Electricity Act 1996

An electricity officer for an electricity entity or council officer may, at any reasonable time, enter and remain on land to carry out vegetation clearance work that the entity or council is required or authorised to carry out under this Part.

Subject to this section, if an electricity officer or council officer seeks to enter land under this section, the officer must give not less than 30 days written notice (or such lesser period of notice as is agreed to by the occupier) to the occupier of the land—

stating the reason and the date and time of the proposed entry; and

stating the nature of the clearance work to be carried out; and

otherwise complying with the requirements of the regulations.

Subsection (2) does not apply if the clearance work to be carried out is subject to a vegetation clearance scheme.

If the proposed entry is refused or obstructed, an electricity officer or council officer may obtain a warrant under Part

In an emergency, an electricity officer or council officer may exercise a power of entry under this section—

at any time and without prior notice if it is not practicable to give such notice; and

if necessary in the circumstances, by the use of reasonable force.

When an electricity officer or council officer enters land under this section, the officer—

may be accompanied by such assistants as the officer considers necessary or appropriate; and

may take any vehicles or equipment the officer considers necessary or appropriate for the functions the officer is to carry out on the land.

An electricity officer may not enter a place under a warrant or by force in an emergency unless accompanied by a member of the police force.

When entering a place under a warrant or by force in an emergency, a council officer may be accompanied by a member of the police force.