Understanding the Differences: Private Utility Locating vs. One Call Services

When planning to dig into the ground, it’s crucial to know which utilities lie beneath the surface. The differences between private utility locating and One Call services are essential for a successful and safe excavation.

What is Private Utility Locating?

Private utility locating involves identifying underground utility lines that extend beyond the service meters or those not maintained by public utility companies. These include:

1. Electrical feeders: Lines directing power to specific facilities.
2. Gas mains: Supplying gas directly to industrial or manufacturing plants.
3. Substation connections: Lines that run to and from electrical substations.

Since these lines are private, they are not covered by the standard 811 One Call system. Specialized utility locating companies must be engaged to detect and map these utilities effectively.

What is One Call?

One Call services, or the 811 system, are federally mandated for public safety. Before any excavation, it’s essential to notify 811 to have public utility lines marked, ensuring safe digging. These lines typically include:

• Utilities maintained by public companies.
• Lines situated before reaching a utility meter.

The Critical Differences

1. Scope of Utilities:
   • Private Locating focuses on privately owned lines, which are not visible to the general public marking systems.
   • One Call Services handle publicly maintained utilities.
2. Responsibility and Coverage:
   • Private Utilities require property owners to hire private locators to identify and protect these lines.
   • Public Utilities are managed and located by public utility companies through a simple 811 call.
3. Percentage of Total Utilities:
   • A significant portion—around 60 to 65 percent—of underground utilities on any given site are private. Thus, relying solely on One Call can leave many unmarked hazards.

Limitations of One Call Locating Services

When utilizing One Call locating services, it’s important to understand their constraints to ensure your project runs smoothly. Here are the key limitations you should be aware of:

• Private Utility Lines: One important aspect to note is that One Call does not handle locating services for private utility lines. These are lines that run from your service meter to your home or business, and their identification will require a specialist.
• Depth Information: Another limitation is the lack of depth details for public utility lines. One Call will only mark the horizontal path of utilities; however, they do not provide information regarding how deep these lines are buried.

In most construction projects or facilities, a significant 65% of on-site utilities are privately owned. These private utilities are not identifiable through the services provided by 811 One Call.