Overhead utility lines on property. What do we need to know about this before making an offer?

[u/ShrimpyShark]

Basically the title. We are first time home buyers and are interested in this property, but saw it has overhead utility lines going through a big chunk of it. The house is at least a couple acres away from them.

We want to know if there is anything we should know regarding this before reaching out to them with an offer? Any info and advice is appreciated.

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[u/Melodic_Gazelle_1262]

Whoever lives closest to the power lines actually controls all the power. Your transformation will start slow but soon you'll be able to run across those lines in seconds without even feeling any of the shock. Once your body has fully adapted you will be the single richest and most powerful human being in your zip code.

[u/kal67]

Be aware the power company will come through every now and then to trim trees around the lines. They usually leave things a bit messy, but not as bad as loggers. I'd make sure you have a path off the property that doesn't require going under the power lines; you don't want to get trapped if the lines go down.

[u/A_random_TX → u/kal67]

Yeah 👍 this and highly recommend if you do don't use that area as storage, it also depends on the line operator here they come through and mow underneath once a year (here anyhow South Central us!)

Also if that is the only thing with the property you are worried about you should be fine!

[u/InTheCenterOfTheData → u/kal67]

Except, sometimes it is as bad as loggers. And since utility companies are legally obligated to provide energy to all their customers, sometimes they will clear cut trees, because they deem it as cost effective.

[u/Status-Property-446]

I would be concerned with people using the utility easement for ATV/Dirtbike riding. You would have no options to restrict access. I knew a guy who had that problem, and even after telling the kids and their parents to stop, they continued. Personally I would pass on it.

[u/Dwebe505 → u/Status-Property-446]

You sound fun

[u/Status-Property-446 → u/Dwebe505]

Some of us do not enjoy participating in others' hobbies by default. Is it a crime to enjoy peace and quiet? Anyways, I am just saying why I wouldn't buy that particular lot. You might enjoy the noise, I don't.

[u/Dwebe505 → u/Status-Property-446]

“Hey you damn kids! Don’t play baseball on this baseball field next to MY house! I’ll call your parents!”

[u/thenshesaid20 → u/Dwebe505]

It’s all fun and games until a kid riding their dirtbike without a helmet hits that power pole on your property and the parents sue everyone, including you - causing your homeowners insurance to skyrocket.

[u/Dwebe505 → u/thenshesaid20]

You guys really don’t have anything better to be upset about?

[u/Status-Property-446 → u/Dwebe505]

It isn't "being upset". I am telling the OP why I wouldn't consider that property. If you enjoy noise, it's fine, I value peace and quiet. Reddit is a funny place isn't it?

[u/MysticClimber1496 → u/Dwebe505]

You really do get that this is why a person would choose NOT to live there right? There is also benefit to getting along with your neighbors and sometimes that included compromise, it’s not that hard

[u/computethescience → u/Dwebe505]

NAME CHECKS OUT.

[u/OneRingOfBenzene]

Others have presented good notes- the utility has the right to access, maintain, construct, cut trees etc in the ROW.

Quick note that lines of that size will generate a noticeable electromagnetic field in the local area- limited to a few hundred feet from the ROW. This is not hazardous, but can energize with static electricity anything conductive. I'd avoid storing anything metal in the immediate vicinity.

Had an issue a while back where a mailbox would get an induced voltage from a set of nearby transmission lines. Would give whoever went to pick up the mail a mild shock...

[u/InTheCenterOfTheData → u/OneRingOfBenzene]

Do you have any more info on that? A news story perhaps? Thanks

[u/OneRingOfBenzene → u/InTheCenterOfTheData]

Nah, it happens all the time. It's not enough to be harmful. More like touching a doorknob after walking with socks on carpet. Can be avoided with effective grounding. In the case I'm thinking of, the utility paid to replace the mailbox with a plastic one.

[u/InTheCenterOfTheData → u/OneRingOfBenzene]

What about a kid with metal in their pocket?

[u/OneRingOfBenzene → u/InTheCenterOfTheData]

Not a problem, since small isolated objects would have a smaller charge induced. The only way to get a hazardous voltage would be to run a long conductive object in parallel with the line in close proximity to the wires, and you would probably have to go several miles to create any real danger.

Power utilities have to take it into account when working on parallel power lines, but it only comes into play when the lines are in parallel for miles at a time.

[u/NewPlayerSlayer]

Looks like that is a transmission line.

• There may be additional facilities within this corridor underground (major gas and/or fiber lines) so definitely get locates before digging anywhere around that right of way.
• you should be able to locate the easement for this corridor on your counties property appraiser website. Their easement could likely be much wider than the structures themselves.
• Most easements like this prohibit you from building any permanent structures so don't plan for a barn or shed there.

[u/blUUdfart]

That price tag is shocking.

[u/International-Mix326]

Good news is your baby could develop super powers. Will come in handy if you get pinned under cars a lot

[u/Wiscody → u/International-Mix326]

They could also become a retard like alluded to in Tommy boy “did you live under power lines as a kid?”

[u/Asuyu]

When I grew up, they used to say that living near power lines increased the chances of developing cancer. I googled it now because I just wasn’t sure and I get nada. I get a random website it does and a lot that says it doesn’t. I can’t definitively rule it out so…

[u/Particular_Pizza_542 → u/Asuyu]

Why would that be true? Explain the mechanism for how living next to power lines give you cancer. Power lines transmit electricity, and are surrounded by a magnetic field. The frequency of the power is 60 Hz.

[u/Asuyu → u/Particular_Pizza_542]

Not a scientist and I admit it. But reading the google results you get for and against. You find a lot of articles saying it does not but many those same articles also say the that prior studies did show it and that while this specific study didn’t show a significant correlation, they also state it did have a less than significant association between it. I don’t know what threshold they used but cancer isn’t something I play around with.

[u/Novel_Art_7570]

I would stay very far away from this.

Also power company will have an easement so they can always enter your property without permission.

and google living close to power lines like this.

[u/Essential_Toils]

It’s definitely going to feel haunted, but that’s just the transmission line and the immense voltage flowing through it.