Anyone have experience getting BGE to move utilities?

Question

I would like to put a garage or parking pad at the rear of a property in Baltimore City however there is a support cable from a utility pole blocking access. Does anyone have experience getting BGE to move something like this? They have an application for "Modification of Service" and I've heard quotes range anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to $60k jobs. However, before I go down this path, I'd like to know if anyone has been successful in the past and what the process was like.

Diana Guillermo · Answer

Awesome! Yeah a garage would definitely raise the value and make the house sell way faster. Good for you!

Carlos Taylor · Answer

@Diana Guillermo Thank you so much. This is exactly what I needed to know. Luckily $18k could still work for me. I’m rehabing a property and determined a garage can add up to $40k to the price of the home. The only sticking point might be the time to get the pole moved.

Diana Guillermo · Answer

Hello @Carlos Taylor!

For BGE, all I did was take lots of photos of the pole's position (get the metal tag number on it too). Then I printed a google satellite map and pointed out the pole on that along with my desired location for it. Once the drawings are submitted to BGE, they send their own engineers (free of charge but you have to wait a few weeks) to determine viability and cost. Then about a month after that they get back to you with an estimate and you decide whether to proceed.

I ended up not doing it. Our estimate was something like $12-16k total - $8 for the pole maybe, and another $4-6 for Verizon to move all their stuff - yup, you have to pay both separately. Anyway I figured I could raise the rent by maybe $100/mo for parking... but how many months would it take to pay back $12k....? Lol.

Best of luck!

D

Carlos Taylor · Answer

@Sam Rispaud @Diana Guillermo I am looking to move a utility pole as well.  I am trying to put in the application for Service Modification.  The application calls for a diagram on the current and desired change.  Would you happen to have a sample of what BGE is looking for with this diagram.  would a diagram from above looking down be acceptable?  Do they need the drawing done by an architect or can I had draw it or use a CAD application to draw it?  Diana, were you successful moving the pole? Approx Cost and how long it took to get it done?  Any help you can provide is appreciated.

Sam Rispaud · Answer

Hi @Diana Guillermo – i was successful but the process took many months and was quite expensive. It was also just a guy wire and in your case it sounds like it's the entire pole which I imagine would cost a lot more. You must be very persistent or you case will fall right through the cracks but step 1 would be to put in an application for a modification services on the BGE website. PM me if you have more questions and I'd be happy to answer

Diana Guillermo · Answer

I'm in a similar situation in Federal Hill, Baltimore, except it's the utility pole itself that's located squarely in the center of our back access. What was the outcome of this, @Sam Rispaud? Did you ever get a quote?  And if you did negotiate the process, any pointers? Thanks!

PS: why do they do this? Why can't they just move power poles a few feet in either direction to line up with property lines? It's not like any of the back yards are wider than 13 feet anyway. Grr.

Sam Rispaud · Answer

@Eric G. You are spot on. The property is in Canton. That would be a huge help. Thank you! I will PM you my contact info.

Eric G. · Answer

Hey Sam,

Looking at the picture, it looks like you probably live in my neighborhood (Canton or Patterson Park). To be honest, a lot of the line work done by BGE  in Canton is some of the worst I've ever seen. The first property I was going to purchase needed lines to be relocated in order for me to install a rooftop deck. BGE responded (eventually) and wanted a professional "site plan" to be submitted before they could make a decision and even then I didn't know the cost associated.

I have a friend who is a former BGE lineman and can probably answer your question. I will give him a call and shoot you a PM.

-Eric

Sam Rispaud · Answer

@Joseph Abad Thanks for your input. For context, the picture is taken from an alley way that extends behind all the row homes on this block. Most of the other homes have parking pads and garages that have been put in already behind the houses with entry from the alley so the issue is not with the zoning but being able to do it because of the blocking power line

Joseph Abad · Answer

@Sam Rispaud You also might want to check with zoning first if they will allow this. Sometimes they are stringent on where a driveway can go.