This week, Mr Eckhoff sent an account of $5625 to Delta Utility Services for one year's use of his property for the transmission lines and said he also wanted the line charges on his power bill waived.
The poles had an impact on his farming operation and the power company, which gained the benefit from them, sent its profits back to Dunedin, he said.
Aurora Energy Ltd is owned by the Dunedin City Council and contracts another DCC-owned organisation, Delta Utility Services, to maintain its lines.
Senior management from Delta declined to comment on the matter early this week but said they would respond to Mr Eckhoff directly.
He contacted the Otago Daily Times yesterday with the response from Aurora Energy.
The letter from company secretary Stephen Wilson said under part three of the Electricity Act, Aurora was permitted to install poles and had right of access to them and did not have to pay for land use or access.
"We can, therefore we will, is how I'd describe the response," Mr Eckhoff said.
Nothing in the Act prevented the company from offering compensation for poles being on a property, he said.
Farmers from Maniototo through to Balclutha had contacted him about the article in Thursday's paper.
"I've had a number of emails and some phone calls in support of my stance from people who have said `good on you'.
Judging by the reaction, I'd say there's some widespread discontent out there about this issue."
The poles were on the property when he bought it in 1984, and were originally owned by the Otago Central Electric Power Board.
