I’m impressed. Ben said eyebrows raised. “Where’s the electricity coming from?”
It’s underground from here to the trees over there. She pointed at the end wall of the kitchen to emphasize the direction. There was a power line that had been run along the creek when the house was built. Then the new high-tension towers were built to the north and a sub-station installed. This was the only place that was lived in on the creek and the power company allowed the family to keep the power line if they paid for the labor to tie in at the new junction.
They did agree and the old power lines were taken down and rerouted to the new junction. There was just enough of the old line to make it so nobody had to pay for more cable. The line to the house is buried out here in the open space to keep from making the scenery look intruded upon. The poles and cables are visible if you go into the trees.”
Ben thought a moment. “Do the power lines run across your neighbors property by chance?” he asked as he stepped back outside on the front porch. She followed.
Jean sighed. “Yes. They think they can just take the line out because it’s on their property. One of the towers is on their property too and have been trying force the power company to either move the stuff or pay for the use of their land.” She said. Her lips were pursed in a straight line when she paused and looked up at the house on the hill.
I thought the power company owns an easement around the power lines? Ben said.
They do but these people are trying everything to get rid of the towers and my electric line. They’ve even tried to sue me for property rental of the land where the poles are sunk in the ground. The power company told me they can’t sue me because it’s their easement. She said angrily.
Ben realized then why she wouldn’t live here. She was being treated as lower class just because.
Have they tried to remove the line anyway? he asked.
Yes. Two years ago when they built the house, they started removing the poles and the power line. The cottage didn’t have any power for months until the power company repaired the damage. It made coming here miserable that Summer. When I first noticed there wasn’t any power, I called the power company about it. I didn’t know the neighbors had started removing the line on their side.
When the power company finally came out to check, they were shocked anyone would try to do that. No pun intended. She said. Ben just smiled at the relation. “Anyway, they got my power back and didn’t charge me for it. They sued the neighbors for tampering and dismantlement of power company property. Since then, they’ve been real nasty with letters to the DA’s office, the Power Commission as well as the Chamber of Commerce, the Governor and the County Commissioner not to mention the few I received. They’ve got some nerve thinking they can just do whatever they want!” She said.
Suddenly she looked sad and turned to go back into the house. Just then a flash grabbed his attention. He looked up toward the house on the hill and caught another one. Ben stared up at the house and could just make out a figure standing there with binoculars looking down at him. He made two decisions at that moment. He executed the first by lifting his left hand and raising his middle finger at the figure. Then he turned and walked inside the cottage smiling that whoever was watching got the message clearly.
————–
Leave a Reply