Cover my power lines so I can work near them
Overhead power lines can get in the way of work at your property. We provide a free service to cover overhead power lines and keep everyone safe.
Customers need their power line covered when:
Repairing a roof
Repairing fascias or cladding
Repairing a chimney
Building an extension
Working with scaffolding
Replacing windows
Did you know:
We provide a free service to cover your overhead power line
We provide a free service to cover your overhead power line (also known as shrouding, or sheathing your power line).
To enable you to work near an overhead power line we can install temporary insulation to protect them, we do this by covering them with a plastic sleeve or tubing.
We can usually cover an overhead power line if it's attached to your property
If you want to cover an electric power line which runs from one pole to another pole then one of our experts will need to visit you to offer advice on how to proceed safely. For more information on working near overhead power lines please read the GS6 guide on the HSE website.
How long will this take?
We need 10 working days from when we have processed your request to get someone to visit you.
Request a free visit online now
We'll visit you
We'll cover your electricity cable
You can then carry out the work you need safely
We'll remove the cover when you need us to
Common questions
We will always aim to cover your power line on the first visit. However there are occasions where we may require more visits or provide you with an alternate solution, as it's not always possible to cover your power line. Common reasons for why work may be delayed include having a thatched roof, if the power line is attached to the chimney or if there is access issues which may restrict engineers from getting to your power line.
If your power line cannot be covered then our engineers will discuss the other options available to you.We can cover your overhead power lines for free.
We cover your overhead power line to protect you against incidental contact only, you should always work carefully and safely around our cables. Electricity is dangerous, so do not touch any electricity cables.
No, until we attend, scaffolding should not be installed near any overhead power lines.
For safety reasons we do not leave the cover on permanently because we cannot guarantee that your power line will remain fully insulated due to wear and tear. The cover is installed to provide you with temporary insulation whilst you complete your work. We can certainly arrange to reinstall them again if you need it.
Once you finish your work, just let us know and we’ll come out and remove it for you.
No, usually we are able to cover overhead power lines live. However we'll talk you through options when we visit. For example if your power line is not suitable to be covered or you have thatched roof we may have to turn the power off.
Register or log in to our self service portal
You can request this service by registering or logging in to our self service portal which also allows you to submit multiple applications and track the progress of any existing applications. All incomplete application forms will automatically save to your dashboard, so you can always come back to them later.
Contact us
Call us
Free to call from a mobile or landline phone. Lines are open Monday - Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm.