By DON DARE
6 On Your Side Reporter
LOUISVILLE (WATE) - There's been a huge leap in energy technology over the past 10-15 years and utility companies have been trying to keep up. As a result, power companies across East Tennessee have constructed new and higher poles.
A Louisville landowner tells 6 On Your Side he was surprised to see big trees cut down by his local energy co-op to make way for a new power pole.
Utility company policies and bylaws give them the right to upgrade equipment on private property. Utilities have an easement, or right of way, around their power poles. If they're going to change a pole or do work around it, the land owner is usually informed.
Apparently, there was some miscommunication when FLEC, Fort Loudoun Electric Cooperative, did some work in Louisville.
Landowner Ken Mack said three big, majestic oak trees were cut down on his property in December by FLEC without his prior knowledge.
"These were the hugest trees on the property, probably 90 to 100 feet tall," he said.
Mack said he had given FLEC permission to cut a single branch from one of the oak trees and to clear underbrush that had surrounded what's called an anchor pole.
"All they told me is they were going to cut ten feet around that pole they were going to put in. That was it," said Mack. "And I asked them to cut the branch off."
Mack said he wasn't home when the trees were chopped down and when the co-op installed a huge new utility pole.
"I was in Knoxville, when I came back home this big post was here and all these trees were cut down," said Mack.
The new fiberglass pole sits on Mack's private road, but the utility company has an easement around it. Mack said he had no idea the pole was going to be 65 to 70 feet tall and received no paperwork from FLEC about it.
Ft. Loudoun Electric said the pole is vital to their co-op and it serves as a relay site for a new system that monitors voltage spikes and can pinpoint power outages. While the general manager of FLEC declined to speak on camera, 6 On Your Side did talk with him extensively.
General Manager Jarrod Brackett said Mack was informed that his trees would be cut down and was told about the proposal of the new pole, although he was not explained exactly how high it would be.
FLEC said it has talked with its supervisors and has investigated this controversy extensively and concluded it has done its due diligence and has not violated any rules or policies. But that doesn't mean much to neighbors.
"I don't like it, I hate it, I wish they'd move it," said homeowner Reccie Simpson.
Half a dozen people who live on Country Acres, the property that Mack owns, said right after the pole went up, even with their phones fully charged, they started acting funny.
"My cell phone, I can't get connection. I can't call out, the people can't call me," said Simpson.
"It turns off," said Country Acres resident Cynthia Kelley. "As I'm talking to somebody it turns off. It started doing this ever since this pole came in."
FLEC said the relay system installed on the pole is on a different frequency and could not be interfering with people's phone service. Despite the co-op's position, Mack is not pleased.
"I just want the pole removed and put the other pole back the way it was," he said.
However, Ft. Loudoun Electric said the new pole is staying. Brackett said they do not have to write down their contracts and added that Mack had given his verbal "OK" on the work. He also said that had Mack requested a description of plans in writing, he would have received it.
If a utility company informs you that they plan on doing some work at your home or on the easement near your home, call and ask specifically what the plans are. If you insist, they'll either put it in writing or will give you a point person you can call.
If you have a consumer issue, call the 6 On Your Side Hotline at 865-633-5974 or email ddare@wate.com.
