•  
  •  
 

Authors

Matthew Neuman

Abstract

Most people likely do not give a second thought to the manner in which utilities reach their homes. Water, gas, electricity, cable, and internet service must all make their way from source to faucet, stove, light fixture, television, and entertainment device. A complex infrastructure system exists both below ground in pipes and conduits and above ground on utility poles. In cities, utility poles within generic utility easements are often adorned with a multitude of wires – of varying dimensions, levels, types, and ownership – constantly delivering electricity and information. At the core of this delivery system is the inconvenient fact that, in the journey from point A to point B, the pipe or wire must cross a vast parcel network of differentiated ownership often composed of owners who either do not want the intrusion or want to be fairly compensated for sharing their property with the intrusion. And in the famous “bundle of rights” that is property, “the right to exclude” gives the owner the prerogative to protest any invasion.

Included in

Law Commons

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.