Poles are spaced about 100 feet to 150 feet apart, with 125 feet being typical. Easements can also be created through . "For example, if Pepco attaches a power line to an existing Verizon pole, Pepco will add . A u tility easement is a designated parcel of land that gives utility companies the right to access private property for the good of the community. The phone line is responsibility of the utility that put it in, and it and the pole it is on are almost guaranteed to be part of an easement on the deed that specifically allows utilities services access to your property and/or anyone elses. The homeowner owns the land in front of her house up to the curb, but the public has a public access easement to that sidewalk. I called FairPoint a couple of days ago to have the unused (for at least 8 years) telephone line removed from my house in New Hampshire so I could get some tree work done. If you rented or had one installed through the Electric company then they would maintain it. It is very possible that the town or the utility has an easement to place service on your property. The Appellate Division has ruled that, when utility property was placed alongside a road prior to the municipal possession of that road, the utility is not liable for the costs of moving that property. 6. The pole feeds wires to my house and my neighbors. Answer (1 of 3): Generally, utility poles are not "his" or "yours". Recently, at my cabin, a lineman for the utility company saw that my Dish Network satellite dish was on their utility pole. In this case, a doomed pole in Philadelphia left a farewell note after it was slated . The . There are other types of easements, such as private easements, easements . MaineDOT retains overall jurisdiction for utility location or relocation during design and construction of MaineDOT There is a 5 ft utility easement on the boundary of my property. Utility pole in backyard but nobody claims ownership. utility locations and/or relocations, any utility permitting [23 MRS §52] required by the Municipality, and any pavement restoration requirements. Electric Meter - Measures your electricity use in kilowatt-hours. The property owner usually is compensated for this easement, and it runs with the property. If you have a utility pole constructed on your property, I would first check your plat for a utility easement before going further. This gives utility companies the legal right to be on your property to fix any broken lines . Anything, from a house addition down to fences, shrubs, and children's playsets might need to be removed in this event . . While the land underneath the power lines remains tied to an easement, the vegetation surrounding utility company equipment can pose hazards for accessibility, fire risk and outages. Best Practices in Utility Asset . After the effective date of P.L.1991, c.366 (C.48:3-17a), before a public utility places a pole, used for the supplying and distributing of electricity for light, heat or power, or for the furnishing of telegraph, telephone or other telecommunications service, on a public . Due to recent storms, the pole is leaning and the supports used to stabilize the pole are starting to dislodge. So "who owns the roads" is a bit of a misleading question. In that case, the land owner will be asked to sign a right of entry document allowing PSE&G onto the property for only these limited purposes. If the poles are in your yard, they have an easement (a right to use) on a strip of your property. House located in East Los Angeles (unincorporated - falls under County jurisdiction) 4. 2. You can call your main utility company before calling an electrician to be on the safe side. In situations where a utility company has power lines or utility boxes on private and public property, concerns can arise with regard to utility line clearance. I got a quote for $222.20 to have it removed. The property owner usually is compensated for this easement, and it runs with the property. The most common example is a utility easement is to grant a power company the right to run and install electrical lines on your property. They had a hole aproximately 6 ft x 5ft wide on my property, without notifying me & without any . 2. Weatherhead and Insulator at the point where electric lines connect to your residence. I will be contacting the PUC. Enter your land to repair the lines. In order to share space, utilities and service providers must enter into third-party attachment agreements that are subject to meeting certain safety and reliability requirements. It depends on who set them. Typically they're marked by the primary owner (one of the utilities either the power or phone company) though other people may have license to hang their wires on the same poles. Utility Easement Restrictions. If anyone has any ideas please feel free to share. Chances are, the utility company owns an easement where the utility pole is located and does not have one where-ever it is that you would like the pole moved to. This means the easement will usually require a written instrument, delivery, and a valid signature. Weatherhead and Insulator at the point where electric lines connect to your residence. question of whether the utility's ~acement of the pole pre-dated the Town's ownership of the road. An easement gives a person or organization a legal right to use someone else's land—but only for a needed purpose. Telephone, cable, gas, water, and electricity are public utilities that are . Usually, they belong to the electric utility. 1. "If it's a light pole, call the electric company. Service Entrance Cable is the wire that runs from the weatherhead to the electric meter and from the elec- Who owns the utility easement? The only equipment that is maintained or owned by National Grid beyond this connection point is the electric meter. However, an easement holder doesn't own the land. Below are 10 expert resources that serve to explain the importance and logistics associated with utility pole identification, maintenance, and more: Standard Specifications for Wood Poles, U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. . private property, public roads). PSE&G may request prior access to conduct preliminary work such as a survey, delineate wetlands and/or conduct an appraisal to determine the amount of land needed and the value of an easement. Kind of like a lease agreement usually. The utility company is NOT going to agree to move the pole to a . utility pole to your residence. ANSI 0.5 1-2017 - Wood Poles - Specifications and Dimensions. The old pole was in a different location (they first put up the new pole then take down the old one). I am pretty sure the pole itself is on my neighbor's property but the guy wire anchor is right in the middle of my yard! A utility pole is sited within the easement, but aproximately 2ft from the property line.The neighboring property is being reconstructed and their contractors dug a 6 ft deep trench which crossed the easement and into my property. 5. A power easement is a right for the electric company to install and maintain electrical power lines, above or below ground, on private property. I have a utility pole in my yard and it is used by internet companies ATT and Comcast. Right now, we have to drive along about 500' of the neighbor's property to get back to the house. This means the easement is permanent, and if the property is sold, the easement is still a part of the property. If you have a power company easement on your property, the seller should have disclosed it when you bought the house. For example, a utility company may have the right to trim a tree in your backyard if it's interfering with telephone lines. Contact the utility company. The pole is on our property. Utility easements are usually created at the time a plat for a new development is designed. 2 METER BASE: You own/maintain the metal box that houses the meter (meter base). The request may include submission of the completed affidavits ROW-U-Affidavit (for Utility Owner), ROW-U-Affidavit (for Disinterested Party), or ROW-U-Affidavit (for Property Owner), as appropriate, to support the property interest claim. Utility easements are usually created by conveying a deed, a contract or a will. The term does not include a utility pole owned by a municipal electric utility, a utility pole used to support municipally owned or operated electric distribution facilities, or a utility pole located in the right-of-way within: In 1944 when my grandfather owned the property the HEPC installed poles on the municipally owned right of way to bring power to the property. 2. Service Drop - The wires running from the utility pole to your home. After my column last week about Nicolas Gyurkovics's efforts to get Bell to remove a pole from his tiny backyard on Boulton Street, email rolled in from readers who also said Bell poles occupy . Install utility poles. The dominant estate owning the easement may need to access the easement. Upon calling the AT&T helpline several times, they asked us to contact the regional construction management (888-901-2779) which turns out to be for midwest states (another wrong info) and they don't even answer or return calls. 48:3-17a Public utility pole or underground facility placement; municipal consent required; procedures, enforcement. For your own protection, you should not post your phone number either. He told the folks using my cabin that the dish would have to be removed or they would remove it and not too carefully. They will provide you with guidelines on how it can be done. I have included three links: This means the easement is permanent, and if the property is sold, the easement is still a part of the property. Easements can also be created through . A utility company may have an easement on your property to access an electrical pole. In 1944 when my grandfather owned the property the HEPC installed poles on the municipally owned right of way to bring power to the property. The following diagrams show some common private power line arrangements: A utility company can dig in your yard without permission. One utility owns the pole, but multiple utilities use it — and each has its own way of numbering it. chief Allen Chwalek. Does the new neighbor have the right to trench to the pole without permission? 2 METER BASE: You own/maintain the metal box that houses the meter (meter base). Up until 1998 Ontario Hydro maintained the utility line - tree trimming and spraying. I don't know if there's a way that you're going to be able to recoup that. 2. Like other easements, a PUE grants certain rights to the owner of the easement. It's okay to be unsure of who to call for your particular circumstance in regards to your private power pole. In order to determine if you have a basis to move the pole, you will need to have somebody review your deed, survey, and that of your neighbor. Easement, neighbor, and utility problems! A wood utility pole can be dangerous. As such, the utility has the right to: Access your land to install the lines. The area covered by the easement is usually clearly defined in the text of the easement, and the easement . 4 CABLE INSIDE CONDUIT: PPL Electric Utilities owns/maintains the cable inside the conduit from the transformer to the meter base. 4. Message 8 of 10. Underground water, sewer, electric, cable tv, and phone lines are also included in property easement situations. How are utility easements created? Enter your land to repair the utility lines. October 18, 2016 at 5:46 pm. Creating a utility easement requires you to follow the same procedures as creating or transferring other property interests. A Definition of Utility Pole Identification Systems. A 16-foot pole weighs only about 700. Power is distributed from substations at anywhere from 7,200 volts to 34,500 volts. Writing or assisting with new, more appropriate joint-use contracts. It's open to chemical exposure and to pollution. Its integrity gets weakened by snow, rain, wind and ice. In other cases, one company owns the pole, and other utilities pay a usage fee. Anything on the house side of the demarc is owned by the homeowner. (267) 467-3178. A ROW Attorney will review the District's request and reply with comments. Patterson & Dewar offers a wide variety of services to assist our clients with joint-use including: Calculating and negotiating fair attachment rates per contract formulas. Or if your driveway overlaps your property line, you might rely on an easement on your neighbor's property to get to your garage. The wire would be anchored 12 feet deep onto her property — directly in the line of sight of her front door. it will only be either your local power company or verizon, as verizon . However, utilities have a right to access that portion of land which has been designated a utility easement. 03-26-2009 05:43 PM. Examples of jobs by Able Group Inc. on Utility Poles. He said if it's a utility pole on private property, it's not the Springfield DPW's responsibility. Service Entrance Cable - The wire that extends A power easement is a right for the electric company to install and maintain electrical power lines, above or below ground, on private property. It doesn't replace an existing pole and I've not been notified in any way. They are owned by the utility and you grant (you have no choice really) the utility an "easement" that permits them to utilize your property as a right-of-way for utility poles (and, likely, some underground things as well). I would assume Verizon needs an easement of some sort. This is achieved by the placement of specialized, heavy-duty utility pole tags and pole markers. 4 CABLE INSIDE CONDUIT: PPL Electric Utilities owns/maintains the cable inside the conduit from the transformer to the meter base. Depending on how an easement is set up, it may be integrated into the deed for a property, making it permanent, or it may . Edison can remove and relocate but I will have to pay all the fees and cost ($$$) 3. The only equipment that is maintained or owned by National Grid beyond this connection point is the electric meter. If you have private power lines or a private power pole on your property, it is your responsibility to inspect and maintain them. Before attaching to company-owned utility poles, third-party attachments must meet the National Electrical Safety Code requirements and the company's construction standards that are necessary to ensure the safety . Telephone poles and power poles have been used for many years to provide utilities and communication to homes and businesses. TOM: The cost of the utilities. If there is an easement, you'll need to have the terms of the easement reviewed . Up until 1998 Ontario Hydro maintained the utility line - tree trimming and spraying. Many of the poles are jointly owned between PG&E and other companies, such as AT&T. Joint owners are members of the Northern California Joint Pole Association.Any added load to joint poles must meet the strength requirements set forth by California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) General Order (GO) 95. chief Allen Chwalek. In situations where a utility company has power lines or utility boxes on private and public property, concerns can arise with regard to utility line clearance. Power, telephone, gas, and water lines are buried underground, likely on your property. AskNott January 28, 2005, 7:01am #2. "If it's a light pole, call the electric company. Best Practices in Utility Asset . The easement means if repairs are necessary, they have a right to . Hi Reddit Legaladvice! 3. Visible items such as fences, mow lines, and utility poles/boxes are not necessarily an accurate reflection of what property you actually own . Property easements, also known as a right-of-way, are sections of land that are used by utility companies in order to build and then maintain, repair or replace any overhead telephone, cable TV, or electrical power lines. They can walk there, but that's about it; the easement doesn't mean you can build a stand on that sidewalk. If you purchase a property with a utility easement in place, it means that the utility company has the right to run lines on it, install items on it and do any other work necessary as dictated by law. Even though many cities are beginning to push utility and communications companies for more underground structures, poles are still the quickest and cheapest solution.Removing a telephone pole or power pole on private property can be very simple or a very large challenge. In real estate, an easement is something that gives someone the right to use land that does not belong to him or her for a set and specific purpose. All the lines on the poles are there because of an agreement between the power, telephone, and cable companies. The number of staples on urban utility poles is evidence that people don't abide by a ban on attaching stuff. Common examples include utility poles on private land and shared driveways. (43,575 Views) being a lineman - i will post some info to try and help anyone else looking for the answer to this.. typically, the company responsible for removing an old pole will be the last utility left to have NOT moved their lines over to the new pole. This means the easement will usually require a written instrument, delivery, and a valid signature. 1. a. It has always been the property owner's responsibility to maintain all electrical equipment they own in a safe condition. 3. Utility poles: StructureSheds, garages, treehouses, playhouses and other structures: . The property owner owns all of the land including the utility easements. We are building on 10 acres, and have a "perpetual, non-exclusive easment" that we use to get back to our house. ANSI 0.5 1-2017 - Wood Poles - Specifications and Dimensions. Any advice gratefully received. Service Entrance Cable is the wire that runs from the weatherhead to the electric meter and from the elec- A 90-foot class 1 western red cedar pole weighs about 6,600 pounds. Now we are stuck with no info on how to proceed from here. A utility easement is an easement which gives a utility the right to use and access a specific area of a property. If you do need an electrician because of your private power pole, call KB Electric LLC today! Thus the Board could not make a . Some are owned by the telephone company, some by the Power company. In that year I was informed that I owned the line and was responsible for maintenance. Creating a utility easement requires you to follow the same procedures as creating or transferring other property interests. That's why Toronto Hydro and other utilities are able to put up a pole or other equipment on what many people to believe to be their property, and without asking for permission. You own and are responsible for repairing the following: 3. If it's a . If you own your home, a PUE may explain why you woke up to find an electrician on the utility pole in your backyard without bothering to ask your permission first (that being said, the power company will generally reach out to . He said if it's a utility pole on private property, it's not the Springfield DPW's responsibility. Utility pole is on my property. Hope this helps w. If it's a . "Authority utility pole" means a utility pole owned by an authority in the right-of-way. 3 TRANSFORMER: PPL Electric Utilities owns/maintains the transformer mounted on a pole (3A) or pad (3B). Verizon recently put up a new utility pole behind my house. Then contact your local public utility service for more information about your options. Those utility poles and electric boxes that are "on the property line", probably aren't. The only way to know where your land begins and ends is know where your property corners are located. In that year I was informed that I owned the line and was responsible for maintenance. Evaluating and preparing reports on the pros/cons of current contracts. Anything on the pole side of the demarc, including the demarc box itself, is owned by AT&T or whoever. A woman called . It also depends on where you are at, some places they are all power company poles. A letter from NYSEG, the electric utility serving northern Westchester County, informed her that the company would be claiming a small part of her front yard for the installation of a metal wire to stabilize a new, taller utility pole. A 35-foot pole is a typical length used in cities to carry one or two crossarms. PUE stands for Public Utility Easement. Answer (1 of 6): That depends on where it is located (i.e. If it is located on private property say you had one installed on your property then you are. All I can seem to do is write to BT to object, there's no 'phone numbers or anything. A utility pole identification system refers to the chosen process that has been implemented by the utility company to track and identify assets, data, and other vital information. The pole can be moved but at a cost which should be properly documented and communicated to you. The following diagrams show some common private power line arrangements: First, check the land records for your lot and find out exactly where the utility easements run across your property. Think of a sidewalk in front of house. Initially, of course, I was worried the pole may come down and fall . Neighbor previously cleared the property line stone wall and trees without and regard for the line. . This happens all the time due to the use of easements. You can get a general idea of how high the voltage is by looking at the insulators used - the longer the . If it's a co-op, chances are you own the pole that is on your property . Utility easements are usually created by conveying a deed, a contract or a will. Wood by its very nature rots and deteriorates over time. This is not new. utility pole to your residence. It can also develop fungi and insects. Get the pole number and call the utilities and indquire. Many states, including Ohio, allow multiple utility companies to own the same pole. As the owner of a property hosting a utility easement, you're entitled to reasonable use of the land over which the easement runs . Reputation: 16964. Appears there are other communication lines on the pole. The answer to that question is yes, unfortunately. Often, they rent pole space (a row of isulators, really) to phone utilities and cable TV firms. 3 TRANSFORMER: PPL Electric Utilities owns/maintains the transformer mounted on a pole (3A) or pad (3B). TAMMY: Mm-hmm. Re: Private Utility Pole Records. It is the demarcation point between utility-owned equipment and homeowner-owned equipment. Below are 10 expert resources that serve to explain the importance and logistics associated with utility pole identification, maintenance, and more: Standard Specifications for Wood Poles, U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. If you have private power lines or a private power pole on your property, it is your responsibility to inspect and maintain them. That's why your utility company is required to perform routine maintenance and safety inspections. Date: April 20, 2022. Got home from work on Monday and a completely new pole has been whacked 20 feet in my property, basically in my front garden. 3 Weatherhead and Insulator - This is the point where our electric lines connect to your home. 1 attorney answer. (chuckling) You know, the next - when the people move in behind you, you can always go by and say, "Hi, I'm Tammy and here's your bill for the utility pole you're hooked up to." (Tammy laughs) Probably not . you can build on a property easement, even a utility easement. This is not new. While the land underneath the power lines remains tied to an easement, the vegetation surrounding utility company equipment can pose hazards for accessibility, fire risk and outages. We have the framing, rough plumbing, h/c . Owner Rights. It has always been the property owner's responsibility to maintain all electrical equipment they own in a safe condition. This is done at a cost because it is you who has requested for the pole to be moved. Easements give utility companies the right to install poles and lines on property that they do not own.