A. For the purpose of constructing, operating, maintaining and protecting an electric utility, a municipality has jurisdiction over:
(1) territory, occupied by an electric utility;
(2) all poles, lines, mains, pipes and other facilities of the electric utility; and
(3) that portion of any land upon which is located the electric utility and its facilities, or over which they extend, to the extent reasonably necessary to properly operate, maintain, and protect the facilities.
B. Any municipality is granted:
(1) easements not to exceed twenty feet in width along, upon, and across any land over which an existing distribution line, main, and pipe extends, and parallel to such lines, mains, and pipes, and on any street, road and highway abutting such land;
(2) authority to cut down and trim trees and shrubbery, to the extent necessary to keep them clear of the lines, means, pipes or systems; and
(3) authority to cut down and trim trees which are dead, weak, leaning or dangerous, and tall enough to strike the wire in falling.
History: 1953 Comp., § 14-23-4, enacted by Laws 1965, ch. 300.