Whenever the local unit or units determine that it is necessary that any public utility facilities such as tracks, pipes, mains, conduits, cables, wires, towers, poles and other equipment and appliances of any public utility, as defined in R.S.48:2-13, which are now, or hereafter may be located in, on, along, over or under any project, should be removed, the public utility owning or operating the facilities shall relocate or remove the same in accordance with the order of the local unit or units, the cost and expense of the relocation or removal, including the cost of installing the facilities in a new location or new locations, and the cost of any lands, or any rights or interest in lands, and any other rights acquired to accomplish the relocation or removal, less the cost of any lands or any rights of the public utility paid to the public utility in connection with the relocation or removal of the property, shall be ascertained and paid as a part of the cost of the project. In case of any relocation or removal of facilities pursuant to this section, the public utility owning or operating the same, its successors or assigns, may maintain and operate the facilities, with the necessary appurtenances, in the new location, for as long a period, and upon the same terms and conditions, as it had the right to maintain and operate the facilities in their former location.

Source: New.

L.1989,c.109,s.1.