37-13-131. Conversion costs and service connections.
(a) The public utility performing the conversion shall, at the expense of the property owner, convert to underground all electric and communication service facilities located upon any lot or parcel of land within the improvement district and not within the easement for distribution, sometimes referred to as "service drops" or "drop wires." This shall include the digging and backfilling of a trench upon the lot or parcel unless the owner executes and files a written objection with the clerk of the governing body not later than the date set for hearing objections to the improvement district assessment as provided by law. Failure to file the written objection shall be taken as a consent and grant of easement to the utility and shall be construed as express authority to the public utility and their respective officers, agents and employees to enter upon the lot or parcel for such purpose, and through failure to object, any right of protest or objection in respect of the doing of such work shall be waived. If an owner does file the written objection, he shall be responsible for providing a trench in accordance with applicable rules, regulations or tariffs from the owner's service entrance to a point designated by the public utility and for backfilling the trench following installation of the underground service by the public utility involved.
(b) If conversion costs for the service facilities located upon any lot or parcel of land and not within the easement for distribution are included in tariffs, rules or regulations filed with or promulgated by the public service commission, the conversion costs shall be the costs included in the costs and feasibility report, and the property owner shall be obligated for that amount.
(c) In any event the cost of any work done by the public utility shall be included in the assessment to be levied upon the lot or parcel. If a written objection is filed as above provided, the owner involved is obligated for and the public utility involved is entitled to payment for the actual cost for the work accomplished upon the owner's property by the public utility.
(d) The owner shall, at his expense, make all necessary changes in the service entrance equipment to accept underground service.