Power lines on road ROW
Power lines on road ROW
(OP)
Does anyone know where to go to look up the state law for placing utility lines along a county right of way? I am in Tennessee. I have a customer that is arguing that we have no right to run a line down the side of the road in front of his property even if we stay on the county road right of way. County ROW not State.
This is not a tech. question but is for sure one I need some help on this.
This is not a tech. question but is for sure one I need some help on this.






RE: Power lines on road ROW
It might be nice to offer him the possibility of underground and he pays the difference rather than having a really mad person out in the country with your equipment for the next 20 years.
Others will have a better understanding of the process for you.
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Power lines on road ROW
I think he is SOL also but can't find the law to prove it.
RE: Power lines on road ROW
How did the whiner, (which he is sounding like if this isn't blocking his view), find out about the coming line?
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Power lines on road ROW
The whiner, doesn't want us clearing trees and limbs that hang over the road. He came up on the job when it was under construction. One thing we did wrong was not talk to him before hand.
RE: Power lines on road ROW
Generally, the county in turn can grant easements along such ROWs to essential services, so long as the utility plant owner applies for and receives 'municipal consent' from the county (said consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, assuming all technical requirements are met)
There is probably a specific law to this effect in each state.
You could ask this guy:
Joe Shaw
Tennessee DOT
Utilities Office
615-741-2891
joe.shaw@state.tn.us
RE: Power lines on road ROW
respectfully
RE: Power lines on road ROW
RE: Power lines on road ROW
65-22-103. Wires, conduits, conductors, pipes, and pipelines.
Such corporation, after having first obtained permission from the governing authorities thereof, is invested with the privilege of extending and placing its electric wires, conduits, conductors, pipes, and pipelines along, through, or upon all or any of the streets, lanes, and alleys of the cities, towns, and villages in which it may operate; and in, through, and along any and all of the roads and public highways of the counties, for the purpose of supplying electricity, or electric or mechanical power to the inhabitants thereof for heat, light, manufacturing, domestic, or sanitary or other purposes; and for such purposes it may make any and all necessary excavations in and along the same after first obtaining permission from the governing authorities of the incorporated cities, towns, and villages, and when outside of any incorporated towns, of the governing authority of the county in which same is located; but all excavation shall be made in such manner as to give the least inconvenience to the public, and shall be replaced with all possible speed by and at the expense of the corporation in as substantial manner as found before being excavated.
RE: Power lines on road ROW
RE: Power lines on road ROW
If Utility, contact legal depart. I'm sure they will have a legal, recorded in the court house, right of way. (I had to provide such a "deed" to get power lines run to the house. The recorded easements for the state road right allow the state to grant easements.
But if you are a private company, He might be right. I had a co worker stop a city annexation water sewer dig for a month while they accured the proper easements. The city assumed they had ROW, but legally didn't.
RE: Power lines on road ROW
I do work for a utility and this road is a county road not a state one. The state said the same as you that if it was theirs we could do whatever they permitted us to.
I talked to the person this morning and told him the law and gave him a link to it so the ball is in his court now.
We will see what happens.
RE: Power lines on road ROW
RE: Power lines on road ROW
Easements can be not so straight forward.
Engineers do engineering and lawyers do easments. No matter what you do sooner or later the property owner will not take your word for it and want to hear it from a lawyer. You might as well go hire one.
RE: Power lines on road ROW
RE: Power lines on road ROW
RE: Power lines on road ROW
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Power lines on road ROW
RE: Power lines on road ROW
Thanks.
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Power lines on road ROW