Utility Tower Easement Dispute: Washington couple sue OPALCO over taller tower; case tests upgrade rights

A Washington couple’s dispute with a local utility has raised questions about property rights, infrastructure easements and the extent to which homeowners can challenge equipment installed on their land. Liz Covert and Denis Goudie, who purchased their property in 2017, are challenging the replacement of an existing wooden tower with a taller steel structure by the Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO). The case was reported by Moneywise on October 10, 2026, following earlier coverage by The Journal of the San Juan Islands and reporting by NBC affiliate KING 5. The couple alleges that OPALCO threatened to disconnect their electricity unless they signed an easement within 90 days, escalating a disagreement over the utility’s rights to use the property. The dispute centres on whether the existing easement permits the infrastructure now standing on the site.Dispute over an existing easementCovert and Goudie say the easement associated with their property allows landscaping-related activities but does not authorise above-ground utility infrastructure of this kind. They were aware of an older wooden tower when they purchased the land, but say they were not informed about its replac...