border dispute

What is the name of your state? PA
In preparation for installing a fence, we had the property surveyed professionally according to our deed. Our deed states that we have an Electric Company "right of way" within the boundaries of our property. However, our neighbors to the rear dispute that the Electric Company actually owns this land and that it is not our property. They have been removing the stakes that the survey company placed on that border. Today, the police were called by us twice as we were physically and verbally threatened by one tenant. He seems to feel that the Electric Company pole and lines are public property and not on our property. Can you please provide us with some advice on how to proceed with this? We have fencing companies coming next week to give us estimates and do not want to spend the money to have a fence installed only to find that the neighbor damages it. Thanks!

wustner1 said:

What is the name of your state? PA
In preparation for installing a fence, we had the property surveyed professionally according to our deed. Our deed states that we have an Electric Company "right of way" within the boundaries of our property. However, our neighbors to the rear dispute that the Electric Company actually owns this land and that it is not our property. They have been removing the stakes that the survey company placed on that border. Today, the police were called by us twice as we were physically and verbally threatened by one tenant. He seems to feel that the Electric Company pole and lines are public property and not on our property. Can you please provide us with some advice on how to proceed with this? We have fencing companies coming next week to give us estimates and do not want to spend the money to have a fence installed only to find that the neighbor damages it. Thanks!

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The neighbor is correct as to the Elect. Co. not owning the property. The use easements or rights of way to access their poles and lines on private property. If it is within your deeded property, you are the owners but the utility has rights to access their poles etc.

The poles and lines are private property, the utilitie company's property to be exact.

Before installing a fence, you should contact the utility co. to be sure they have no objection to a fence restricting their access to their poles. Depending on the situation, they may or may not object. If it is a single pole that brings feeders to you home or a couple of homes, they usually don;t seem to have a problem with that but you need to check and be sure.

Now what the neighbor has to do with anything is beyond me. If it is not their property, they have absolutely nothing to say about any of it as long as you abide by any pertinent laws and ordinances involved.

Thanks for the advice. I did not state the information accurately on re-reading it. The neighbor believes the area is public property or the electric company's property and not ours. The situation is frustrating as they have not paid to have their land surveyed and are just going by what they think they know. We have our deed and had our property surveyed to avoid any problems. Guess that did not work!
Thank you for suggesting we call the electric company to determine if a fence is okay to put in our yard because of the poles. We have been told in the past that they must have access to the lines in our yard and therefore we are planning on leaving our driveway area unfenced so they can drive a truck in if needed. I will call them tomorrow to verify that information and ask them to put it in writing. Thank you again.