§ 48:2159 — Public utilities

A.(1) The commission shall have the power to make reasonable regulations, not inconsistent with rules and regulations promulgated by the federal government and the department for the installation, construction, maintenance, repair, renewal, relocation, or removal of any public utility, railroad, or pipeline, in, on, along, over, or under a project.
(2) Whenever the commission shall determine that it is necessary to relocate, remove, or carry along or across a commission project by grade separation, any public utility facilities presently located in, on, along, over, or under a commission project, the owner or operator of such facilities shall relocate or remove the same in accordance with the order of the commission; however, the cost and expense of such relocation, removal, or grade separation, including the cost of installing such facilities in a new location or locations, including the cost of any land, or any rights or interest in lands, and any other rights acquired to accomplish such relocation or removal, shall be paid as project costs by the commission.
(3) In case of relocation or removal, the owners or operators of public utility facilities, their successors or assigns, may use and operate said public utility facilities in the new location or locations upon the same terms and conditions enjoyed prior to relocation or removal.
B. Any utility which requests and is permitted to occupy a commission right-of-way shall be responsible for any cost of relocation, removal, or grade separation and all expenses related thereto.

Legislative History

Acts 2009, No. 518, §1, eff. July 10, 2009.