buying land that has high voltage power lines on it

[containercabin]

Hi

I placed a bid (non obligating) to buy a piece of land and I believe that the high voltage power lines, which should be on the next lot as it is owned buy ConEd electric, are actually on this land which might explain its low price. I am confused as to why they will do such a thing when they own the adjacent lot...

Is anyone familiar with this? to they run high voltage towers on land that they do not own? is that possible?

Thanks!

[rick91351]

First off welcome   

Pretty much they can run power lines and gas lines via right if imminent doman.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminent_domain

Here in Idaho buried gas and overhead power lines are seldom compensated for because they return the land to existing conditions.  IE if you have farm ground after they are done you still have farm ground.   I am not aware of power transmitting towers how that works if on property.  I would be most concerned with electromagnetic fields and health issues from high voltage.  This has been adressed in Europe and looked at as a health issue while the USA will not embrase the idea.   
 

[jbos333]

I have a high voltage line that runs across my property. It is a right-of-way that was in the deed from way back when, like 1930 or so. So, yes, it is possible that those lines and/or towers you see in the picture are on that piece you are looking at.

Also keep in mind that sometimes those aerial photos don't match up 100% with the lot lines.

You can check the EMF with a simple gaussmeter to see how far it eminates from the lines. That shoud give you some idea how far away you would need to build to stay out of any electromagnetic fields. I believe the higher the voltage on the lines, the farther the field goes. You pretty much have to get directly underneath the lines that cross my place to move the meter at all. Those are 13,500 volts or 13.5 Kv I believe- these are LOW voltage compared to some of them.

Also keep in mind if these lines do cross the piece you are looking at, the probably are setbacks and restrictions as to what you can do or build in the right-of-way.

[considerations]

There should be an easement spelled out in the property description at the county offices. This is a public record and available to you via a visit to their offices. You will need the property address or better yet the tax lot number. Good reading for any property one is thinking of buying. That file should contain things like permits pulled,easements (there may be access easements for neighbors,etc ),surveys, zoning, and all kinds of interesting stuff that can guide your decisions.

I'm in Washington and have high voltage lines in an easement over/on my property. The rule here is no "structures" in the easement. Fences and livestock are ok,as is gardening, not orchards, but 16' gates to permit access for maintenance. They do have crews that come through clearing tall brush and trees. They will use harsh chemicals to kill stumps. The integrity of the power infrastructure trumps environmental issues in this state.

To determine where the easement starts and stops; one drops an imaginary plumb bob from the center electrical cable and measures out 50' each direction.

In this state the crews have the right to fell any tree that threatens the wire even if it is outside the easement. As many of the trees here exceed 100', they have done so.

As to the electrical or magnetic emissions, you must make your own decision.  I think there are considerations about distance from your build site, livestock grazing, etc., as well as voltage. 

These lines are weeny compared to the ones over my property in Oregon.  Those crackled and hummed all the time and had a blue haze around them in damp weather and at night. They were also hundreds of feet from the house.

Real estate agents love to use them as a tactic to get a price concession to close a land deal. Just remember that a buyer either is willing to live with them or not.

[containercabin]

Wow. What excellent info.

I believe you are right. The land is so cheap that it most be it. If they only agree to a land swap...but that could take years to orchestrate.

I'll find out what is going on with the land on Monday.

[rick91351]

Depending on what is cheap and the affordability, not discounting location, location, location.  What is it really worth?  Just because something is cheap does not make it bad nor good.  Just makes it cheap.  Does not sound as if you are in love with it.  That is good because when you are in love with something you are willing to over look a lot that needs to be looked at.  Look at all the angles before committing or withdrawing your commitment.   

[Rob_O]

I'm in Washington and have high voltage lines in an easement over/on my property.

These lines are weeny compared to the ones over my property in Oregon.  Those crackled and hummed all the time and had a blue haze around them in damp weather and at night. They were also hundreds of feet from the house.

Real estate agents love to use them as a tactic to get a price concession to close a land deal. Just remember that a buyer either is willing to live with them or not.

I also have a set of weeny lines crossing my property at one end. I knew going in I was paying for land I really couldn't do anything with and had no problem with that.

[containercabin]

I went to see another piece of land yesterday, not in the vicinity if the 'high voltage' land, and I think I found something I really like. It will cost about 10times the price of the other one, and it will be another hour away, but it is the quintessential secluded cabin location... At least in my books. I will most likely redraw my other bid, unless by a miracle I find that I was wrong and that the real lot is the one adjacent to it = without the high voltage lines.... In that case - game on.

But I doubt it.

Thanks for the info ppl.