Calling 811 - learned something this week

[ATH]

Couple weeks ago, I was planting trees where another company had removed other trees and ground the stumps a few weeks prior. They had lines marked, but those markings were not in good shape. So I put in a new request (which was required by law anyhow).

I got notice that all was clear...also got email from ATT "high priority area". But no phone lines were marked. I see the square box right there. I see some old faint marks over in the grass. Fortunately, I dropped the trees off on a Monday. Had a conference on a Tuesday and was planting Wednesday. I called 811 again Tuesday to let them know phone wasn't marked. As we wrapped up that call she started to say "your 48 hours from now is...." I interrupted her and said "My 48 hours was last Friday. I'm digging first thing tomorrow morning." The lines were marked when I showed up.

So, similar thing this week dropped off trees Monday, no communication lines marked, so I called and they said they'd send the ticket back out. The field guy from the marking company called Tuesday morning "I marked AT&T, but cannot find Metronet. We'll have to wait until they come and locate that." I explained I'd be planting later this week (exact day wasn't set). He said I needed to wait. I explained I met my legal obligation by calling ahead last week. He said he was now notifying me that not everything could be located and if I cut Metronet's fiber line I'd be liable. I asked who was liable if the trees die because they aren't getting planted in a timely manor. He cussed a little, and unsympathetically told me there are contractors all around waiting for Metronet for 2+ weeks.

Lesson learned: do NOT call a second time. I had an email stating the ticket was cleared. At that point, if I cut a line, its on them. (obviously if I thought gas or electric was going to be a problem I'd call again).

(I planted anyhow...Metronet is in conduit AND deeper that we dig AND I was hand digging, so would find that before cutting it.)

 

[ATH]

On another planting, Columbia gas called before the 48 hours passed to let me know they were not getting the tone on a line they know was in the area and asked if I could wait a couple days before digging. Advance notice...no problem. I can push that until Thursday or Friday instead of Monday or Tuesday, would that be OK? "Yes, we'll have it done by then". Called Tuesday: "We still cannot find all of it, but I'm going to send you a picture to confirm this is where you are digging. If you stay here, you are all clear". Much more personable/easier to work with/wanting to make things work for our end as well.

 

[Reach]

Sounds like you have some decent utilities to work with. We rarely call 811, as we do not do any planting, but we do grind a lot of stumps. Stump grinding typically doesn’t encounter lines, but we will make the call when one of our customers wants us to.

A couple times over the years we have cut Comcast lines, because they are only an inch below the surface, and because Comcast says, and I quote “we do not mark our lines because it is cheaper to repair one line in 10 than it is to mark all 10.”

 

[Jehinten]

My subcontractor now calls 811 for every stump grind. He started this after hitting a gas line with the grinder.

So many utilities here are under tree stumps. Several years back we had a line of pine trees, probably around 15 of them, that every one of them was directly in line with the gas line. As if they used the trench to plant the trees.

 

[VenasNursery]

Couple weeks ago, I was planting trees where another company had removed other trees and ground the stumps a few weeks prior. They had lines marked, but those markings were not in good shape. So I put in a new request (which was required by law anyhow).

I got notice that all was clear...also got email from ATT "high priority area". But no phone lines were marked. I see the square box right there. I see some old faint marks over in the grass. Fortunately, I dropped the trees off on a Monday. Had a conference on a Tuesday and was planting Wednesday. I called 811 again Tuesday to let them know phone wasn't marked. As we wrapped up that call she started to say "your 48 hours from now is...." I interrupted her and said "My 48 hours was last Friday. I'm digging first thing tomorrow morning." The lines were marked when I showed up.

So, similar thing this week dropped off trees Monday, no communication lines marked, so I called and they said they'd send the ticket back out. The field guy from the marking company called Tuesday morning "I marked AT&T, but cannot find Metronet. We'll have to wait until they come and locate that." I explained I'd be planting later this week (exact day wasn't set). He said I needed to wait. I explained I met my legal obligation by calling ahead last week. He said he was now notifying me that not everything could be located and if I cut Metronet's fiber line I'd be liable. I asked who was liable if the trees die because they aren't getting planted in a timely manor. He cussed a little, and unsympathetically told me there are contractors all around waiting for Metronet for 2+ weeks.

Lesson learned: do NOT call a second time. I had an email stating the ticket was cleared. At that point, if I cut a line, its on them. (obviously if I thought gas or electric was going to be a problem I'd call again).

(I planted anyhow...Metronet is in conduit AND deeper that we dig AND I was hand digging, so would find that before cutting it.)

They should be called miss marked or guess mark and even question mark!

Here’s where we think it is now stay 4’ away from marked line each side.

What a joke

 

[macrocarpa]

Couple weeks ago, I was planting trees where another company had removed other trees and ground the stumps a few weeks prior. They had lines marked, but those markings were not in good shape. So I put in a new request (which was required by law anyhow).

I got notice that all was clear...also got email from ATT "high priority area". But no phone lines were marked. I see the square box right there. I see some old faint marks over in the grass. Fortunately, I dropped the trees off on a Monday. Had a conference on a Tuesday and was planting Wednesday. I called 811 again Tuesday to let them know phone wasn't marked. As we wrapped up that call she started to say "your 48 hours from now is...." I interrupted her and said "My 48 hours was last Friday. I'm digging first thing tomorrow morning." The lines were marked when I showed up.

So, similar thing this week dropped off trees Monday, no communication lines marked, so I called and they said they'd send the ticket back out. The field guy from the marking company called Tuesday morning "I marked AT&T, but cannot find Metronet. We'll have to wait until they come and locate that." I explained I'd be planting later this week (exact day wasn't set). He said I needed to wait. I explained I met my legal obligation by calling ahead last week. He said he was now notifying me that not everything could be located and if I cut Metronet's fiber line I'd be liable. I asked who was liable if the trees die because they aren't getting planted in a timely manor. He cussed a little, and unsympathetically told me there are contractors all around waiting for Metronet for 2+ weeks.

Lesson learned: do NOT call a second time. I had an email stating the ticket was cleared. At that point, if I cut a line, its on them. (obviously if I thought gas or electric was going to be a problem I'd call again).

(I planted anyhow...Metronet is in conduit AND deeper that we dig AND I was hand digging, so would find that before cutting it.)

Exact same thing happened to me planting this fall. I think these utility companies are using random cheap contractors or something because it’s become pathetic.

Columbia gas on the other hand I’ve had good luck with and I think they still pay their employees well because the ones I’ve encountered have been knowledgeable and on point.

But electric and cable companies, most of the time no-show for me over the last few years.

 

[ATH]

If you want to see how good Columbia gas (or any of the pipeline companies) are, just park a piece of excavation equipment on or near the ROW of a larger line. They'll show up in short order.

Was working with a logger once who heard a plane circle at low altitude overhead a few times. Less than an hour later a truck rolls up. Told him he needs a bridge to cross their pipeline (wood mat with a couple inches of dirt under each side is adequate). "How is my log truck different than the grain trucks they use when harvesting the field here?" "You need to bridge that crossing."

Slightly more "impactful" consequences if you hit a gas line vs. communication. I am surprised you cannot get electric to mark though. Again, that's a problem if you hit their lines. They are pretty good here...especially the co-op.

 

[VenasNursery]

Get up get get down
811 is a joke in your town

“Public Enemy”

 

[macrocarpa]

If you want to see how good Columbia gas (or any of the pipeline companies) are, just park a piece of excavation equipment on or near the ROW of a larger line. They'll show up in short order.

Was working with a logger once who heard a plane circle at low altitude overhead a few times. Less than an hour later a truck rolls up. Told him he needs a bridge to cross their pipeline (wood mat with a couple inches of dirt under each side is adequate). "How is my log truck different than the grain trucks they use when harvesting the field here?" "You need to bridge that crossing."

Slightly more "impactful" consequences if you hit a gas line vs. communication. I am surprised you cannot get electric to mark though. Again, that's a problem if you hit their lines. They are pretty good here...especially the co-op.

Yeah, I’m super impressed with Columbia gas. I smelled a gas leak on my exterior gas meter and they came out immediately and told me exactly where the gas leak was. They couldn’t fix it because it was beyond their responsibility so I had to have a plumber come out, but while they were there, they basically did an entire HVAC inspection on the inside of the house as well. I’ve been super happy with them. Hopefully they don’t start eliminating good career positions and start using subcontracted technician scabs.