THE LEGAL BASIS FOR THE LOCATION OF SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT OF UTILITIES ON THIRD PARTY LAND

Business activities conducted by utilities are of a quasi-public character. The purpose of these activities is to supply consumers with electric energy, thermal energy, gas, water as wellas to provide sewage disposal services. Utilities also include telecommunications enterprises and any other enterprises that carry on their business by using a network, that is, a complex system of closely interrelated, in physical, technological and functional terms, pieces of equipment that form a definite whole and are used to supply the users with utility services or to provide sewage disposal. Distribution networks are mostly located on land not belonging to utilities, but they are not a part of a given property if they are an asset of a utility. The aim of this article is a synthetic summary and presentation of the legal possibilities of legal foundation of technical infrastructure equipment on third party land. The legislator provides for a number of legal measures that allow distribution systems and equipment to be lawfully located on such land, so that reliable and uninterrupted supplies of thermal energy, electric power, water, gas and other utility services can be provided to consumers, but at the same time the legislator takes into account the interests of property owners, with special attention to respect for the right of property. The main purpose of the publication, based on a thorough, dogmatic method, is to analyze the provisions governing the location of network installations and devices on real estate, as well as the legal possibilities of legalizing their already existing foundation. In the analysis of this subject, the formal-dogmatic method, related to the exegesis of the legal text, the historical-legal method, as well as comparative legal studies were used.