Your private power pole is one of those things you never think about… until it starts leaning, or Ausgrid slaps a defect notice on it, or it comes down in a storm. The good news is that most problems are visible if you know what to look for — and a five-minute inspection once a year can save you thousands.

Here's a homeowner-friendly checklist. You don't need any tools, just good light and a phone camera. Never touch the pole, climb it, or get near any wires — stay on the ground and stay back.

1. Check for lean

Stand about 10 metres back from the pole and look at it from two different angles (front and side). A slight lean toward the street can be normal — the service line pulls on the pole. A lean that's gotten worse since last year, or a lean greater than about 5 degrees, is a warning sign.

Quick test: stand behind the pole, hold your phone up vertically along its line, and compare to last year's photo. A worsening lean means the base is failing.

2. Look at the base

The bottom 30 cm of the pole is where timber poles almost always fail. Look for:

Soft, crumbling, or black timber
Fungus or moss growing from the pole (not just on it)
Ants — especially white ants or a trail of fine sawdust
Cracks that run vertically down the pole
A hollow sound if you tap it with a stick (no need to hit it hard)

For steel poles, look for rust at the base, particularly where the pole meets the concrete or soil.

3. Inspect the hardware

Look up at the top of the pole (from the ground — don't climb!). You're checking for:

The cross-arm (the horizontal timber or steel piece) — is it rotted, cracked, or sagging?
Insulators — are any cracked, chipped, or missing?
Hardware bolts — any visibly rusted through or hanging loose?
Birds' nests blocking or touching live parts

4. Check the service line

Follow the overhead cable from the pole to your house. Look for:

Trees or branches touching or rubbing the cable
A service line hanging very low (cars or trucks shouldn't be able to hit it)
Visible splits or cracks in the cable's insulation
Frayed or exposed copper at either end

5. Check the ground around the pole

Is the ground settling or washing away?
Is water pooling around the base after rain?
Are there any exposed earthing wires or stakes? They should be intact and in the ground.

6. Take dated photos

Take 3 or 4 photos from the same angles every year. Save them to a folder on your phone with the date. Comparing year-on-year is the single best way to catch a slow-developing problem — like a lean that gains 1 degree every year.

When to call a Level 2 electrician immediately

Stop reading this checklist and call now if any of these are true:

The pole is visibly leaning more than it was six months ago
The service cable is sagging below about 4.5 metres above a driveway or street
You can wobble the pole by pushing it with your hand (don't try this — if it wobbled during the wind, that counts)
There's arcing, buzzing, or burning smells near the pole
You've received a defect notice from Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy
A tree has fallen near or onto the pole

How often should a professional inspect?

As an owner, you're responsible for the safety of your private pole. We recommend a professional inspection by a Level 2 electrician:

Every 5 years for poles under 15 years old
Every 2–3 years for timber poles over 15 years old
Yearly for any pole over 25 years, or after major storms

A professional inspection takes about 30 minutes and costs a lot less than an emergency replacement.

Not sure? Send us a photo

If you're looking at something on your pole and not sure whether it's a problem, send us a photo. We can usually tell you in a day whether it needs urgent attention, a scheduled replacement, or nothing at all. Email or text us here →

Annual Private Power Pole Inspection Checklist for Sydney Homeowners