6/25/26 Meeting - was packed full of information. Darryl Lawrence, PA Consumer Advocate presented. His power point is on the left. Here is a summary: 

1st step - prospecting land for transmission lines

• PPL is essentially "prospecting" before it applies to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC); it will try to get voluntary right-of-way agreements. They may even attempt to buy your whole land (house and all). PPL cannot condemn a building or a house, but they can try to buy it. They may try this before even applying to the PUC. No utility can take your house or the "reasonable curtilage (100 meters)," which is the space around your dwelling unit. 

• Landowners may choose to talk to Land Agents. 

• Landowners may contact the OCA regarding concerns/their rights about Land Agents 

• If negotiating, it is recommended to have a lawyer or real estate agent help you. Take your time, and consider all the aspects of it.

• Do your research - consider: adding future acceptable uses, vegetation management/herbicides, subleasing, and other language in the right-of-way contract

• Share knowledge to help our neighbors NOT be taken advantage of

• PPL is required by law to give you a 10-day notice to enter your property.

• This is the time to raise concerns: The cost & need for the project, safety & health concerns, effects on the environment & the community, and effects on your individual property. Consider other alternatives.

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2nd Step - application to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)

• Application must happen first. Then there are proceedings with the PUC that can take months or years before approval is granted.
  An application submitted to the PUC is NOT the same as PUC approval.

• Negotiatation per OCA: PPL will continue to negotiate up until there is a final Commission order. That said, how PPL proceeds to deal with landowners or not is all up to them. I can only share what I have seen in the past, but PPL can change direction at any time.)

• Once PPL has submitted its application to the PUC, PPL will then give the landowners a copy of the file. Landowners will also be notified of PUC’s review of the application submitted by PPL

• OCA can now get involved in specific transmission line applications

• There will be public input hearings before judges, where landowners are encouraged to make their case and state their concerns.

• This is the time to really protest.
   

3rd Step - The application is approved by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)

• Before a public utility can build a line, it must have approval of an application from the PUC.

• Can try to negotiate, but it may be useless

• Now, eminent domain can go into effect. No more negotiations

• If the PUC approves the PPL application and anyone disagrees, you can then appeal to the Commonwealth Court of PA. The Commonwealth Court MUST take up the appeal. If you are not satisfied with that decision, you can file to the State Supreme Court. The Supreme Court does not have to take up your case.