Final answer:
The utility company would likely use a utility easement or right-of-way to access Elizabeth's property, which allows it to maintain the power lines. This is to ensure the delivery of services like electricity to the public. Eminent domain might also be relevant in broader contexts involving substantial public benefit and infrastructure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The utility company's need to access the power line that crosses a corner of Elizabeth's land is an example of an easement, which is a type of right to use someone else’s property for a specific purpose. In this case, the utility company would likely hold a utility easement or right-of-way. These are important for the maintenance of public services, such as electricity, and are typically arranged to benefit the public at large.
Such easements are often granted for infrastructure needs to ensure that essential services can reach everyone efficiently. The right to this access may be established when the property is first developed or at a later time to accommodate changes in utility services. The easement gives the utility company the right to enter Elizabeth's property to install, repair, or maintain power lines. This is a common example of an easement that serves a public purpose while still respecting the private property owner's rights.
Eminent domain can also play a role in establishing utility easements, but it's more often applied in situations where a property is needed for significant transportation or infrastructure projects and is traditionally used as a last resort. Hence, while the utility company's easement on Elizabeth's land is less dramatic than cases involving eminent domain, it serves a similar public interest by ensuring the delivery of power.