Right on: What is Right-of-way?

What is right-of-way and why is it necessary?

• A right-of-way, when it comes to utilities, is an agreement that allows a utility to use or access a piece of property according to the terms of the easement.
• Easements are areas designated for overhead and underground utility access, and are usually defined when a lot or neighborhood is first platted. Easements are implemented because it is more efficient and less expensive to run utility lines straight through neighborhoods than it is to run them around parcels of land.
• Having right-of-way means that utilities can access the area to fix a utility-related problem or to perform maintenance.
• Easements outline general property rights by others while right-of-way (as its name implies) is a specific property right.
• Workers who service utility lines should arrive in a marked vehicle and have proper identification. If you have any concerns, please call us at 828-649-2051. For more about electrical safety, visit safeelectricity.org.