Power line at the backyard! (Houston, River Oaks: power lines, houses, neighborhoods)

[Rehabdoc]

We recently purchased a house in Southwest of Houston and when we visited the new construction home (we live out of state) in the master planned community, we discovered that there is a power line running through the backyard.
Is it typical to have a power line in houses in Houston / Texas?
How do we get the power company to move them behind the fence?
What are the issues we could face having a power line run through the backyard?

[elnina]

Not sure - is this a power line from your house to a post? A temporary/construction one?
Picture would help...

[Seguinite]

Originally Posted by Rehabdoc

We recently purchased a house in Southwest of Houston and when we visited the new construction home (we live out of state) in the master planned community, we discovered that there is a power line running through the backyard.
Is it typical to have a power line in houses in Houston / Texas?
How do we get the power company to move them behind the fence?
What are the issues we could face having a power line run through the backyard?

Don't think they'll move it just because you don't like it. May be a distribution line to somewhere that has nothing to do with the new development. I'd certainly expect new construction service to your house to be underground.

[gwarnecke]

Did you receive a survey prior to purchase that showed any utility easements?

If you received a survey that showed no easements, you may be in a position to seek a remedy from the builder or whoever prepared the survey.

For what it's worth, you're in good company with powerlines in the backyard. Some of the most expensive parts of Houston were developed before underground utilities were commonplace, and you'll find multimillion dollar homes with overhead powerlines along the fenceline (hopefully somewhat hidden by mature trees).

[kreeyax]

It's pretty common to have power lines buried in your yard, but if it's just laying on the ground the utility company probably needs to come out and bury it at some point. Many homes in our neighborhood also have transformers or pedestals in their back yards. These are necessary to distribute power to multiple homes, and need to be accessible for when they eventually die and need to be replaced. It seems like once our street hit about 10 years old the transformers started going out.

[ilikeme]

It is typical to have power lines anywhere that has electrical service! lol. They are in easments and will not move them just because you do not like them there. If you pay Center point enough $$$$ though, they might bury them. Some homes in neighborhoods like River Oaks have done that.

[Rehabdoc]

The power lines have a pole right at the middle of our backyard. The estate is new, and I was surprised the power lines actually run through the backyard with the overhead lines and not "buried."

[elnina]

I don't think a power line pole middle of your backyard is right.
Who is your energy provider? Call and ask. Or call 311.
https://www.houstontx.gov/311/.

Power lines are not buried in Houston, except downtown and some very rich neighborhoods. Not sure about new developments.
But there is a reason:
The main reason that utility companies will not bury power lines underground is cost. Buried lines can be prone to flooding and fixing those lines can be harder than their above-ground counterparts.

Also read this;
https://www.city-data.com/forum/hous...back-yard.html

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/...thin-easement/

[escanlan]

Originally Posted by Rehabdoc

We recently purchased a house in Southwest of Houston and when we visited the new construction home (we live out of state) in the master planned community, we discovered that there is a power line running through the backyard.
Is it typical to have a power line in houses in Houston / Texas?
How do we get the power company to move them behind the fence?
What are the issues we could face having a power line run through the backyard?

Originally Posted by Rehabdoc

The power lines have a pole right at the middle of our backyard. The estate is new, and I was surprised the power lines actually run through the backyard with the overhead lines and not "buried."

It's not impossible but it's not normal. What is more concerning is how the Developer/Builder was able to obtain approval to build in this manner. If it is a very large lot that may have been taken into consideration. However if it is a typical smaller lot you may have larger issues. The power line was obviously there before the home and has a right of way associated with it. What that means is you will not be able to do anything with the yard within "X" feet of the pole. As for moving it unless there was already a plan to do so then most likely it just won't happen.


There are two things I would recommend you do. The first is to obtain a copy of the survey to determine what the right of way distance is. The second is to speak with the local municipality responsible for issuing building permits to determine why they allowed this to occur. From there you can move on to any next steps available to you.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by Rehabdoc

The power lines have a pole right at the middle of our backyard. The estate is new, and I was surprised the power lines actually run through the backyard with the overhead lines and not "buried."

Is it possible that this is a temporary pole? Does it have a meter on it?

Many new developments have buried power lines, but if the development is in the City of Houston, it may have overhead lines.

Can you provide the name of the development? Or nearby cross streets?