Easement question

[Flopsy]

What exactly can a utility company do an no do with their easement. We recently had the water company out here and they made a huge mess of the easement. They ran over fence posts (the posts on the edge of a 15 foot drop so there really is no reason for them to be driving there), took parts of the fence down so they could store pipe, left brush and cut trees just thrown into piles on the edge of the wooded area, and damaged a tree not in their easement.

But they were kind enough to dump some dirt in the driveway to replace the damage done there. Except they put way too much down. And now it is a nuisance and a bit of an eyesore.

Personally I am most worried about all the brush and debris they left its a fire hazard and it's a lot of work to clean it up. Last year we had a fire in almost the exact spot they left the brush.

[jwal10]

Make a complaint, they should put it back to the way it was when they started. I always take pictures before and after....James

[Flopsy]

Originally Posted by jwal10

Make a complaint, they should put it back to the way it was when they started. I always take pictures before and after....James

Had no idea they were coming. We got a notice from them about road work this July bit nothing about moving the pipes. They were there when my FIL got home from work one day. But I'll file a complaint on Monday.

[jwal10]

Are you a customer of the water company? Was it your service line or a mainline? What was the nature of the work, new install or emergency repair? Are they done yet, or will they be back.

I was the supervisor for a city water system, we had outside water customers too. We always left the land as good or better before when we finished. I talked to our customers so everyone knew what was expected. We always joked that we were the neighborhood improvement crew. Everything was budgeted to finish the job right....James

[oneokie]

Originally Posted by Flopsy

What exactly can a utility company do an no do with their easement. We recently had the water company out here and they made a huge mess of the easement. They ran over fence posts (the posts on the edge of a 15 foot drop so there really is no reason for them to be driving there), took parts of the fence down so they could store pipe, left brush and cut trees just thrown into piles on the edge of the wooded area, and damaged a tree not in their easement.

But they were kind enough to dump some dirt in the driveway to replace the damage done there. Except they put way too much down. And now it is a nuisance and a bit of an eyesore.

Personally I am most worried about all the brush and debris they left its a fire hazard and it's a lot of work to clean it up. Last year we had a fire in almost the exact spot they left the brush.

You should get a copy of the easement for your property and read it. If you do not understand the wording, have an attorney read it. Many, if not all utility easements allow the utility to use the R.o.W. as they see fit.

If the red highlighted damage occured on their easement, you are at their mercy unless the easement says how they are to maintian the easement.

The purple highlighted text: Does the easement state ingress and egress points? If not, they can access the easement anywhere they want to do so.

In otherwords, if it is not in writing in the easement, you are out of luck.