Some Riverbank Rd, Wanaka, residents are concerned about the possibility of large steel power poles being installed outside their front gates.
As part of a planned upgrade to Wanaka's power network, lines company Aurora Energy has proposed replacing 16 poles carrying 33kV power lines with nine larger steel 66kV poles on the western side of the road.
Riverbank Rd residents who have spoken to the Otago Daily Times said they have been told Aurora is now making changes to the original proposal but they do not know any details.
In a response to questions asked by the ODT, an Aurora spokesman said the company had received feedback and questions from some of the residents and were working through those.
The project included a new substation on the corner of Riverbank and Ballantyne Rds and the installation of an underground cable to connect the new substation with the existing one.
Overhead distribution and service lines in Riverbank Rd would be converted to underground cables.
Aurora has said that due to the type of soil next to the road, a high-voltage underground cable cannot be adequately protected against a lightning strike.
Resident John Young said he had asked the company why a cable could be installed underground in Ballantyne Rd but not a few hundred metres away.
''I've been a contractor around here for about 50 years and I can't see any difference in the soil on Ballantyne Rd compared to here.''
Some residents speculated that more large steel power poles would be installed, he said.
''We've been told they are working through the feedback we gave them, but what does that mean? It's only fair we know what's happening, given how affected we will be.''
Mr Young said he and his neighbours wanted some clarity about the situation.
