Who pays for underground utility lines

(a) In areas where the utility companies elect to place their wires underground because of engineering and economic considerations and operating problems, the costs shall be allocated as follows: (1) All costs of the underground utility facilities within the public right-of-way shall be borne by the respective utility company; (2) No cost shall be borne by the city; and (3) The cost of necessary changes on private property shall be borne by the respective property owners. (b) In areas other than as provided in § 14-7.5 (a) of this article, the costs shall be allocated as follows: (1) The costs of construction of an overhead system in the removal, relocation, replacement, or reconstruction of the existing overhead utility facilities within the public right-of-way shall be borne entirely by the respective utility company. (2) The difference of the costs of construction of an underground system and an overhead system in the removal, relocation, replacement, or reconstruction of the existing overhead utility facilities within the public right-of-way shall be borne equally by the city and the respective utility company. (3) The cost of engineering shall be included in the above allocation. Such engineering shall be performed by, or under the direction of, the city. (4) The cost of necessary changes on private property shall be borne by the respective property owners. (c) This section relating to allocation of costs for underground public utility facilities in special design districts shall not apply to improvement district projects proceeding under Articles 8 through 15 of this chapter. )