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CVPS's Rights-of-Way: Transmission & Distribution

TRANSMISSION RIGHTS-OF-WAY

CVPS’s transmission lines deliver high-capacity voltages that bring electricity from generating stations to substations or substation to substation. From the substation, power is distributed throughout the communities. A transmission right-of-way (ROW) is the strip of land obtained by easement or acquired in fee by CVPS from an individual property owner for the company to install, maintain, replace and remove its lines and related equipment.   Along with the rights for such line cosntruction, CVPS also has the right to cut down, trim and manage trees and other vegetation within the ROW corridor.

Easements secured for these ROWs may also include the right to remove what are known as “danger trees.” A danger tree is a tree outside of the defined limits of the ROW corridor, but with the potential to do damage to equipment within the ROW.  If the danger tree falls or is cut down, it could strike poles, towers, wires, lines, or other equipment and disrupt the flow of electricity to our customers along with creating an unsafe situation.

ROWs for CVPS transmission lines are typically a minimum of 100 feet wide, but are oftentimes of a wider width.  While normally centered within the width of the ROW,  there are quite a lot of instances where the transmission line itself may be offset to one side of the ROW.  Depending on the width of the ROW, line location within the ROW, topography, the type of vegetation and other factors, the corridor may not be cleared to its full width at all times.

DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS-OF-WAY

Distribution lines carry power from local substations to homes and businesses. A distribution ROW gives access to a strip of land so that utilities (electric, telephone, cable, water and/or gas) may build, operate and maintain their lines.  Along with the rights for line construction, CVPS also obtains the right to cut down, trim and manage trees and other vegetation along these lines.

This ROW is a property right granted to a utility in perpetuity by a property owner and is required to provide safe and reliable delivery of energy.  Utility companies authorized by law to operate within the state also have certain statutory rights to construct, operate and maintain their lines within the ROW limits of a public highway.

The ROW width required for overhead distribution power lines of any voltage is normally 30 or 50 feet.  However, due to such influences as the different time periods when lines were constructed, property owner input and other factors, these widths can vary widely and may be narrower or defined differently.