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1 Message

Wednesday, September 8th, 2021 8:19 PM

Does AT&T automatically get to use the PG&E easement on my property?

I am curious as to how AT&T and Comcast are allowed to use the PG&E power line easement across my back yard. Can someone offer some insight? Thanks in advance.

Accepted Solution

Official Solution

Employee

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3.4K Messages

3 years ago

https://info.legalzoom.com/article/property-owners-rights-and-utility-easements

Utility Easements on Property

You may have many utility lines leading to your house for certain services. Some of these may include lines, pipes, dishes, meters, or tanks for:

  • Electricity
  • Gas
  • Propane
  • Sewer
  • Water
  • Telephone
  • Internet and cable television
  • Satellite television companies
  • New utilities as technology changes

If you have any of these, you have an easement because the companies can access your property, for example, to fix a broken water pipe or electric power lines that fell in a storm. As the property owner, you're giving these companies the right to come onto your property to maintain and repair these lines or pipes. You own the land, but they have the right to use your land to access their equipment.

... 

Utility Companies' Rights

Property owners have the right to use the land as they see fit, including the easement area, so long as they're not obstructing the easement itself. For example, if there's a written easement for a company to use a small corridor along your property to access its equipment in the back, you can't build anything on it or obstruct that corridor. If you do, the utility company can remove the obstruction or even destroy it if it interferes with the easement.

That doesn't mean you can't build a fence, or plant shrubs or flowers along the border, so long as they don't interfere with the utility companies' access to their equipment. Remember that your deed permits utility companies to access it whenever needed so that they can take you to court—they can ask the judge for an injunction to stop you from blocking entry onto your property—for violating the easement.

https://www.softdig.com/blog/utility-easements/

For specific questions about your address recommend talking to your local government that deals with property, easements, and right of ways.

Employee

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34K Messages

3 years ago

Cable and AT&T lease space from pge they don’t need your permission only permission from PG&E   

1 Message

2 years ago

The easement to my property was granted to the power company in 1946 by my grandparents. The original pole (76 years old) was recently replaced by the power company due to age. AT&T is requiring $500 and an application for a quote to move the lines from the old pole to the new pole. The cost to relocate the lines could be $10,000? How is this possible? AT&T is piggybacking off of Duke Energy who moved their lines and  installed a new pole at no charge. Duke Energy has contacted AT&T yet until they are paid, they will not act. I have the original and only easement ever recorded for the property which has been in my family for over 150 years. If AT&T is using the pole, it is because Duke Energy gave them permission. 

Employee

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34K Messages

2 years ago

Not how it works.  I work for joint pole and nothing you say is true except for AT&T leases real estate on the pole. 


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