Point of Supply vs Point of Attachment: What's the Difference?

What is the difference between the point of supply and the point of attachment? The point of attachment is the specific spot where an overhead service cable is physically fixed to your property, almost always a bracket on the wall or eave, while the point of supply, sometimes called the connection point, is the broader legal boundary where the network's distribution system ends and your own electrical installation begins, a boundary that still exists even on underground services with no attachment bracket at all. Every Sydney property has a point of supply, but only homes fed by an overhead service actually have a physical point of attachment, which is why the two terms get mixed up so often.

⚡ Quick Answers: Point of Supply vs Point of Attachment

Is the point of supply the same thing as the point of attachment? No. The point of attachment is a physical overhead fitting, while the point of supply is the legal and electrical boundary between network and customer equipment, and it applies to underground services too.

Do underground services have a point of attachment? No, since there is no overhead cable to attach to a bracket. Underground services still have a point of supply, typically at a pillar, pit or the service fuse enclosure where the network's cable ends.

Why does this distinction actually matter to me? It determines who owns and maintains which piece of cable or equipment, which matters enormously when something fails and you are trying to work out whether it is your problem or the network's.

Who decides where the point of supply sits on my property? Your network distributor, Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy or Essential Energy, defines it according to the Service and Installation Rules of NSW, not the property owner or the electrician doing the work.

Does naming the point of attachment tell me who owns everything near it? Not on its own. Knowing where the point of attachment sits tells you where the cable is fixed, it does not by itself establish who owns or maintains the service line, consumer mains or other nearby components, that comes from the separate point of supply concept.

Can the point of supply move during a renovation? It can, particularly if a service is converted from overhead to underground or a property is redeveloped, and any such change needs to go through your network distributor and a Level 2 ASP, not just your builder.

1. Two different questions, often confused

The confusion between these two terms comes from the fact that, on the great majority of established Sydney homes with an overhead service, the point of attachment and the point of supply sit close together, right around where the overhead cable reaches the house. That proximity makes it easy to assume they are the same thing, but they are answering genuinely different questions. The point of attachment answers, where is this cable physically fixed. The point of supply answers, where does the network's responsibility end and mine begin. Once you separate those two questions, a lot of ownership and maintenance disputes become much easier to understand.

2. The point of attachment, in plain terms

The point of attachment is the bracket, usually mounted high on an eave, fascia or wall, where the overhead service cable running from a pole is mechanically secured to your property. It needs a firm, accessible mounting point and sufficient ground clearance, and the Service and Installation Rules of NSW set out specific requirements for how and where it can be fixed. If this bracket is damaged, the fitting has come loose, or the cable is visibly sagging or arcing at that point, our guide on what to do when your point of attachment looks wrong covers the warning signs in detail. The key thing to remember is that the point of attachment only exists where there is an overhead service in the first place.

3. The point of supply, the concept that applies to every property

The point of supply, defined in the Service and Installation Rules of NSW as the connection point, is the junction where the distribution system connects to your electrical installation through a connection device. Its exact location depends on how your property is fed. For a typical overhead supply from the distribution network, it generally sits on the distribution side of the connection device closest to the network, which in practice is often very near the point of attachment. For an underground supply, there is no bracket at all, instead the point of supply typically sits at a pillar, pit or service fuse enclosure where the network's underground cable terminates and your own consumer mains begin. For a property fed from a dedicated substation on the same land, the boundary sits at the connection device at that substation instead.

4. Why the distinction changes who is responsible for what

Everything on the network's side of the point of supply, the overhead or underground service cable itself, the service fuse, and typically the meter, belongs to and is maintained by the network distributor. Everything from the point of supply onward into your home, your consumer mains, switchboard, meter panel housing and all internal wiring, is part of your own electrical installation and is your responsibility to maintain. The point of attachment sits on the network's side of that boundary on an overhead service, which is exactly why a damaged attachment bracket or sagging service cable is treated as network equipment needing a Level 2 ASP, even though it is physically fixed to your house.

5. What this means during a renovation, rebuild or service conversion

Any time a renovation changes how a property is fed, converting an overhead service to underground, relocating a meter, or redeveloping a site into multiple dwellings, the point of supply itself can shift, and that requires formal involvement from your network distributor, not just a conversation with your builder. A point of attachment or meter relocation during a renovation is a common trigger for this, and getting the paperwork and the physical works sequenced correctly avoids the project stalling while a connection application works its way through the distributor.

6. A quick way to remember the difference

If you are ever unsure which term applies, ask whether you are talking about a physical bracket on a wall, that is the point of attachment and only exists on overhead services, or whether you are talking about who owns and maintains a particular piece of equipment, that is always a point of supply question and applies to every property regardless of how it is fed. Getting this right before a defect notice, insurance claim or renovation application is submitted saves a lot of back and forth with your network distributor later.

How High Demand Electrical helps

High Demand Electrical is a licensed local Level 2 ASP, not a call centre, working across Sydney's West, South West and the Sutherland Shire on exactly this kind of ownership and boundary question, whether that is a damaged point of attachment, a service conversion during a renovation, or clarifying who is responsible for a specific piece of equipment before a defect notice rectification goes ahead. We deal directly with Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy on your behalf so you are not left interpreting the Service and Installation Rules of NSW yourself. If you are unsure which network actually covers your address before raising any of this, check your network area in seconds with our postcode checker.

Point of Supply vs Point of Attachment FAQs (Sydney)

My underground service has a problem, where is my point of supply exactly?

Typically at the pillar, pit or service fuse enclosure where the network's underground cable ends and your consumer mains begin, though the exact location can vary by property, your network distributor or a Level 2 ASP can confirm it on site.

If my point of attachment is damaged, is that automatically the network's cost to fix?

Not automatically, ownership and cost responsibility depend on exactly which component failed and where it sits relative to the point of supply, which is precisely why an on site assessment matters rather than assuming either way.

Does a defect notice refer to the point of supply or the point of attachment?

A defect notice can reference either, depending on what has actually been found faulty, which is why reading the notice carefully and getting a defect notice rectification assessment matters before assuming what work is actually required.

Can I ask my network distributor to move my point of supply for a renovation?

Yes, this is a formal connection application process handled by your network distributor, generally coordinated through a Level 2 ASP on your behalf rather than something you apply for directly as a homeowner.

Is the point of supply the same as my NMI?

No, those are two separate concepts entirely, your NMI identifies your metering installation for billing and market purposes, while the point of supply is a physical and legal boundary on your property, see our guide on what your NMI actually is for more detail.

If you need clarity on where your point of supply sits, a damaged point of attachment assessed, or a service relocation coordinated with your network distributor, get a Level 2 electrician quote from High Demand Electrical or call 0402 559 777. A site assessment confirms the exact boundary and scope before any work begins.

Related reading: NSW Point of Attachment Guide, Moving Your Point of Attachment or Meter During a Renovation and What Is Your NMI?.