Building a fence near a power utility pole?

[kthompson]

It amazes me they are not liable for damage they do. We have some on our property but they are in clean areas where no trees or fences. I have found out electric and phone company to be good to work with.

 

[Jstpssng]

I always thought that it was odd while doing R/W maintenance. The power company had gone bankrupt, as they were the main investor of Seabrook Nuclear which wasn't allowed to start up after spending bukos dollars building it. We were cutting trees that had grown up through the wires, and occasionally the foreman would go off the R/W to fell a "danger tree"... dropping it into others, then having me go in and cut the widow makers. All of those danger trees were on private property, yet we never asked before dropping them.

We also cut some nice hardwood logs, bucking them up in random lengths to get them on the ground.

 

[bcp]

Ask them to convert it to this style pole that doesn't need ground contact.



Bruce

 

[ericm979]

I always thought that it was odd while doing R/W maintenance. The power company had gone bankrupt, as they were the main investor of Seabrook Nuclear which wasn't allowed to start up after spending bukos dollars building it. We were cutting trees that had grown up through the wires, and occasionally the foreman would go off the R/W to fell a "danger tree"... dropping it into others, then having me go in and cut the widow makers. All of those danger trees were on private property, yet we never asked before dropping them.

We also cut some nice hardwood logs, bucking them up in random lengths to get them on the ground.

My understanding is that PG&E has right of ways (they're in our deed) which allows them or their contractors to come on the ROW and clear what they need to clear. A couple times I have caught the advance person who marks the trees for the contractors and they have usually been knowledgeable about trees and willing to work with me, within the rules set by PG&E.

The tree crews used to be awful- trimming only a little and leaving it in the woods rather than cleaning up, and hiding out goofing off on our property. PG&E's finally gotten their act together (it only took a bunch of people dying and a lot of court orders) and hired better crews who are more professional and do more complete work.

When they buck trees they cut logs into lengths too long for the stove, so there's a lot of waste. Last time I managed to get some logs before they cut them up so I could cut them into the right lengths.

 

[Jstpssng]

My understanding is that PG&E has right of ways (they're in our deed) which allows them or their contractors to come on the ROW and clear what they need to clear. A couple times I have caught the advance person who marks the trees for the contractors and they have usually been knowledgeable about trees and willing to work with me, within the rules set by PG&E.

The tree crews used to be awful- trimming only a little and leaving it in the woods rather than cleaning up, and hiding out goofing off on our property. PG&E's finally gotten their act together (it only took a bunch of people dying and a lot of court orders) and hired better crews who are more professional and do more complete work.

When they buck trees they cut logs into lengths too long for the stove, so there's a lot of waste. Last time I managed to get some logs before they cut them up so I could cut them into the right lengths.

They have to be within their R/W though. They can't just go onto another's land and cut trees without asking, or destroy trees on land which isn't theirs.

 

[WM75Guy]

Here in Texas, I already had the fence in place when the power pole was installed. They insisted that it be on my property, inside the fence. There is probably a foot between the pole and my fence. I cannot mow around it, so I weed eat there.

I guess that you have your reasons for having the pole inside the gate area. If it was me, I would slide the gate over so I could get through the gate with a tractor or vehicle.

I think you will be fine as long as they have access. I would put in a minimum of a 12' gate with no obstructions, pole well off to one side. My experience is like Eddie's experience. My fence, which is on the property line, was in already in place. I had to grant the power company a utility easement before they would give me power, 15' on both sides of the property line. My neighbor was the one that sold us the property so he had no issues with an easement The poles are running down the fence line and were placed 1'-2' feet off the fence line. .

 

[Lineman North Florida]

It amazes me when I hear some of these stories about how some power company's come in and do all sorts of damage and then walk off and leave it , we work around people's stuff all the time, getting 45' poles in peoples backyards that you can barely walk thru and whatever we tear up or damage we fix or replace , about the only time we don't is for example when the power is out in an underground subdivision and homeowners have planted bushes and shrubs in front of the transformers with a sign on the front that says no bushes and or shrubs are to be planted in front of them and we need to access them , we put a chainsaw to them and drive off when we are done , with the customer complaining and making phone calls to everyone under the sun, I'm glad I'm about to retire.

 

[oosik]

My driveway runs true - east to west - for one mile. The power line is within the 30 foot driveway easement and on the north side of the driveway. The last pole on this straight run is within five feet of the E-W barbed wire fence. At this point the power line turns to the NW and on into the house. The power was installed LOONG after the fence line existed.

Sooo..... I would say, as long as they have access to their poles and line - its OK. However - I would certainly ask first and have them OK it.

The last thing you need to find out - they will not/can not work on your service because of where the new fence is located. OR you have to move the fence so that they can service your power.

 

[Jstpssng]

The OP still hasn't said if the pole is on his property or the road R/W. If it's the latter there's another list of concerns. A friend intentionally built a nice rock retaining rock wall just on the town R/W past his house. I tried to explain that he was SOL if they needed to do work on the road, whereas if he had built just 2 feet back they would have to pay to move it if it was in their way.

 

[oosik]

Some people simply have to learn by their own mistakes. Others experience and warnings play little to no part in their ultimate decision.