(1) Any public utility, electrical cooperative association or transmission company may:
(a) Enter upon lands within this state in the manner provided by ORS 35.220 for the purpose of examining, locating and surveying the line thereof and also other lands necessary and convenient for the purpose of construction of service facilities, doing no unnecessary damage thereby.
(b) Condemn such lands not exceeding 100 feet in width for its lines (including poles, towers, wires, supports and necessary equipment therefor) and in addition thereto, other lands necessary and convenient for the purpose of construction of service facilities. If the lands are covered by trees that are liable to fall and constitute a hazard to its wire or line, any public utility or transmission company organized for the purpose of building, maintaining and operating a line of poles and wires for the transmission of electricity for lighting or power purposes may condemn such trees for a width not exceeding 300 feet, as may be necessary or convenient for such purpose.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, any public utility, electrical cooperative association or transmission company may, when necessary or convenient for transmission lines (including poles, towers, wires, supports and necessary equipment therefor) designed for voltages in excess of 330,000 volts, condemn land not to exceed 300 feet in width. In addition, if the lands are covered by trees that are liable to fall and constitute a hazard to its wire or line, such public utility or transmission company may condemn such trees for a width not exceeding 100 feet on either side of the condemned land, as may be necessary or convenient for such purpose.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, a water or gas public utility may condemn such lands, not exceeding 50 feet in width, as may be necessary or convenient for purposes of constructing, laying, maintaining and operating its lines, including necessary equipment therefor.
(4) The proceedings for the condemnation of such lands shall be the same as that provided in ORS chapter 35, provided that any award shall include, but shall not be limited to, damages for destruction of forest growth, premature cutting of timber and diminution in value to remaining timber caused by increased harvesting costs. [Amended by 1963 c.138 §1; 1971 c.655 §241; 1977 c.225 §2; 2001 c.913 §9; 2003 c.477 §10]
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