Washington couple says utility threatened power cut unless they signed easement
A Washington couple is in a legal dispute with their local utility provider, OPALCO, over the installation of a new steel tower on their property. The homeowners claim the utility threatened to cut their power unless they signed an easement, while the utility maintains the site was established under previous agreements.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing tension between utility infrastructure needs and individual property rights, a common issue in rural development.
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.
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