What is the name of your state? Alabama
Electrical powerlines run approximately 25-30 feet above and parallel to my back property line. My chainlink fence is two feet inside the property line. The power company has an established 15 foot easement from the property line (and thus the powerlines). Landscaping is a favorite hobby of mine and with much time and work over the past 8+ years my backyard has evolved into a quite nice space. Several years ago when I first bought the property, I met with a representative of the power company (unfortunately, I do not recall his name) to discuss the issue of easement and what I could do to satisfy their requirements regarding encroachment of trees, etc., toward the powerlines and my desires for privacy and esthetics (the property slopes upward from the back of the house, with a neighbor directly behind facing opposite). As a result, my efforts have concentrated on low, dense plantings with a few ornamental trees. The trees I kept pruned to about 8-10 feet or less, with the largest being about 4-5 inches in diameter at the trunk base. The power company contracts out to tree service companies for maintenance and they have worked in my neighborhood several times without incidence, until a few days ago. I came home from work one evening last week to find my backyard looking like a tornado had been through. Without notification, the contractors had entered through my gate and "clearcut" my backyard! Not only had they cut everything to the ground, they left most of what was cut just scattered about the back and front yard and trampled over other plantings between the fenceline and street. They knocked over/displaced several rock walls, concrete planters, flower pots, bird houses/feeders, etc., and left trash and newspapers strewn across the picnic table and lawn. I had done some pruning just last weekend, and none of the plants cut were anywhere even close to being a "danger" to the powerlines. My questions are: What are my rights regarding the easement and access to it/ maintenance of it by the power company? And, what, if anything, can be done about what has happened? Thanks for your help.
Electrical powerlines run approximately 25-30 feet above and parallel to my back property line. My chainlink fence is two feet inside the property line. The power company has an established 15 foot easement from the property line (and thus the powerlines). Landscaping is a favorite hobby of mine and with much time and work over the past 8+ years my backyard has evolved into a quite nice space. Several years ago when I first bought the property, I met with a representative of the power company (unfortunately, I do not recall his name) to discuss the issue of easement and what I could do to satisfy their requirements regarding encroachment of trees, etc., toward the powerlines and my desires for privacy and esthetics (the property slopes upward from the back of the house, with a neighbor directly behind facing opposite). As a result, my efforts have concentrated on low, dense plantings with a few ornamental trees. The trees I kept pruned to about 8-10 feet or less, with the largest being about 4-5 inches in diameter at the trunk base. The power company contracts out to tree service companies for maintenance and they have worked in my neighborhood several times without incidence, until a few days ago. I came home from work one evening last week to find my backyard looking like a tornado had been through. Without notification, the contractors had entered through my gate and "clearcut" my backyard! Not only had they cut everything to the ground, they left most of what was cut just scattered about the back and front yard and trampled over other plantings between the fenceline and street. They knocked over/displaced several rock walls, concrete planters, flower pots, bird houses/feeders, etc., and left trash and newspapers strewn across the picnic table and lawn. I had done some pruning just last weekend, and none of the plants cut were anywhere even close to being a "danger" to the powerlines. My questions are: What are my rights regarding the easement and access to it/ maintenance of it by the power company? And, what, if anything, can be done about what has happened? Thanks for your help.