Transmission Line Easement Modifications
Prioritizing safety and reliability of our transmission lines
Evergy review and approval is required for all proposed changes within Evergy easement. See details below.
Submitting Development Plans for Review and Approval
To ensure safety and reliability, all proposed modifications within an Evergy transmission line easement require Evergy review and approval. When planning work within Evergy easements, please request input from us early in the design stage to avoid revisions.
View a detailed list of Evergy's general requirements and submit development plans and questions to encroachments@evergy.com.
Below are examples of common restrictions within Evergy transmission line easements. The examples are for new modifications within the easement and may not apply to features already existing within the easement. The examples are intended to provide guidance for planning modifications within Evergy transmission easements and do not constitute approval from Evergy. Evergy review and approval is required for all modifications to ensure the transmission lines will continue to operate safely.
Access and Future Installations
Evergy crews will need to access transmission structures at a moment's notice for repairs, maintenance or to restore power during an outage. Space must be available for equipment setup and for the installation of new poles at different locations.
Please do not make assumptions regarding Evergy's ability to access and install structures within the easement. Instead, contact Evergy to review proposed changes.
Overhead Transmission Line Clearance Safety
To ensure safe construction, adequate clearances must be maintained between Evergy’s transmission line facilities and all construction equipment and personnel. The sections below offer guidance for commonly proposed activities within Evergy easements. Contact Evergy to confirm what clearance requirements are applicable on your property.
Evergy review and approval is required for all proposed above ground objects, including vegetation. Above grade modifications must be limited to ten feet maximum height above ground and ten feet horizontally away from wires.
Examples of prohibited above ground objects regardless of height:
- Buildings
- Enclosures (including sheds)
- Fuel storage
- Flammable substance storage
- Explosives storage
- Diving boards
- Trampolines
- Swimming pools and pool decks
Evergy review and approval is required for all proposed ground modifications. Ground modifications must be at least 25 feet away from existing poles and anchors.
Examples of prohibited ground modifications:
- Significant grading changes (greater than +/- 1 feet)
- Detention ponds or sediment basins
- Retaining walls crossing the easement
- Earthwork that removes vehicle access to existing poles or anchors (Generally, Evergy needs at least a 24 feet wide access path with ten percent slopes or less to drive the needed equipment to replace structures.)
- Earthwork that creates slopes steeper than four horizontal feet for every one vertical foot (4h:1v)
Evergy review and approval is required for all construction activities within an Evergy transmission easement.
Examples of prohibited construction activities within an Evergy transmission easement:
- Operating equipment at heights greater than 14 feet
- Leaving spoils of any kind within the easement
- Storage of explosive or flammable materials (including fuels)
- Blasting
Why does Evergy need to review and approve modifications within its easement?
In order to provide safe and reliable power to Evergy customers, Evergy must approve planned changes within its easements to ensure required safety clearances are maintained. Evergy also needs to confirm its existing transmission structures are undisturbed and accessible for quick maintenance.
Why doesn’t Evergy allow ponds within its easements?
Evergy does not allow ponds of any kind within the easement because they block access to Evergy structures for maintenance and potential future placement of structures.
Why doesn’t Evergy allow swimming pools within its easements?
Swimming pools, like ponds, restrict access and future placement of structures. Swimming pools under power lines create potential hazards because water can splash upward near the wires and result in a dangerous arc flash.
Why doesn’t Evergy allow buildings or permanent enclosures within its easements?
Evergy maintains its easements to ensure public safety. In addition to containing our transmission structures, our easements encompass the area in which the line will blow or sway in the wind. Buildings and enclosures require large safety clearances that must be maintained when the line blows or sways. Buildings and enclosures also restrict Evergy’s ability to access its easements for maintenance and future placement of structures.
Why can’t objects above 10 feet be located in the Evergy easement?
Evergy maintains its easements to ensure public safety. In addition to containing our transmission structures, our easements encompass the area in which the line will blow or sway in the wind. Objects must be kept under 10 feet in height to ensure they won’t be too close to the energized lines when they blow or sway.
Why does Evergy prefer a gate on fences within the Evergy easement?
Gated entrances reduce the need to remove fences because typical maintenance can be done with smaller trucks. If access to an existing transmission structure is blocked by a fence, Evergy will need to remove the fence to access the transmission structure and to drive through the easement. Fence removal may still be required during large construction projects that require structure replacements. Property restoration will take place after construction is complete. Duration of restoration is weather dependent and varies by project, but properties will be restored to, near as reasonable, pre-construction condition.
Why does all grading need to be reviewed and approved by Evergy?
Evergy needs to review grading plans within Evergy easements to ensure the transmission lines meet required safety clearances to the proposed ground level. Evergy also needs to confirm the grading plans don’t hinder Evergy’s ability to access its transmission lines. Graded slopes need to be drivable in order for construction equipment (trucks, trailers, cranes, etc.) to access the easement for future maintenance and construction. For example, grading cannot leave existing transmission structures on steep mounds or ditches where Evergy cannot access the structure.
Why can’t grading changes be within 25 feet of an existing pole or anchor?
Transmission line structures stand up because of the integrity of the ground around them. Grading needs to remain as is to prevent ground instabilities, corrosion concerns, and exposing the structures electrical grounding system. Evergy also needs to be able to set-up equipment next to existing poles and anchors for maintenance and replacement work.
