Subdivisions

If you are working through a subdivision, you will need information from Orion to support your application and comply with the conditions of your subdivision consent.

Capacity letter - required with subdivision application

Before you file your application with Council for subdivision consent, you may be asked to provide a Capacity Letter from Orion to support your Application. Why? This allows us to check there is sufficient capacity in the electricity network to supply the additional allotments created by the subdivision.

Find out more about the Capacity letter

s224c clearance letter - required to meet the conditions of your subdivision consent decision

Toward the end of the subdivision process you will need to ask Orion for a s224 clearance letter. Why? This confirms the new lots have the legal ability to connect to the Orion enlivened electricity supply network and any network changes have been completed.

Find out more about the s224c clearance letter

Capacity letter

What is a Capacity letter:

A Capacity letter is a letter issued by Orion (upon request) at the beginning of the subdivision process and prior to you submitting your application to Council for a subdivision consent.

Council may ask you to provide this letter with your application to confirm there is sufficient capacity in the electrical network to supply the additional lots created by your subdivision. This is not a s224c Clearance letter, which is sought at the end of the subdivision process.

The Capacity letter will:

  • Identify if any changes need to be made to the electrical network to support your subdivision; and
  • Confirm if there is sufficient capacity in the electrical network to meet the demands of your subdivision; and
  • Confirm there will be costs associated with providing connections for each of the lots in your subdivision; and
  • Reference the need to comply with the Electrical Code of Practice (NCEP34) regarding safe working distances and the building of any new structures near any existing overhead lines.

This letter will also confirm that it cannot be used for s224c clearance purposes.

How do I get a Capacity letter?

Ready to apply? Apply through Orion online services(external link)

s224c clearance letter

A s224c Clearance letter is a letter issued by Orion (upon request) toward the end of the subdivision process. Council will ask you to provide this letter when you apply for a s224 certificate which is required once the subdivision plan has been approved by Council and all physical work specified in the resource consent decision has been completed. This is not a Capacity letter, which is sought at the beginning of the subdivision process.

A s224c clearance letter will:

  • Confirm which lots have the legal ability to connect to Orion’s enlivened electrical supply network to the net site area of the lot or at the road frontage; and
  • Confirm the network servicing those lots has been installed, commissioned, and livened.

How can I get a s224c clearance letter?

You can request a s224c clearance letter by emailing Orion’s Land Legal team directly.

The Orion Land Legal team aim to issue a s224c clearance letter within 5 – 7 working days however this is on the basis all the required information is provided and any queries raised by the Land Legal team are responded to promptly.

As a minimum you will need to provide:

  • The Orion connection reference number, if known (starting with “ES” or “ORN” followed by a short number sequence); and
  • A copy of the subdivision Resource Consent Subdivision Decision issued by Council relating to your property; and
  • A copy of the Land Transfer Plan that has been approved by Orion and confirmed as meeting Orion’s requirements (NB: you will need to ask your surveyor to provide you with a copy of the LT Plan – it is not the scheme plan that you attach to the subdivision application); and
  • Any as-built information for privately owned service mains connecting the new individual lots/dwellings to the Orion network (if applicable).

You will also need to have signed and returned the Connection Agreement letter supplied to you when you applied for the connections to service your subdivision and paid any associated connection fees.