Private locates may be necessary in some locations
By PRECorp Marketing Communications
Even when you inspect the ground carefully, buried utility lines seldom give any clue as to their location. Because of this, there might be an unwanted surprise waiting for people doing excavations. Utility lines are buried in cities and towns, in the country, along roads, and sometimes far away from the beaten paths in PRECorp’s territory.
In Campbell, Johnson and Sheridan counties, PRECorp contracts with line locating staff at ELM Locating and Utility Services. In Crook and Weston counties, PRECorp staff will visit the site free of charge, and only mark the location of their lines leading to and including the meter.
Sometimes the meter is attached to a structure or pole a distance away from the house or building. In that case, any underground lines that connect the meter to the structure are the responsibility of the owner.
“At that point homeowners or contractors may think there isn’t anything there, or they make their best guess on where the underground might be,” said PRECorp Safety and Loss Control Coordinator Hoby Hughes. “They run the risk of hitting a buried power line, propane line or water line.”
It is a good idea to hire ELM for a private locate if there is any question about underground between the meter and a structure. They can be reached at (406) 728-9343.
Before you dig
Call One-Call Wyoming at 1-800-849-2476 at least two business days before you intend to dig and request the location of all underground facilities on public rights-of-way in the area of the construction or excavation. Be prepared with information about the scheduled time, location, and nature of your activity and the name of any contractor involved in the project. You may also have to pay for locates between meters and structures on private property.
After the lines are located on both sides of the meter, you may proceed with the excavation. But remember if you know there are facilities in the area of your dig, you may need to take special care not to damage any lines or pipes and this may sometimes require hand digging as a precaution.
Ignoring the line locations, or refusing the call before digging, could make the digger responsible for death, injury, multiple lawsuits and financial liability.
If your project is not an emergency call 1-800-849-2476. If the project is an emergency and cannot wait 48-hours for a locate, call 1-800-442-3630.
