I have a power line ROW running across my property. I recently shredded it and cut (chainsaw) several oak and sweet gum trees that were too large to shred . I would like to do a better job of maintaining it in the future so that I can use it as a shooting lane, food plot, atv trail, firebreak etc. problem is..... There are 3 or 4 small ditches across it that make it difficult to cross with a tractor. A tiny bit of dozier work and some rock would remedy the problem. In your opinion or past experience, do you think that the electric company would help me with that project in the form of cost share, providing rock or something?

Never hurts to ask.

Probably not

Really depends on the electric company service provider. When I had my line put in for my house, I had to clear the right of way and then keep it clean in the future. Years ago they kept them cleared but today many do have the budget to keep all of the lines cleared like they are need to. A lot will depend on what the line services also.

I think you would have much better luck with an oil and gas easement than overhead electric. They can check those by air and don't need to always have vehicle access. Here, electrical ROWs seem to get done at the last minute, where as Oil and gas ROWs get mowed regularly.

I'm with the "doesn't hurt to check" response. Here if you have a bulldozer already on the property doing work, GVEC will usually assume the cost of clearing a ROW. I'm not sure of creek work. It probably would depend on their truck access on either side of the crossing.

Let us know what you find out.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, but you have to be careful of Pandora's Box if you open it. While I can't speak on power lines and what you can get them to do, I have some experience with gas lines. They hire out contractors to keep them cleaned and it seems that it's a different one that comes out every time. My land boarders the easement of the gas line and they try to cross my land to get to the gas line, but I refuse to give them access. That requires them to get to the area they want to mow the long way. They could put a culvert in and save a bunch of time, but nobody will pay for it and the guy who won the contract has to deal with whatever terrain is there. The gas company just pays the money to the highest bidder and it's up to them to figure out how to get it done and make a profit.

The reason I caution about Pandora's Box is that my neighbor has been very aggressive at complaining to the gas company about keeping the right of way cleared and maintained. They used to do it every couple of years, but he wasn't happy and wanted it done more often and to the full 50 foot width. Eventually they complied and sent in a crew that just butchered the land. The mess was overwhelming and he was beyond upset at the results. Then they have come in and started marking the line so it's become difficult to drive it, and they are telling him that he is not allowed to drive over the gas line. It's turned into a battle of wills over what he can do on his land, and what they say he cannot do on their easement.

We've got an electric row on our lease and in five years they have never been out there. We keep it mowed and the creek that crosses we maintain it.
Now the gas line row on the same lease gets mowed regularly once a year by the gas company contractors, and they do a good job and even mow around our blind.

It might not hurt to mention that they will not be able to get equiptment in unless you do the work. I would think, a dump truck load of rock might be the most you get, but you will not get it unless you ask.

What does you Right-of-Way Agreement say?

They tend to mow them every cpl years to avoid having to break out the saws.....they have to cross the ditches/drains somehow and usually will grade the with the bucket and go on across.

A lot has to do if the line is a transmission line or a distribution line.The transmission lines are keep up very well and distributon are usally on a cycle trim-cut out.
dlineman

Stop being all logical...

They drive ours with a big spray truck and spray most of whats in the easement. I don't know what type of spray they use but I wish I could have a few gallons of it, the stuff is liquid death.

Mine is a transmission line and I am at the end of it. They still came out and trimmed everything last year but that was the first time in 7 yrs.

Same thing with ours. They haven't cut in a few years, but spray every year.

This
On the one that came across us we were specific in the agreement that we could still plant cotton or wheat under them. They basically leave it all to us on the up keep, they just want keys to the gates for emergencies, and we can't build structures under them.

Ours agreements state they will mow in Sept, yearly. Saves a lot of trouble of trailering a tractor to mow, then trailering the tractors back with disc & distributors.