Utility easement

[anbm]

10 feet wide electrical utility easement (from pole to pad mounted xfmr), if I have an outdoor gear (480/3) how far should I install it
away from this easement?

 

[zbang]

I'd say zero distance* is required but backing off any working space requirements for your equipment may be a good idea, that way if the utility puts something on the edge of their easement your equipment won't be affected. (There often seem to be local or PoCo rules about this.)

*easement is 10' one way, what's the other dimension? Are you required to keep it clear on the surface or does this just allow their use under or over?

 

[anbm]

I'd say zero distance* is required but backing off any working space requirements for your equipment may be a good idea, that way if the utility puts something on the edge of their easement your equipment won't be affected. (There often seem to be local or PoCo rules about this.)

*easement is 10' one way, what's the other dimension? Are you required to keep it clear on the surface or does this just allow their use under or over?

We want to place the gear as near as easment boundary as possible due to tight area, we do have clearances on equipment remain side.

 

[jaggedben]

Ultimately it depends on the actual language of the easement, or maybe any laws that apply. (Or have the client renegotiate the easement, but that's probably a last resort.)

Conservatively, I'd agree that no distance is required as long as you're treating the easement as potentially unusable and inaccessible for things like working space.

 

[electrofelon]

Ultimately it depends on the actual language of the easement, or maybe any laws that apply. (Or have the client renegotiate the easement, but that's probably a last resort.)

Conservatively, I'd agree that no distance is required as long as you're treating the easement as potentially unusable and inaccessible for things like working space.

I agree, and I have another thread on this. I am fighting with the Poco on a project as they are giving me requirements that are not in the easement. The easement says what it says and nothing more and it is NOT their property.

 

[zbang]

easement- "a right to cross or otherwise use someone else's land for a specified purpose." In example, if the legal easement says "to operate and maintain power lines", the PoCo isn't allowed to use it for parking trucks or running a sewer. Unfortunately, even what seems like plain language might contain terms-of-art that only the lawyers recognize, and local custom plays into the equation.

"Dirt law" is complicated, a couple friends are lawyers who specialize in it... some of the stories are make you wonder....