i really dont think there much i can do but it pisses me off!

[Barrelracer]

i really dont know what to do i dont think there really much i can do about this but here the story tell me what i shoud do or what i can do. we have power lines running thew our land and the power line company has the right to go thew and clean the power lines but there are not aloud in our horses fields. well they got in our horse fields and bush hoged little tree down and they left the stumps ankle high with sharp edges and the limbs every were well times me and my dad had got home my Barrel horse had got hurt. of course we was pissed cause way everything is now barly pay the vet bill so we called the vet and told him what had happen he wanted us to bring her to his place in case he had take xrays but he didnt have totake any but hegave us a bunch of stuff to wrap her leg up with and i had a rodeo that weekend i was all ready called in for and if i dont show up i still gotta pay the fee. and the vet said she be out for awhile. i pretty sure there not really anything i can do.

sorry my spelling sucks

[cinch]

Damn this was a hard one to read.

#1 I've never heard of a rodeo not allowing for vet releases. Have your vet write a statement and call and find out where to mail it. They may charge the office charge but not the entire entry fee.

Power companies are over paid idiots, lazy idiots at that. Just out of spite I would take my vet bill into the local office and let them know what happened. I would tell them they next time they need to enter a fenced area to notify you. Keep all gates locked.

[Barrelracer]

yeh sorry about that still tryin to learn work this site.
i got a vet note so i didnt have to end up paying but the person over the rodeo had a fit he was going to still make me pay. it probly didnt help that i pissed him off before that the way he was doing my brother. i took the bills to there office but they said nothing they can do about it .

[mart]

Just for your information, the power companies only have an easment on your property !! Their rights only extend to that easment, nothing else !! If they were on land that wasn`t included they should pay for damages !! The power companies have no more rights than anyone else if they are on someone elses property !! Or at least thats the way it is in Texas !!

[moodygirl]

I had a very similar problem with American Electric Power in WV. The thing is the power company here subcontractors who come out and cut the trees. Always in the past I had requested the tree cutters to mulch the trees instead of cutting and leaving them lay. Every time they ignored me and let trees lay, a very ugly mess in direct view of my front yard.

This year when the tree company came and asked me to sign the permission paper, I refused. They came back 3 times and I refused. Then they said AEP will have to talk to you I said, "fine." The AEP man called me called me and I told him that I refused to sign because they always lied to me, saying they would mulch and they did not. I know they can do that. I also said there were too many berries in that area and I did not want it all tore up because of the destruction of wildlife food. ( I figured a shot with ecology couldn't hurt.)

He was very agreeable and said the real problem was the vines that can grow up the poles and cause power outages. He said they can spray an nontoxic vine killer at their base in the fall after the berries are gone. My dogs hunt in that area so I asked if it was toxic and he said no. They never did come and do that. I contacted the power man in the winter and asked about it and he said he just forgot. He did not seem to be worried about it.

If I were you I would find out if those tree cutters needed to get written permission & did any body sign it? Do you know anybody who works at the power company or the tree cutters? Maybe they can find out what proper procedure is and how it was violated.


If you can't then at least presume there are other options than cutting and let lay. This is dangerous to livestock & you have the proof. When they cut trees along the highway for the power lines they mulch it. They gave you no notice so you could try to protect your livestock.

I would write a letter stating your complaint laying it all out. I would again request reimbursement and include copy of the vet papers. Because they have shown no concern with the welfare of your livestock and the wildlife in the area, they no longer have permission to come on your property to cut or maintain that line without your written permission. This is to insure the power company does nothing to endanger your livestock in the future and that you will be happy to work with the power company to reach an agreement that meets their needs as well as your rights as the property owner to protect your livestock and wildlife that live on your property.

I would then send this letter to at least 3 people at the power company. First whoever is in charge of seeing that these power lines are maintained, then someone higher like his boss or the next one higher up and finally the general manager. I really think you will get some action. If you don't, write letters to people even higher up.

If you get phone calls from anybody about this, be sure and write down who it was and what was said, date & time. Document. Make copies of all the letters of course.

Good luck my friend. I really don't think what they did was right and they probably did not follow their own proper procedure.

[Barrelracer]

yes my dad knows someone that works for the power company here the tree cutters dont have to have written permission so they can do what they want. and if we give them alot of promblen they said they woluld take a plane and spray the lines and the last time they did that they killed our bulls. we been callen the main office but no luck yet.

[moodygirl]

Originally Posted by Barrelracer

yes my dad knows someone that works for the power company here the tree cutters dont have to have written permission so they can do what they want. and if we give them alot of promblen they said they woluld take a plane and spray the lines and the last time they did that they killed our bulls. we been callen the main office but no luck yet.

Boy that sure sounds like intimidation & a threat. I realize it was a friend that was warning you about how they operate. I would only call to get the names of the people you need to write. A letter is not as easy to dismiss as a phone call. It also documents that you contacted them. They could always deny a call was ever made. However you could call and explain what happened and ask what other options they have since this one harmed your livestock and when they sprayed in the past it killed your bull. Be nice and see what they say and document this.

I would also call the state attorney general's office, because they investigate bad business practices. See what they advise. And FOR SURE contact the EPA! Put their sorry butts to work on something important. I think they will be very interested that the power company is spraying a defoliant that kills livestock and wildlife. Every business is afraid of the EPA. If you can get them on your side, that should give you power & some protection from spraying.

Good luck again and start working on that rough draft of your letter. This will also help you organize your thoughts for when you make your phone calls.
I'm sending you a private message.

[Barrelracer]

ok thanks well my dad had some of the main people come out and showed them everything the next day after they hurt my horse but they said there men didnt do that. they got a ear full from my dad. im thinking about haven my dad put chains around the gates so they cant come thew at all but then they will probbly cut the fance like allway and my horses get out

[cinch]

Okay here's the deal. everyone has a boss. Electric companies are governed by a state agency and on up to federal. Public Service Commission?
Tell us what state you are in and I bet someone on here alot smarter than I am can look it up for you.
If they killed a animal why weren't they sued then? They can not destruct property. My gates would be locked and posted.

Even with a easement they are to notify property owners ahead of time. We are currently having massive highway work done not far from me. Water company, telephone and electric and gas are having to re-route all their lines. All property owners were notified weeks in advance so that they could move livestock. Reps from each company met with owners and helped them with moving their fences.

Someone on here will know how to look up the address and phone number for the agency in your state.

[Barrelracer]

Tennesse well it was my uncle bull my dad told him to su but my uncle not bright as we can see