23-18-528. Eminent domain.

23-18-528. Eminent domain. (a)(1) As used in this section, the word “land” shall include any estate or interest therein. (2) Whenever a certificate has been issued to an applicant for the construction of any major utility facility under the provisions of this subchapter and the applicant is unable to reach agreement with the owner of land to construct, operate, maintain, and obtain reasonable access to the major utility facility in accordance with the certificate, it may acquire the land by the exercise of the power of eminent domain in a state court of competent jurisdiction in the judicial district in which the land is located. (b) The petition shall contain or have annexed thereto: (1) A statement of the authority under which and the use for which the land is taken; (2) A description of the land taken sufficient for the identification thereof; (3) A statement of the estate or interest in the land taken for such a use; (4) A statement that a certificate has been issued to the petitioner; and (5) A statement of the sum of money estimated by the utility to be just compensation for the land taken. (c) In the event the property sought to be condemned is owned by one (1) person and is situated in more than one (1) county, the petition may be filed in the court of any county where a part of the property may be located. (d)(1) After the filing of the petition and upon the deposit in court of a sum determined by the court to be sufficient to secure compensation to the owner of the property or interest therein sought to be condemned, the court shall immediately enter an order finding title to the land in fee simple absolute, or such less estate or interest therein as is prayed in the petition, to be vested in the applicant. The land or interest therein shall be deemed to be condemned and taken for the use of the applicant. The right to just compensation for the same fee or for such lesser interest as may be taken shall vest in the person entitled thereto. (2) However, any taking of lands in fee simple absolute under the authority granted in this section shall be limited to taking for electric generating plant sites and substation sites, compressor station sites, and meter station sites only. Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing a utility to take fee simple title to lands for gas or electric transmission line or distribution line rights-of-way purposes. (e) The compensation shall be determined by a jury pursuant to § 18-15-506. (f) Upon the filing of a petition, the court shall have power to fix the time within which and the terms upon which the party in possession shall be required to surrender possession to the applicant. (g) The court shall have power to make such orders in respect of encumbrances, liens, rents, taxes, assessments, insurance, and such other charges, if any, as shall be just and equitable. (h) No appeal in the proceeding or any bond or undertaking given therein shall operate to prevent or delay the vesting of title to the land in the applicant. (i) The right to exercise the power of eminent domain and to take possession and title in advance of final judgment in the proceeding and all powers delegated in this section shall be in addition to any right, power, or authority conferred by any other laws of the state or of franchises, contracts, or agreements and shall not be construed as abrogating, limiting, or modifying any such right, power, authority, franchise, contract, or agreement.