Photo: MainPowerA dramatic rise in copper thefts from power poles has prompted a Canterbury lines company to offer a $5000 reward for "significant" information about the tampering or theft of copper earthing wires. Earlier this month, Orion reported its had seen more than 173 copper wire thefts across its network in the Selwyn district over the past six months, costing the company $512,000. It is also working closely with a private investigator who is independently investigating incidents of copper theft. He says the value of the copper being stolen is low in the grand scheme of things. ‘‘As a community-trust owned business, copper theft is costing every power consumer in the region.’’Copper earthing wires are a safety feature.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 16, 2026 22:46 UTC