An easement is an interest in land owned by another, that entitles its holder to a specific limited use or enjoyment. There are many different kinds of easements, ranging from rights of way, prescriptive easements, easements by implication, and easements by necessity.
The most common easement is a right of way. This is generally accomplished by a grant form one owner of land to another. Most utility companies -- such as electric, gas and telephone -- have arranged with land owners to grant them an easement for the purpose of installing and maintaining the lines or cables which provide the utility service to the individual home.
Easements should be recorded in the land records where the property is located. This puts the world on notice -- and especially the owner and subsequent owners -- that their land is subject to this easement of right of way.