Section 22-3-162. Application; additional compensation or reconveyance

   (a) This Code section shall apply to any easement or other property interest acquired on or after July 1, 2004, through exercise of the right of eminent domain for purposes of constructing or expanding an electric transmission line:

   (1) With a capacity of 230 kilovolts or less if the utility has not begun such construction or expansion within 12 years from the date of acquisition and the land burdened by the easement or other property interest is not adjacent to an electric transmission line corridor in existence 12 years from the date of acquisition;

   (2) With a capacity of more than 230 kilovolts if the utility has not begun such construction or expansion within 15 years from the date of acquisition and the land burdened by the easement or other property interest is not adjacent to an electric transmission line corridor in existence 15 years from the date of acquisition; and

   (3) Of any capacity if the land burdened by the easement or other property interest is adjacent to an electric transmission line corridor in existence 15 years after the date of acquisition and the utility has not begun the construction or expansion for which the easement or other property right was acquired within 15 years from the date of acquisition.

(b) When this Code section becomes applicable to an easement or other property interest, the owner of the land burdened by such easement or property interest may apply to the utility that acquired the easement or other property interest or such utility's successor or assign for reconveyance or quitclaim of the easement or other property interest or for additional compensation for such easement or other property interest. The application shall be in writing, and the utility or its successor or assign shall act on the application within 60 days by:

   (1) Executing a reconveyance or quitclaim of the easement or property interest upon receipt of compensation not to exceed the amount of the compensation paid by the utility for the easement or property interest at the time of acquisition; or

   (2) Paying additional compensation to the owner of the land burdened by the easement or other property interest, such compensation to be calculated by subtracting the price paid by the utility for the easement or other property interest at the time of acquisition from the fair market value of the easement or other property interest at the time this Code section becomes applicable to such easement or other property interest.

(c) The choice between additional compensation or reconveyance or quitclaim shall be at the discretion of the utility or its successor or assign.

Code 1981, § 22-3-162, enacted by Ga. L. 2004, p. 568, § 2.