If a utility company has an easement over multiple properties, what type of easement is it referred to?

When a utility company holds an easement over multiple properties, it is referred to as an easement in gross. This type of easement benefits a specific individual or entity—such as the utility company—rather than benefiting a particular piece of land. This is distinct because it is not tied to the ownership of any particular parcel of land and continues even if the owner of the dominant estate (the utility company) changes.

An easement in gross is commonly used by utility companies as it allows them access to several parcels of land in order to install, maintain, and operate utility lines, such as electricity, gas, or water. This arrangement provides the utility with the necessary legal right to use portions of others' properties for their operations while not granting any ownership rights to the land.

In contrast, a prescriptive easement arises from continuous and open use of someone else's property without the permission of the owner, which is not applicable in this case. An exclusive easement typically grants sole rights to the easement holder, but it is often specific to one property rather than being general over multiple ones. Meanwhile, a right-of-way easement specifically pertains to the right to traverse another person's land, which could be narrower in scope compared to the broader benefits of