The assessment of compensation for the electric transmission line easement through a study of land market in Apulia

Abstract

High-voltage overhead transmission lines on farmland imply a permanent easement. System operators should compensate for expropriation of land and depreciation of the remaining farm area, but recognize only the former. Therefore, landowners often appeal to the law courts for fairer refunds.
This study highlights that the area occupied by plinths and cabins, the height of pylons and the type of intersection are the main sources of depreciation. Moreover, electric transmission lines depreciate the residual farm area, but involving only two narrow strips of land on either side of infrastructures. Finally, the depreciation tends to decrease rapidly as the distance from the transmission line increases.