

New private pole

If the street is overhead-fed and the design allows it, a new private power pole is installed in a compliant position. Steel, timber and composite poles are all options. Composite is increasingly chosen for coastal suburbs because it doesn't rust or rot.

Underground supply

Many rebuilds go underground, with a service pit or pillar at the boundary and underground consumer mains to the new meter. No pole, no overhead lines across the yard, and better storm resilience. It costs more upfront. See overhead to underground conversion.

Point of attachment on the new building

If the new home is close enough to the network pole and the span and clearances comply, the service line can attach directly to the building using a raiser bracket, with no private pole needed. This depends on the design, the distance and your distributor's rules.

Stage 4: Final connection and energisation

Once the new switchboard and consumer mains are installed and certified, we connect the permanent supply, your retailer arranges new metering, and the home is energised. The temporary builder's supply is then disconnected and removed.

Common knockdown rebuild power mistakes

1. Booking demolition before disconnection is confirmed. The demo crew can't start, and you pay standby fees.
2. Putting the temporary pole in the wrong spot. Moving it mid-build costs time and money.
3. Not showing the permanent supply on the plans. Pole, pit and meter positions need to be on the drawings.
4. Under-sizing the new supply. Plan for EV charging, batteries and ducted air-con now. Three-phase is cheaper to install at build stage than to retrofit.
5. Leaving the connection application too late. Distributor approvals can take weeks.

What drives the cost

Cost depends on how the old house was supplied, whether the old pole is removed, how long the temporary supply is needed, and above all the permanent supply choice. Overhead to a new pole is typically the lowest cost. Underground with long trenching or surface reinstatement is typically the highest. We quote the whole sequence as one scope so your builder has one contact and one timeline.

Plan your rebuild power sequence

Call 0402 559 777 or send us your plans and demo date. We'll map out the four stages and quote the whole sequence, so power never holds up your build.

Related reading: Duplex power supply options · Private pole installation timeline · On the main site: Permanent disconnection for demolition