An easement from the effected property owner of record is required for any OPALCO facilities that are installed on private property.
Completing an easement requires the following process, which takes a minimum of two weeks.
- The member approaches the neighboring property owner(s) about obtaining easement(s) on the neighbor’s property prior to OPALCO involvement.
- The member provides OPALCO with the following required information:
- Plot plan, full legal description(s), tax parcel number(s) and the names as they appear on the ownership documents for all involved properties
- Copies of any existing recorded easements, plats or surveys
- Evidence in the field of pertinent lot corners, monuments, lot lines, and easement and rights of way margins and alignments
- OPALCO draws up the easement and forwards it to the member for signatures.
- The member completes and notarizes all required signatures and returns one original copy to OPALCO prior to the start of construction.
In most cases, the requirement is a ten-foot easement centered on OPALCO’s buried distribution cable and support facilities, as installed, for the installation and continued operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of OPALCO facilities.
New and existing members should understand that electricity is available to their property because other members have freely given easements across their own property. By becoming a member you have agreed to sign necessary easements.
A valid permit is required by the Town of Friday Harbor and San Juan County for all new electrical facility installations within their rights-of-way. It is the member’s responsibility to obtain the necessary permits and engineered drawings, if required, for installation of OPALCO facilities in the town and county rights-of-way. All necessary permits and drawings are to be properly approved prior to construction.
Questions? Contact us.