Line companies call for law change to prevent trees causing power outages

Trees are one of the root causes of power outages, it is costing customers big time and the line companies want urgent law changes to deal with the problem. About 95 percent of the outages in Southland and Otago during last week's storm were caused by trees taking out lines. In 2024 alone, lines companies spent $67 million on tree management, a cost passed on to customers. The government is planning law changes, but the lines companies dont think it's going far enough, fast enough. Electricity Networks Aotearoa Chief Executive Tracey Kai spoke to Lisa Owen.