When the Electric Company Owes You a Favor?

Jim ... it was the early 90’s because I was still getting Stereophile in the mail ... there was a short piece about how Dan D'Agostino the owner of Krell at that time installed a under ground line with copper cabling ... he said in addition to the improvements to his system ... all the light bulbs glowed warmer

I tried to find the article in Stereophile but gave up

I think the best advice Cwlondon received was from Bifwynne
to seek out a land use attorney and from Rlwainwright
to find out exactly what he may be entitled to
.

I would ask for a underground service from the pole to the house ... your current over head feed is an aluminum cable because it is light in weight and can be suspended ... the under ground line is a heavy copper line and much bigger gauge
01-08-14: Davehrab

The service conductors will still be aluminum.
.

I assume there is a transformer on the top of the pole, and assume this transformer feeds only your house, if this is true, great. If this is not the case I would ask for a transformer for your house alone.

You should probably contact FERC - the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. They are the governing body over every power supplying company (electrical, oil, gas, nuclear, etc.) in the U.S. I know this because I worked there for over 3 years.

Any time a power company wishes to change their rates, get an easement (what you are faced with), etc., they must file paperwork with and be granted permission by FERC. Go to https://ferconline.ferc.gov/ for more information and to see what your rights and responsibilities are...

-RW-

I would ask for a underground service from the pole to the house ... your current over head feed is an aluminum cable because it is light in weight and can be suspended ... the under ground line is a heavy copper line and much bigger gauge

Unlike ICs and SC that sit between a low impedance source trying to drive the cable to a high impedance Load ... Power Cables that deliver power sit in series between the street transfo and house service entrance ... the most important thing is low series resistance ...

Biggest issue is if the pole is across the street ... it becomes cost prohibitive as you need to contract a construction company to dig a trench across the road and then restore the road once the conduit is installed ... if the pole is on you side of the street ... it’s like running a big dedicated line under ground

Imagine the aluminum cable as the stock power cord that came with a component and the copper under ground run as a upgraded power cord

.

This is really a money issue about a "taking." In other words, the utility company wants a permanent easement in order to install a pole, plus the right to ingress and egress the property for maintenance. This constitutes a transfer of a portion of the "bundle of sticks" that you own outright to the utility company.

I suspect that the state and/or locality you live in has rules whereby a public ultility can "condemn" property for public use. However ... the US Constitution requires that you be paid a fair value for the property so taken. State law may also speak to this.

You may be entitled to more than just a year's supply of copper top batteries. I strongly suggest you consult with a land use attorney in your locality to ensure you are being fairly compensated for this "taking."

Where should I send my bill.

I would tell them that I'd like them to run a new 200A service line, complete with all new panel, breakers and a whole house isolation transformer from Exact Power. It can't hurt to ask.