Off-Grid Man Jailed For Confronting Utility Company
by Justin Thomas, Virginia 
on 06. 5.06
In the Pittsburgh area, a man went to jail rather than let the local power company run an electric line through his property. He's also in some hot water for refusing to connect to the local sewer system. Although he’s repeatedly lost in criminal court, William Williams, 76, of Cecil, vows to continue removing the guy wire and its anchor in his yard each time the power company replaces them. For Mr. Williams, it’s all a matter of civil disobedience. He said he refuses to surrender his property rights to the utilities.
He served 26 days in jail this year for his wire-cutting actions, with more jail time expected in subsequent charges.
It's all part of Mr. Williams' campaign to declare himself free from all public utilities in a case of independent spirit vs. public utility, private rights vs. public service. But the battle has escalated. Mr. Williams has dug a five-foot hole in his yard to remove the guy-wire anchor. And he knows the likely result: More charges, more jail time. "I don't bother anyone. Why should they bother me?" he said. But Allen Staggers, manager of corporate communications for Allegheny Power, said all power company facilities, including guy wires, were on rights of way the company has purchased. With old lines, the right-of-way agreement could have been reached decades ago.
"It's dangerous for people to tamper with our equipment, whether it is a live wire or a guy wire," he said. "[A utility pole] is big, it's heavy and you don't want to compromise the integrity of it. It can result in a power outage or someone getting hurt." Mr. Williams uses no public utilities at his house on Reissing Road and vows never to use any. He's neither wired, plugged in, tapped in nor in the pipeline.
A self-proclaimed arch enemy of utility companies, he said, he stands determined to show the world how to stretch a dollar, reduce reliance on foreign oil and live the simple life. He also vows to fight for the right to refuse to use any public utilities.So the man, who dons a trademark orange tassel cap, said he was proud to be off the grid, despite efforts by some utility companies to force him to tap into their lines.
His anti-utility philosophy has landed him in hot water.He's faced charged three times for cutting the guy wire securing an Allegheny Power utility pole to his property. After each conviction, he's refused to pay restitution, court costs and fines on claims the company is encroaching on his property. "I won't put up with it," he said. "I'm hard-headed." Cost is the main reason he weaned himself from public utilities. He retired from Homestead Valve in 1974 and lives on his Social Security check and a $198-a-month pension.
But he said he preferred living without utilities because they are monopolies whose policies and prices threaten one's property rights and financial independence. Rather than tap into a public waterline, he collects rainwater from his roof gutters in a holding tank. The water flows through a filter into a basement sink. He uses a septic system, despite the fact Cecil has a public sewage system. He's placed solar panels in the windows of his beige brick house to power a rechargeable battery for limited electricity. For nine months, he refused to pay a service charge for electricity because, he said, he was using none. Finally, Allegheny Power removed the electrical lines. Mr. Williams uses propane, kerosene and wood for what little heat he needs. Owning neither a clothes washer nor dryer, he does his laundry in a bucket of filtered water and dries it on a backyard clothesline.
He recently gave away his unused refrigerator, preferring to store perishable food in his cool basement. He never watches television but does listen to a battery-powered radio. Natural gas lines never were installed on his property. And he has no telephone. With no utility lines or pipes attached to his house, Mr. Williams is an island of independence in a world of interconnection.
"You have to learn to stretch dollars, and they will stretch," he said. He cut the guy wire the first time because, he said, he kept tripping over it while collecting berries in his yard. Cecil police cited him for criminal mischief, intentionally damaging property, negligence and reckless endangerment.
But District Judge Valarie Costanzo, of Cecil, dismissed the charges after advising him not to repeat the misdeed. The second time he cut the wire, he pleaded guilty to the charges and paid $400. He was sentenced to serve 19 days in the Washington County Jail, 17 of which he served after refusing to pay all costs, fines and restitution. Before that, he served seven days in jail for failing to respond to a court order in the case.
The most recent criminal case against Mr. Williams was transferred from Judge Costanzo's jurisdiction to that of District Judge Jay Weller in North Strabane, who found Mr. Williams guilty of the same four charges and assessed him $827 in fines, costs and restitution. Refusing to pay, Mr. Williams said he expected more jail time.
He contends Allegheny Power has no right to use his property to secure its pole because the guy wire and anchor are not within the company's right of way. He said the rights of way were not listed on his deed. But Allegheny Power officials said the company owned the right of way, or it would not have installed the guy wire and anchor. He could face even more problems if he doesn't tap into the public sewer system. Its officials could file a lien against his property if he doesn't connect.
For Mr. Williams, it's all a matter of civil disobedience. He said he refuses to surrender his property rights to the utilities. "I don't owe [Allegheny Power] anything, and I'm not going to pay," he said. "They were on my property, and their right of way ends right here."
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This guy rocks!
I agree with his sentiments, but I assume since the judges are finding against him that the utility company does own the right of way and is therefore legally allowed to put up their equipment. I doubt if he was right, and that the utility company had no right to do what they're doing, that the judges would have found in his favor.
Keep the fight alive, man! I actually support him. Since he doesn't even use any of those services, he shouldn't have to allow the encroachment on his property, unless, hah, they actually pay him for the trouble they cause. I may be thinking about this too simplistically, but I say if I were in his place, I'd demand to be compensated by a company (whose services I don't even use) encroaching on my property at least.
Hey, I'm sympathetic to the guy. But being totally off the grid is a bit much.
I mean, we can't even send him an e-mail or PayPal the guy a few bucks for his legal defense fund or whatever.
It is also a bit contrary to the "declaration of interdependence" concept. Not that I advocate depending on utilities; I cut my cable TV a few years ago and have never looked back. I hope to do the same with either gas or electric (but not both), at some point. But no phone? No internet? Nothing?
Total isolation is not a good philosophy, IMHO.
Disregarding for the moment whether or not the utility providers own a right of way, I can't imagine that it would be worth their time to continue pressing charges on an old man that is not using any of their services and refuses to pay any retitution. The PR on this situation can be good. I mean, I know I certainly think they're jerks.
Someone ought to get in touch with this guy and let him know we all support him. I dont like the logic of "We must have had the right of way or we would not have put the wire up" I'm sure the utility company could come to a compromise with him if they wanted to; supporting the pole without having a guywire which he'll trip over. He seems to be simply concerned that its interfering with his lifestyle.
Lynn and Rajio, the utility company has the right to put their equipment there. They have the right of way. The court says so.
Just because this guy doesn't like them doesn't give him the legal right to destroy their property.
I have a great uncle (now deceased) who was similar to Mr. Bill in this article. The prefectural government condemned about a 30x30 parcel of his property for a road. My uncle never cashed the check, and every time the government tried to build a road through his little corner of paradise, my uncle fired up the bulldozer and tore the pavement up. This fight went on for something like thirty years.
I can't help but wonder if the power company would have moved or removed the guy wire if he had simply asked. He could have said that it was a hazard to his saftey.
The sewage connection is just plan ridiculous though. As long as you have a properly functioning leach bed and septic tank, you shouldn't be required to hook up to city sewage. A lot of people don't have the kind of money to do that anyways.
But then again, the city might be uptight about the sewage because in that part of pennsyvania there are some people whose sewage empties into holes to the labyrinth of abandoned coal mines underneath everyones feet. My aunt lives in this area and had a battle with several neighbors whose sewage drained directly in a stream near her property. Those neighbors fought the utilities too, but they were definitly in the wrong, and were forced to connect.
fired up the bulldozer
Uh, guess we all need to keep that handy bulldozer around, then!
Eminent domain is a tricky issue. I'm generally against it, but then again if it is used to install cables to connect to a wind farm, I'm sure I would support it (so long as the route chosen wasn't needlessly destructive).
I do agree with K that, regardless of the legal situation, the potential cost of image damage probably is greater than the cost of finding a technical alternative.
This guy almost makes me proud to say I live in the same area. Almost. The utility companies around here have been known to be vicious. I know in my area, they keep coming up with new plans for sewage that would cost my grandma every bit of her social security check. All the senior citizens are bitter about it. Glad he is sticking up for himself, that's all that matters.
But the electric company has a monopoly. So they don't really care if this issue damages their image - people will go on "needing" to buy their product no matter what.
"But no phone? No internet? Nothing? Total isolation is not a good philosophy, IMHO."
There is this brand new invention. It's called talking to people in real life. The company that invented it claims that it's great for avoiding total isolation
lives on his Social Security check and a $198-a-month pension
He may be off the utility grid, but he's still hooked into the financial grid.
I'm really not sure why everyone is so excited to support this guy. The resistance to recognition of interdepedence is one of basic barriers to greening our culture. This guy is refusing to acknowledge interdependence with his community and the services they all rely on. How green is that?
G.E.,
when 'interdependence' is unnecessary, indeed, abusive, standing up to the Man is indeed a 'green' thing to do.
This guy is a hero. Seriously. How many people would have the gumption to do what he is doing - fight a monopoly AND the state.
Just because the state says the power company has the right to invade this guy's space, that doesn't make it right.
And "total isolation" may not be a good philosophy in your opinion, Alonso, but recognize that for what it is: your opinion. Besides, the guy is not in total isolation; he says he wants to teach people to stretch their dollars. Refusing to connect to the grid doesn't equal isolation.
We should be emulating this guy to whatever extent our personal circumstances allow.
Frankly, I'm surprised the jutice department hasn't labeled the guy a "terrorist" because he damaged part of the electrical delivery infrastructure. I'm sure Gitmo Gonzales is on it.
I cannot understand why some are condeming this man for "refusing to acknowledge interdependence with his community and the services they all rely on". The article indicates nothing about his personal connections with his friends, family, or community of life. Support this man for living a far greener life than one that powers the webpage we are all posting on.
This guy's no hero. It's one thing to 'go off the grid' and no one's persecuting him for doing so. His trouble is because he's attempting to take others off the grid -- know what would happen if that guy wire were cut and the pole went? (Maybe the retired lady down the road needs electricity for her oxygen, or a family needs it to keep their kids warm.)
The only 'off the grid' thing he's had trouble with is sewer. That's a public health issue, people shouldn't be dumping sewage into the earth, it should be going to a treatment plant (a green one, hopefully).
We're all citizens of this world, that means we give rights of way to utility companies - evil or not - so that our fellow human being may have the energy and access to public health they need.
I respectfully acknowledge your reguard for human life, but the article is not specific about the effects of cutting that guy wire on that pole in relation to other families. My concern is that allowing utility companies, evil or not, the right of way because of real or hypothetical public health issues always gives them the right of way. Should we allow clear cuts because the lumber may go to build housing for low income families in rough neighborhoods? How far removed from the human element do utilities or large corporations have to be before the answer to their actions is an unequivocal "no"?
The article isn't specific about the ramifications of his cutting guy-lines, never-the-less it's easy to figure out.
Your lumber for the poor analogy would be more appropriate if it went this way: Should we allow lumber to get to poor neighborhoods if it means going past our own home on a road the city had a right-of-way to build? Or block it because we ourselves do not want the building materials.
But let's have an uprising, and not honor right-of-ways for basic utilities (electrical, heat, water), then sit back and watch the natural resources get eaten up by the need to put down many more miles of pipes and wires and more power poles (made from trees) etc., in order to go around the homes of people who do not want to honor their role in the fabric of our society.
Oh, and we'll need more electricity production as well to cover the extra distance on inefficient power line routes.
"Just because this guy doesn't like them doesn't give him the legal right to destroy their property."
Just because the utility company puts their property on his property doesn't give them the legal right to do so. I think the judge and the company are wrong, and if he knew the laws better he'd take this to appeals court.
As romantic it may sound to some people, the idea you can live "off the grid" is totally out of touch with reality. We live in a world full of other people and we have to make compromises. The man in this article benefits in innumerable ways from his community, it is only reasonable that he share some responsibility with the community by allowing the power line to run through his property.
You know, this man or someone very kind could make a simple trip to the county court house just to check up on who really owns rights. Many times people can convey property they do not own to others and this tends to go unnoticed by the county. Though if everything does check out right there really isn't much he can do legally. I hope this situation can work out with him on the benefiting side.
I don't understand all the concern about his septic system. The article doesn't discuss whether or not his septic system is set-up properly or not. If it is set-up properly, then there should be no environmental concerns.
Bill is a cool guy and the law should be changed Don B. don't you think? He made the first step and I stand up for him.
I don't know if the guy is right to cut the guy line, but he could just trip over it and hurt himself and sue the power company.
All this debate over whether the lines are legal or illegal misses the point. When you don't like the law, you lobby to change it. When you intentionally break the law in protest, it's called "civil disobediance" as stated in the article. Saying "he shouldn't do it, it's illegal" is automatically caving in to the notion that all laws are just. DMCA, anyone?
I live about 10 miles from Bill. I've never heard of this until now. I will print out this article and responses next week and send them to him along with a letter. I support him 100%. I'm sick of govt of, by, and for the corporations and the almighty $$.
What an idiot. He's just a cheap old fart who's trying to take a political stance to cover up his bitterness for a life that has been squandered away rubbing sticks together to make a flame instead of spending a dollar to buy a lighter. Trust me, I've known guys like this and he's not the political firecracker that you might think he is. They all die bitter with family members that are glad to see them go. FWIW, I work at a factory that used to be full of guys like this. Spending all their time and energy doing anything they can to avoid giving away any of their precious money. Bitching and moaning about their kids using too much toilet paper and filling their cereal bowls too full with milk. The only good thing that has come of my time with jerks like this is that I know how NOT to live my life.
That power line delivers the current to charge the cellphone of the next-door neighbor who will inevitably call 911 when this goon is begging for help.
I don't know if it is so laudable to believe in such absolute ownership of property that one ignored the law. There never was any such level of ownership in America and it may set a self-serving selfish view of ones rights. Plus, he bought the property with the right of way on it, so he is basically trying to steal something that was paid for. I am not so sure this is something we should praise.
As green as he may be I think the issue has more to do with the choice to opt out of the status quo. Its not so hard to live without electricity or a phone. It is very difficult to live w/ those who don't. Mountain Men have no unified voice in society. It may just be a guy wire but it sustains someone else and so it is an impossion just the same. One of the few he can get a shovel around.
This man is my hero, right up there with Jabar Gibson, the teenager who stole a school bus to ferry people out of New Orleans after Katrina.
haha sweet
While I like this man for his independance and ability to sustain himself by his own means, it seems a small concession to allow a guy wire for electricity to be put down on your property. It seems to me that his personal issues with utilities are guiding his actions more than any particular complaint about the effect of the guy wire. I have often wondered about just how much somone can exist outside of civilization in this age of big government. The answer is, as much as it doesn't infringe on the making of money.
The problem is that the utility company and government could be working together to ensure that this land is protected for them by "right of way".
None the less if he has his original title to the land it should clear it up.
That being said, I strongly believe that if his septic system is safe to the environment then good for him. If more of us were like him this world would be a better place. We wouldn't be dependent on power from coal, damming or nuclear. We wouldn't have to have nasty plants cleaning our sewage before dumping it in the ocean. If we all were more self reliant living off of our land, in a way that respects nature this world would be much cleaner and we would have more respect for it.
Getting off of the grid does not mean you have to be unconnected. You could have a small community windfarm, or your own solar panels, wind farm, or hydro power that does not require a damn.
There are toilettes that can recylcle human waste cleanly, efficiently and don't smell or hurt nature. Heat pumps and geo-thermal can provide heating and cooling.
Am I on the grid, yes, because I can not afford to be off of it. But I am saving my $$$ and plan to make it there one day.
Keep up the good fight.
Trevor
Where I live we have these things called buried power lines. They are pretty spiffy. Perhaps Allegheny Power Utility should look into it.
Anyone want to get a copy of his deed? Even if the utility is off the ROW, there still may be an easement. This is what I suspect since I can not easily accept that a Judge doesn't know the law. I am happy that William is living "off the grids" but this man drinks filtered rain water, lives off non perishable food + in season foods, and uses a solar powered battery for his entertaining devices. So why does he care about tripping over someone elses wire? Now that I think about it... Maybe Jail ~ his Home. I admire the man given that i'm content when its hot outside and i'm not using the ac.
He should request the easement the companies have on his properties. If they are not signed or expired or are cancelled when he bought the property, then he is scott free! Even though it is his property, if a company has a legitimate easement, then they have the right to instal their services. Have a property lawyer look over these documents. I work at a college and we've forced utilities to get their crap off our land via expired easements.
Someone should start a fund for him to pay for his legal fees!! Buy a domain like www.savewilliamsland.com so people can go to read his story and view scanned in easements and legal documents. Also have a donation area where funds can be sent to someone he trusts with a PayPal account.
good for him !
If I was in the USA I'd cut the wire for him.
It's nice to see America still has some rebels left.
I was beginning to think you lot kissed a$$ all day long
I am in complete support of this man but he will lose in court. The utilities really shouldn't bother him and just wait till he dies or moves on.
Someone needs to start a legal fund for this man, he sure could use it.
Anyone know your Latin? There's a phrase that I'm totally going to mangle here, so if you know the real phrase then help me out: Mobile En Mobilis. Free in a Free World. That is what this man is trying to be. It what the state and the utilities want to deny him. And didn't the SCOTUS recently rule that the rich can seize the land of the poor if it serves the needs of the rich?
No more. I think it's time to start watering the tree of liberty once again. Not for the liberals, not for the neo-cons, not for the rich - but for the people.
I would like to see evidence that the power company tried to attempt a reasonable compromise. I doubt it. Good on him - my dad in Australia has one of those huge power lines with massive poles and several strand running straight past his house and it makes an awful buzzing noise. They could have built it more than 10 metres from his house without considerable expense.
BTW - The line "He could face even more problems if he doesn't tap into the public sewer system" could be changed to "He could be in even deeper shit if he doesn't tap into the public sewer system". I commend the author for resisting such obvious puns - I cannot.
Could the power company not simply route the cable around his property and save everyone the aggravation of lawsuits, cut wires, jail time, etc?
Personally, I feel what he's saying. Its his place. On the other hand, if he really fully wants to be off the grid, move into the woods. Then there's really no jail time, sewer pipes, guy wires, etc.
An inspiration to us all.
Big business don't like it when little guys prove they can get along without.
How long before this thing turns into another Ruby Ridge or Waco?
Now, I am not sure of the complete history of the guy wires or any other use the utility company had on Mr. Williams' property before the man owned the land or contractual agreements he had voluntarily made in the past.
But I am sure of one thing. And, that is that property rights have been eroded to the extent that you cannot really say that one may even own land any more.
In my opinion, one's home and one's land should be one's castle. If you own property it's yours. You are the king and anyone else who you permit on the land is but one little peasant. You have the right to keep anyone out for any reason or no reason at all. And, that includes the utility company and its guy wires. They should have to run their wires around the property if that is what the owner says.
Leave him alone. He is living as he wishes and not interfering with anyone's rights. Don't try to pound him into the shape you want. I'd like to see this sort of rebellion among youth again.
This used to be a free country. Mr. Williams remembers when we still had a measure of freedom, but the last 2 generations have been raised to do what they are told. Too bad for America.
Please click on my name!
Mining was mentioned in this thread in reference to sewage draining into it. His property is defined as "surface rights" only. Therefore, a mining company can purchase the "mineral rights". This is happening in Colorado against land owner's wishes. This current gov't ruled in favor of the big companies. Their logic is what good is "mineral rights" if they cannot take over some of the "surface rights" to get to the minerals. The mining companies are destroying farms and property value without just compensation in Colorado.
NPR-Colorado Mining Dispute
On another note, what about the cell phone, satellite radio, and any other company that are sending "waves" through his private property. We the people are supposed to own them, but the gov't has given them away to big corporations.
FCC give away of publicly owned air waves
OK, I happen to be a "Right of Way Agent" for a large utility company. I deal with this sort of thing on a daily basis. The company I work for would have found an alternative to this bad PR problem long before it reached this point, but then Allegheny Power is not the company for which I work.
Laws differ from state to state but in general they are pretty close. Here's is my professional take on the issue (if anyone is interested):
If the facilities were on this property, including the guy wire, at the time he acquired the land then it matters not weather the deed shows an easement. He bought the property “as is” and has no recourse.
If the facilities have been on the property for X number of years, then the right of way is prescriptive (some call it "Grandfathered in") he has no recourse. It works like this: if you build a fence X number of feet over your property line onto your neighbors land, you mow it and maintain it for (again) X number of years, then property becomes yours, regardless what the deed says (at least in my state). That may not be “right” but that’s the law. Like one of you said, if you don’t like the law, get it changed.
One problem I have with the gentleman’s argument is that he says there is no easement on his deed yet he also says the guy wire falls outside of the right-of-way. Which is it? Is there an established right-of way or not? Clearly there is. Two different judges say so, according to this article.
Even if the guy wire falls outside an established right-of-way, the right to use land adjacent to the right-of-way to protect the integrity of the structure in the interest of public safety is provided by law.
I also have a slight issue with the headline. The man was not jail for “confronting the utility company”; he was jailed for not paying fines and other monies to the courts due to his actions.
This man is exorcising his God given rights. Good for him, however he is being, in his own words “hard-headed” and it will more than likely cost him his hard earned money that he claim to be trying to stretch.
"get it changed" (the law)
Well, there's a fundamental flaw in that logic. "We the People" don't have any separation of power thanks to "national security".
There's only one power in US gov't today-- the executive branch which is owned by the "corporatocracy". "We the People" don't have a democracy anymore. There are no checks or balances, only the "corporatocracy's" interests which is built on greed and corruption.
Our founding fathers saw grave danger in granting corporations such power.
US founded on principle of limited corporate power
In my opinion, today's corporatocracy doesn't care for the citizens of the United States.
If he's getting only a $198 a month to live his life. I seriously doubt that he uses much of anything. He probably can't afford it.
A couple of DVDs would cost more than that.
He's obviously seperating himself from the world because the world isn't being too pleasant to him, and because these utilities were part of what was making his life harder than it already was.
I think the courts should just show some decency and leave the man alone.
I wonder if he might not have an easier time living in jail than he has outside it.
"I think the courts should just show some decency and leave the man alone."
Two of many disappearing attributes in our "civilized" society today:
Decency & the 'right' to be left alone.
The article didn't say if the public utility has evidence of right-of-way. There are many cases where utility companies have mistakenly assumed right-of-way.
Good for this guy. The world needs more men like him!
I am a state govn. worker in another state. Part of my job entails setting "detection trees" for invasive insects. When we want to use suitable trees that are located in the ROW we must get permission from the landowner because technically the landowner owns to the middle of the road (even the right-of-way). In a less rural area, if you were to not mow the ROW *you* would get weed fines & not the power companies. IMHO, the man should have the "right" to grant the utility company permission to use the land he (presumably) pays taxes on. So much that has happened in this country since "on-grid" became the norm seems like land theft. Perhaps anyone with poles, etc. on their land should be compensated or at least expect the utility companies to mow around them (since they seem to think they own that part of anyone's land).
Personally, I think the judges have just not considered any other options outside the historical ROW use by utility companies.
The courts, the utilities , the banks are all one. Of course the courts will decide in the utilities favor. The utilities are a corporation and the courts are there to enforce the wants of the corporation., This guy is trying to live his life independently and the town he lives in loses money on that. I'm sure the town has a "Corporate Charter". Even the town is a corporation.....and the police are just the hired thugs to enforce the courts/utility's/corporations will.
This man is quite remarkable. Let's get this guy on TV.
The pole probably dosn't need a GUY Wire to begin with. If the pole is rotten at it's base or not deep enough in the ground maybe? IS there too much stress on the pole from the lines being installed Wrong to begin with. I doubt it. Big business like
governemnt just lie to screw with people. Im glad he screwed back.
Good for him...... considering he lives in the country and uses a septic system that does not drain into anything why should he be forced to connect to the sewer system. Chances are if he connects they will bill him for the connection 10 to 20 thousand dollars. My parents are being forced to connect to the sewer system even though they have a septic system that works very well and does not drain into anything. They are going to be billed 10 to 20 thousand dollars for this service the local township feels the street needs. Nevermind the street has been the same for teh last years and everything seem to be fine.
Additionally, he doesn't use electricity so why should he be forced to be connected to electricity. Last I knew the consitition says that you have the right to be secure in your property. The electric utility does not like it and is probably fighting it because they are afraid of someone setting a precedent. In there eyes if this man can do it legally then others may follow and heaven forbid if utility companies lost right of way and had to compensate people for the encroachment of their service. Utility companies are bullies and really do not care. The bottom line is money and profit for the stock holders.
I an a title examiner and if the utility company has the easement in the deed records or recorded plat, the guy 1) was notified as such when he purchased the property and 2) doesn't have a leg to stand on.
If he were to build something in the easement they are completely within their rights to tear the improvement down to access their easement. He is a fool. He deserves the charges and jail time
Marilyn says:
"He is a fool. He deserves the charges and jail time"
For trying to limit the overwhelming power of a utility company and reclaim some of his rights as a property owner and human being he is a fool?
Maybe, his lifestyle threatens your bubble but he has the right to stand up and demand his voice be heard; are we still pretending this is a Democratic system?
I mean should we all just roll over because some faceless company wants to make more money at the cost of our comfort.
Go shove your head in the sand and we will tell you when it is safe to come out
Does anyone have a update to this story? I would really like to know whats going on. The utility company can suck his balls. It's going to escalate to the point where someone is going to get hurt.
In this thread, William Williams has been labeled a hero and a fool. Strip away property rights, easements, and the legal wrangling of both and we come to this: William has made a lifestyle change that, like it or not, most of us still living in 20-30 years will be doing. The only choice is do we start working towards doing it now and learn to adapt or do we have it thrust upon us later when energy cost have soared completely out of control, resources are depleted, and the water he's collecting in his rainbarrels is not fit to drink. If you are not yet thinking of some degree of self reliance, resource management, and your childrens future -and I'm not talking about college tuition- then this should be a wake up call to start. Current corporate/goverment policy is not sustainable. They will not do anything that will cut their short term profit, believing throwing money at problems later-your money- is more sound then preventing them now. Take control of your own future- stop feeding the machine your money. This may sound strange if image is everything, but stop making more money then you NEED.. You'll soon find your needs are much much fewer than your wants. Spend less time working to send your money to the corporations and you'll be amazed at how much free time you'll have to enjoy with your family. Throw away the alarm clock and get back to basics.
I think that if iut is not on the deed he would be in the right. The registra of deeds would be able to clear that point up fast. Maybe the power company should pony up some bucks as most right aways do. If they did not use the right away for 7 years the right of way goes back to the owner.
Great and excellent article t’s realy helpful. Thanks again.
Wow. Very impressive.
The city of LaBelle Florida sent a bill to my grandmother every year so that she would pay for the cleaning of the ditch that was next to her home. They claimed it was her property and therefore she was responsible, she said that the property was the city's and she would walk into the court house every year and slap the bill on the appropriate man's desk and say, "I don't owe this damn bill." and promptly walk out. They continued to insist. After she died my mother found out that the property in question was really the city's and they were just trying to palm the cost off onto my grandmother who lived on almost no money whatsoever.
So just because some court says that the property is the 'right of way' and that the power company has the right to put their property there doesn't make it true. He very well may be right no matter what the court says.
I say good for him. It's his life and he has the right to live it as he sees fit.
NiceNCool1
for all of you that are saying that he has a responsibility to his community. i think that as long as he isnt harming anyone with his stand against injustice then let him be. granted he should do a little research before doing such an act and make sure there was no agreement made with the electrical company to insure that they dont own rights that allow them to use his land. which he himself would of had to do that in my opinion. It makes me think of a book i read in which the lead charactor says that everyone should be free to live there life as they see fit and noone should have to compromise the integraty of there values to serve a community, if he wants to live off the grid let him and the electrical company should of avoided all this by just changing the route of the wire which should only take a day to a couple weeks. to me it seems like it would be alot easier than paying high costs to lawyers to represent them in court which in turn the people benefiting from the power would have to pay anyway the company is wrong in my own opinion
This guy is in for a rough road. The utility company has the big bucks and in this country, big bucks and big business means "they're right". Poor guy.
This guy is great. I can't imagine that it is that complicated for the power company to find another location to place their guide wire. They should take a step back, move the wire and let the guy live in peace on HIS OWN land the way he wants to. And the judges should just get their head out of their butts and stop wasting public dollars on this court case and just have the power company move it.
This guy does rock!
It's a "power struggle" really. The utility company is going too far and they CAN move things to work for the others who do live on the grid.
He says he doesn't want it on his property, the utility company wants to play with him.
Move it or loose it.
Well
we call him BILL BILL
and he is our neighbor and friend
too bad an elderly man has to fight when he should be enjoying his retirement...
This guy should do what I do when utility company comes on my land. I put peanut butter on the wire and let the squirrels do my dirty work.
listen up, they have a right to put up whatever they want, okay. but they have NO RIGHT to make him pay any bills for someting that he is not using. That would infuriate me, having to pay a servicing fee so a service i did not want nor use.
thank you.
I applaud this man for his efforts to live off grid, and in a sustainable and responsible way. I also understand his frustration at the power company puting a guide wire onto his property,although cutting a guide wire is defitnatly a grumpy old man technique , kind of amusing, but ill advised, . Easements, right of ways, and property lines are all public record, and can be researched with a sadly normal amount of beaurocratic frustration and smalll expense, but it should all be layed out in writing somewhere, waiting to be discovered. As usual, the people who write these articles leave out any real research or useful facts that might allow the people who read it, and are interested in knowing the truth, to make up an informed decision. If the the wire is outside the ROW, then the utility is obligated to move it. If it unfortunatly for him does fall inside a ROW acros his property, then they could still find a way to accomodate him. There are alternatives to runing guidewires,such as diferent types of poles, or moving the offending pole 10 or 15 feet left or right of where it is without having to shut down power or continue to eat bad reputation, and would be in their best interest PR wise to do something about it.. I hope it can be worked out for him.
I love the peanut butter advice...great idea! Finally a courageous man who can stand up to the companies that want to make us all slaves.
Interdependence must be based on social responsibility, which monopolies don't respect. So being independent and off grid is wise if you are low income.
I say we owe this man for showing us the way to freedom, steak over hamburger, choice versus none.
If you have done any study into the geology of the earth you will know that after waste is a few inches under the ground it has been completely filtered by the earth and actually ok for drinking. this man is not hurting the earth. as for the off the grid issue. i agree that living off the grid or from the land is good and people will be seeking him out for advice at the rate the economy is failing. do you think if power was suddenly gone you would not figure out how to survive and keep your family well and alive as well. our not so distant past relations ran huge homes and small ones with no power or sewer at all. i don't agree with fighting the utility companies without trying for a compromise. why can't they put the lines on one of his neighbors property who are on the grid. sure they wouldn't mind. i think they are trying to make an issue of it and it could be managed with a little humanity and consideration for both parties.
thank you
I think this guy is pretty cool. It must feel amazing to be completely self sufficient. I don't get why people want to send him money though, he's not poor. Yes, he only lives on several hundred dollars a month, but he's "magically" survived for the past 35 years and it would probably be offensive to tell him that he doesn't have enough to live on.
I applaud this gentleman's independence, quite a pity the city can't just leave him alone.
As for the power company's Right-Of-Way, I seriously doubt they could produce proof that they own it.
It has been my experience that utilities insist they own them when in fact they do not.
If I were Mr. Williams I would demand Allegheny Power produce the documentation showing that they do indeed own the right of way. If they cannot produce it the court should order them to remove the guy wire.
But of course that will not happen, big corporations *always* win out over the average citizen... I guess money and power wins against justice.
This guy is my hero. I plan to buy a urban lot, keep my urban job, ride my electric bicycle to work, and live in a yurt on my lot. Im not terribly concerned about zoning. I would like to be hooked up to electricity initially. There are a multitude of 24 hour fitness centers with showers and other amenities. My lease on my apartment is up in 11 months. I can get a lot for as cheap as 5k. Everything I would need: Work, School, etc will be within a radius of no more than 8 miles. People have to take REAL ACTION for the better if they ever expect anything to change for the better. If they take my yurt, i will live in a tent, if they take my tent i will sleep in a sleeping bag, if they put me in jail ill just come back to the land i own when i get out.
Forcing people to build houses no smaller than 900 square feet just so they can keep taxes high is anything but constitutional, its just another form a usury.