New Pool Clearances

[Schwimmbad]

I worked for the big electric utility in Chicago area for over 30 years. First off the utilities follow the NESC, not NEC. Typically the state public utility commission has a regulation requiring the utility to follow the NESC.

Since you seem to be heading down this rabbit hole (appropriately I might add) A couple resources.

The National Electrical Safety Code® (NESC®)

The National Electrical Safety Code® (NESC®) sets guidelines for practical safeguarding of all things related to electricity.

standards.ieee.org

National Electrical Safety Code - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

As others have said, chances are if the lines serve more than just your home there is an easement (the easement may or may not be recorded). You will have to go to your county recorder’s office with your property PIN number (likely on your tax bill) to have it researched. Call your county recorder for guidance if needed.

Note there is a chance that a service location agreement could grant the utility rights to have lines on your property. Finally, the last two possibilities I can think of is there was a handshake agreement or it was placed out of easement. They will be obligated to move it at their cost for either of those situations. If they are unresponsive you can always file a complaint with your PUC. It may take a long time but as they say it is what it is.

https://www.scc.virginia.gov/pages/Public-Utility

Good luck!

 

[Newdude]

I am assuming the street has a backyard run at the rear property line and the offending wires are just the house service.

If one is buried out back, chances are they all are. (At least TV and Telco). Did you only call the electric company for marking, or did everyone come ? (Gas, water, CATV, Telcom, sewer)

 

[jkhamr]

The "private" electrical supply to your house will not be in an easement. "Public" utilities, which your private utility comes from, will be in an easement. Most municipalities today have a GIS map available on the city/county website where you can find easments. If the easements are not on the GIS map, search for a city planning/engineering department website where you can find an original plat map from when the land was subdivided into lots. The orignal and/or amended plat map shows where all easements are located on your lot. For my pool build, we have a 5' utility easement along our rear property line and a 5' utility easement along one of our side property lines. Typically you cannot build over that easement and any landscaping that is damaged during public utility construction in the easement is the responsibility of the property owner to replace/repair after construction. Our electric service cut diagonally across our back yard, right where the pool was laid out. It took the power company 6 months before they showed up to move the service line. If you need to move your electrical service line, ask the power company if they will consider "aid to construction". Many utility companies offer aid to construction if you are increasing your service load. With our pool equipment and a new main panel in our house with increased power, the electic company knew our service load was increasing meaning they'd get more money from us, so they covered the cost of moving and upgrading the size of the service line, "aid to construction".

 

[BDY]

I am assuming the street has a backyard run at the rear property line and the offending wires are just the house service.

If one is buried out back, chances are they all are. (At least TV and Telco). Did you only call the electric company for marking, or did everyone come ? (Gas, water, CATV, Telcom, sewer)

In an earlier he post he said it was the neighborhood line

 

[Newdude]

Snoopy, how about some pics ? Get the yard and both directions the line goes.