power cables running over my house

GDB2222

HouseBuyer77 wrote: »

Even if that possibility did exist I would expect moving a 132kv transmission line is tens, if not hundreds, of thousands.

Hundreds of thousands is correct.


According to the May 2011 paper "Underground Electric Transmission Lines" published by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, "The estimated cost for constructing underground transmission lines ranges from 4 to 14 times more expensive than overhead lines of the same voltage and same distance. A typical new 69 kV overhead single-circuit transmission line costs approximately $285,000 per mile as opposed to $1.5 million per mile for a new 69 kV underground line (without the terminals). A new 138 kV overhead line costs approximately $390,000 per mile as opposed to $2 million per mile for underground (without the terminals)."

From http://www.elp.com/articles/powergrid_international/print/volume-18/issue-2/features/underground-vs-overhead-power-line-installation-cost-comparison-.html

Lord_Baltimore

It would have been so much easier for us if the current owner had posted here to explain that he/she was trying to sell a house that has overhead power cables and a covenant list as long as your arm.

Our advice would be: you need to find a mug.

Don't be that person.

LateStarter

martinthebandit wrote: »

Wouldn't touch it with a barge pole

You shouldn't. With any type of pole. :cool:

Dan-Dan

LateStarter wrote: »

You shouldn't. With any type of pole. :cool:

other than a wet metal one, which are fine.

vuvuzela

Dan-Dan wrote: »

other than a wet metal one, which are fine.

Wet metal ? Do you mean mercury ?

lemontart

Davesnave wrote: »

Let us be perfectly clear here; there is no possibility of the lines being moved.

Lines have been moved but only when big infrastructure projects are carried out (I used to work for National Grid)

Dan-Dan

lemontart wrote: »

Lines have been moved but only when big infrastructure projects are carried out (I used to work for National Grid)

So not for householders who just dont like them then?

AnotherJoe

lemontart wrote: »

personally would not touch it with a barge pole .

Well, definitely not a carbon fibre one anyway :eek:

jamesd

randomi15 wrote: »

can I ask for the covenant to be broken and cancelled ?

Yes. You should start to think in terms of millions of Pounds to be paid by you for the necessary work. The costs are usually so high that they are impractical except when there is already planned movement of lines but it's conceivable that you're wealthy enough to afford the costs.

Say you think underground looks good. That then requires somewhere land being acquired for the access area to get the lines underground and back over plus similar legal protection for the underground routing of the lines. And of course planning permission and related costs.

Even something like trying to preserve clearances by getting a tower or two raised involves planning consents as well as the cost of the new towers.

Almost nothing is impossible but expect great difficulty with any move option.

randomi15 wrote: »

if I want to extend and they do not permit, do I have any options?

Reasonable is a word open to interpretation and courts can interpret.

randomi15 wrote: »

The cables are quite high and I am thinking of doing an extension but obviously it is not as easy as it sounds.

If the extension doesn't go within the protected area it should be fine. If it does, what they are trying to protect against is risks to you and your property and the electricity transmission system due to such things as power lines getting longer and dipping at high temperatures, including due to high power transmission load, bad weather, ice build up on lines that can cause them to sag and tree encroachment that causes power outages if trees touch lines.

randomi15 wrote: »

who should I contact to ask for clarification ?

The party which owns the rights, probably your regional power distribution service provider.

randomi15 wrote: »

if I breach the contract what can happen ?

You and your family being killed by a fire or if you are lucky being ordered to tear down building work carried out after the inevitable refusal of planning permission if the transmission provider objects.

randomi15 wrote: »

and other advices?

Easements aren't bought for fun, they are bought to provide necessary protection for transmission lines and routes. Consult with the transmission line owner at all stages to ensure that they know you're going to proactively work with them, because that helps to reduce the risk compared to someone who doesn't.

Pete9501

HouseBuyer77 wrote: »

Even if that possibility did exist I would expect moving a 132kv transmission line is tens, if not hundreds, of thousands.

You are missing a couple of zeros. I pay £1000 a metre for digging a shallow trench for cables in soft earth and £3000 if the trench is through a hard surface like concrete. This is for data cables, HV will require even more cost.