The area on either side of a utility easement is generally stated in the instrument that created the easement. For example, "no structures within 15 feet of either side of the center line". Check with the title company or attorney who represented you when you purchased your property for a copy of the easement document.
Utility easement, they are common.
You need to review the document that created the easement in order to determine what rights you may have within the easement area. Most utility easements require that the area within the easement be kept clear of structures, trees and brush.
It depends on the nature of the easement. You need to get a copy of the easement from your county records office, and see what rights it gives the neighbor to build on the easement. Odds are, if it's a utility easement, it belongs to the utility company alone. See a real estate attorney for detailed information on your state's laws.
A utility easement is a feature of the property you own, not a loss of property. A utilty easement is a section of your property that needs to be left accessible to the utility (electric company, phone company, etc.) for service, repairs, upgrades etc. You can use the space such as erect a fence but you need to know that if the utility needs to access your easement space they have the right to move or destruct what you have erected.
You need to contact the easement department of the utility company that owns the easement and ask for a release. The utility must research the easement in their records which is sometimes a very complicated process. They may require a fee for the research and release. That fee can run in the hundreds of dollars. On the other hand they may refuse to release it at all even if it is not in use. Once they have property rights some utility companies don't let them go.
Not likely, the easement is there because of something that the utility company has in place there. It also provides the ability to run utility lines from one place to another including your neighbors' homes. If the easement isn't being used by the utility company they may release it for a fee. In the case of very old easement rights in Massachusetts there are liaisons at the utility companies who can research an old easment for you and they will release it if it is not needed, no longer used or if it was never used. There is a fee of at least several hundred dollars.
The rights are set forth in the document that created the easement. You need to review that document.
There is no set width for an easement. An easement is defined by an agreement between the two property owners. Some easements have standard sizes such as roads or utility easements.
A common feature is that the utility must restore the land to its original condition if it disturbs the area during any installations or improvements. For all the details you must review the easement agreement.
Presumptive easement occurs when the access or easement has been used for so many years it has become an established easement. The owners permission is not necessary if they allowed it to go for years without complaint.
You need to review the language in the document that created the easement. Generally, a structure or landscaping would not be allowed.
No. Also, other utilities can't use the easement unless that right was granted in the original instrument that granted the easement.