A utility client needed to relocate an existing electric distribution line to accommodate a road widening project while also constructing a new transmission line to increase system capacity.

Although the Department of Transportation (DOT) was already acquiring easements for the roadway project, those negotiations did not address the utility's additional land rights needs. Complicating matters further, the planned distribution and transmission routes crossed several front-yard parcels that are considered non-condemnable for utility purposes under North Carolina regulations.

Because the new transmission line was not part of the distribution relocation required by the DOT project, the DOT could not extend its condemnation authority to support the utility's acquisition efforts. As a result, a single unresolved parcel had the potential to jeopardize the entire route. The client faced the prospect of significant upfront acquisition costs with no guarantee of securing all required land rights, prompting discussions about delaying the project and evaluating alternate routes.

To mitigate risk, Percheron developed a phased acquisition strategy focused on securing the non-condemnable parcels first through Option Agreements.

This approach allowed the client to gain control of the most critical parcels at a fraction of the full easement value, significantly reducing financial exposure while confirming the overall route's viability before moving forward with the remaining acquisitions.

Percheron's strategy successfully secured all non-condemnable parcels through Option Agreements, eliminating the project's greatest risk. With those critical parcels in place, the team efficiently acquired the remaining land rights needed for construction.

As a result, the client obtained all required easements without rerouting the project, pursuing full condemnation, or delaying the transmission upgrade.