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WCC, Municipal Electricity Department's Connection records
Descriptive Data
Archives Identifier00339Date Range1892-1950DescriptionThe connection files were created to record electrical power connections in the Wellington district administered by Capital Power and predecessor agencies such as the Municipal Electricity Department.
The Wellington Electric Lighting Act from 1891 allowed the New Zealand Electrical Syndicate to supply electricity to the people of Wellington. The earliest connections date from 1892; prior to this there was no systematic electrical supply for private citizens of Wellington. This function was then taken over by council in 1907.
Electricity Acts required local electrical supply authorities to inspect all electrical work in buildings (domestic and commercial) within the authority boundaries. The Electricity Act 1992 significantly reduced the legal obligations on power authorities to retain inspection and wiring information.
The connection files generally date from when customers first applied to have electricity connected to their premises and had meters installed. They record the initial connection and subsequent actions of the power supplier to meet various legal requirements including inspections, permit information, electrical extensions and rewiring. They therefore document an important part of Wellington's development through the provision of electricity supply.
Documents on the files commonly include the application for the new connection, with the date, the name of the owner or occupier, the number of rooms in the house at the time, the purpose of the supply and type of appliances to be used. Records of major appliances as they are acquired are maintained up to 1945.
The records up until 1950 have been retained as the information up until this period is considered historically useful. Significant legislation was passed after the war (such as the Housing Improvement Act 1945) which meant that less useful information was retained on these files. The original files contained papers up to about 1996 when TransAlta, a private company, took over from Capital Power Ltd. Municipal Electricity Department (MED) and Capital Power have may have destroyed some files relating to properties that were demolished.
Note that Series 00502 also contains early electricity papers relating to the NZ Electricity Syndicate; the files cover demolished or converted or subdivided properties. In most cases the initial application form only has been retained; it is assumed the remainder of the file has been destroyed. They appear to relate to buildings demolished during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Appraisal recommendations have been implemented which include the removal and disposal of files and papers after 1950. This has meant that for some more recently developed areas and streets, no files at all have been retained. The documents on each file include a range of forms which change in content over time: new connection notices, applications for supply, extension notices, applications for installation, completion notices, inspections and load checks, meter change form and related papers. Early forms show substation, rating by number of rooms, type of power (lighting, heating and voltage/ wattage) , details of applicant and contractor, the purposes for power and for plugs (hot water, iron, radio, radiator). Many files have a 'plan of connection', showing the property and street area on the back of the contract form. There are also change of address forms, permits for hot water services, sometimes with notes especially post- WWII about the reasons why a hot water service was required.Quantity (Linear Metres)37.75MediumFileSystem of ArrangementBy street and property number from which connected - not always the same as the residential/ postal addressCollection TypeWellington City Council
The Wellington Electric Lighting Act from 1891 allowed the New Zealand Electrical Syndicate to supply electricity to the people of Wellington. The earliest connections date from 1892; prior to this there was no systematic electrical supply for private citizens of Wellington. This function was then taken over by council in 1907.
Electricity Acts required local electrical supply authorities to inspect all electrical work in buildings (domestic and commercial) within the authority boundaries. The Electricity Act 1992 significantly reduced the legal obligations on power authorities to retain inspection and wiring information.
The connection files generally date from when customers first applied to have electricity connected to their premises and had meters installed. They record the initial connection and subsequent actions of the power supplier to meet various legal requirements including inspections, permit information, electrical extensions and rewiring. They therefore document an important part of Wellington's development through the provision of electricity supply.
Documents on the files commonly include the application for the new connection, with the date, the name of the owner or occupier, the number of rooms in the house at the time, the purpose of the supply and type of appliances to be used. Records of major appliances as they are acquired are maintained up to 1945.
The records up until 1950 have been retained as the information up until this period is considered historically useful. Significant legislation was passed after the war (such as the Housing Improvement Act 1945) which meant that less useful information was retained on these files. The original files contained papers up to about 1996 when TransAlta, a private company, took over from Capital Power Ltd. Municipal Electricity Department (MED) and Capital Power have may have destroyed some files relating to properties that were demolished.
Note that Series 00502 also contains early electricity papers relating to the NZ Electricity Syndicate; the files cover demolished or converted or subdivided properties. In most cases the initial application form only has been retained; it is assumed the remainder of the file has been destroyed. They appear to relate to buildings demolished during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Appraisal recommendations have been implemented which include the removal and disposal of files and papers after 1950. This has meant that for some more recently developed areas and streets, no files at all have been retained. The documents on each file include a range of forms which change in content over time: new connection notices, applications for supply, extension notices, applications for installation, completion notices, inspections and load checks, meter change form and related papers. Early forms show substation, rating by number of rooms, type of power (lighting, heating and voltage/ wattage) , details of applicant and contractor, the purposes for power and for plugs (hot water, iron, radio, radiator). Many files have a 'plan of connection', showing the property and street area on the back of the contract form. There are also change of address forms, permits for hot water services, sometimes with notes especially post- WWII about the reasons why a hot water service was required.Quantity (Linear Metres)37.75MediumFileSystem of ArrangementBy street and property number from which connected - not always the same as the residential/ postal addressCollection TypeWellington City Council
Access Information
Restriction StatusOpen
Related Agencies
Controlling or Creating AgencyMunicipal Electricity DepartmentRelationship Date Range1926-1 September 1993
Related Series
Related SeriesWCC, Municipal Electricity Department, Electricity supply application forms relating to cancelled connectionsPredecessor SeriesControlling Series
WCC, Municipal Electricity Department's Connection records. Archives Online, accessed 19/08/2026, https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/1832