A major upgrade of Powerco's electricity network will begin in Marton on Wednesday.
The company is investing close to $600,000 upgrading a 4.5km stretch of its network between the Pukepapa substation and Marton.
In the first stage of the upgrade, about 30 workers will be replacing the 33,000 volt sub transmission cross arms on 10 power poles on Pukepapa Rd, closest to the substation.
Wednesday's effort alone represents an investment of $27,000 in the local electricity network.
Ken Pattie, Powerco systems and performance engineer, said in the interests of safety the power would need to be switched off between 10am and 2pm.