Powerline across my backyard

[ticzon]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California
I would like to build a swimming pool in my backyard, but there is an issue regarding my neighbor's powerline running across my backyard just over where we would like to place our pool.

The powerline height at the boundary between our property and the neighbor's property is 10 feet, 6 inches.

The powerline at at the middle of the proposed pool is about 15 feet above the waterline.

The run between the power pole and the neighbor's house is somewhere between 50-75 feet.

The neighborhood was built 1960.

There is a 5 feet utility easement at the back fence (where the power pole is located). Does the powerline running across my yard violate the easement rule? Or, since the powerline has been there since 1960, the powerline now has it's own easement?

PG&E wants me to pay $5000 to move my neighbor's powerline if I want to build the pool.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

[JETX]

Originally Posted by ticzon

PG&E wants me to pay $5000 to move my neighbor's powerline if I want to build the pool.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

Does the powerline run OVER your property??
Based on your description, it isn't the neighbors problem but is the electric providers. They own the line from the pole to the neighbor 'feed box'. The easement allows them to run their line on your property, but ONLY within the easement. If the line crosses your property outside of the easement, they are responsible for removing it. I suggest you contact the power company in WRITING (certified RRR) and have them remove THEIR encroachment on your property.

[drewguy]

Agree with JETX--they can use only the easement. Otherwise neighbor's powerline has to be over neighbor's property.

I had a similar problem, which is that the PoCo had strung our service cable and neighbor's from pole in front of our property. Ours came straight to house. Neighbor's angled across our land to neighbor.

I alerted Poco to the problem and they fixed it within a few days so neighbor's service cable now runs only over her land.

[ticzon]

Originally Posted by JETX

Does the powerline run OVER your property??
Based on your description, it isn't the neighbors problem but is the electric providers. They own the line from the pole to the neighbor 'feed box'. The easement allows them to run their line on your property, but ONLY within the easement. If the line crosses your property outside of the easement, they are responsible for removing it. I suggest you contact the power company in WRITING (certified RRR) and have them remove THEIR encroachment on your property.

Yes, the powerline hangs right in the middle of my yard as it goes from the corner power poll -> Across my yard -> Neighbor's House.

BTW, my house is located in San Jose,CA. The utility company is PG&E.

[drewguy]

Originally Posted by ticzon

Yes, the powerline hangs right in the middle of my yard as it goes from the corner power poll -> Across my yard -> Neighbor's House.

BTW, my house is located in San Jose,CA. The utility company is PG&E.

Call PG&E and tell them they don't have an easement, or, if they do, to show it to you. Ask for the legal department if necessary and ask for someone to explain to you what their basis is for asserting that they may string the line this way.

It is possible that the city has granted a general easement that may not be recorded. But PG&E should be able to provide you with this information.

[justalayman]

The powerline height at the boundary between our property and the neighbor's property is 10 feet, 6 inches.

too low. this should be at least 12 feet from the ground.

The powerline at at the middle of the proposed pool is about 15 feet above the waterline.

line over a pool must be at least 22 1/2 feet above the high water line and 14 1/2 feet above diving platform or observation area.


tell them to correct the installation ( the installation now, regardless of the pool situation) regardless of there being and easement or not. Then, if there is no easement, once they drop the line, tell them to get off your property until such time they can produce proof of an easement that allows them to run the line over your property.

Height specs are from 2005 National Electrical Code. the 2008 is in effect in many areas but I do not believe those specs were altered in the revision.

[FarmerJ]

Your own city hall can tell you under what conditions the elect util must do mid line drops to avoid having overhead lines hanging over one persons lot to reach another home. 5 K seems awful high to re run a overhead line as a mid line drop , has your city required lines to go underground now when they have to be re routed ?