Page 19 - Tennessee 811 Magazine 2020 Issue 3

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effectiveness of the program is the comparison of damages per thousand locate tickets issued. Nationally, this figure decreased from 3.0 damages per thousand tickets in 2016 to 2.6 damages per thousand tickets in 2019. See Figure 1. Tennessee improved from 4.5 damages per thousand tickets in 2016 to 4.0 damages per thousand tickets
in 2019. See Figure 2. While these
statistics show improvement in safety practices, Tennessee remains above the national average in damages per thousand tickets.
Tennessee’s damage prevention efforts are often hamstrung by inadequate and incomplete data. Operators are required to report information to the Common Ground Alliance’s DIRT system by statute, but the Board is unable to
FIGURE 2.
obtain this information without operator consent. Whether it is due to a failure to report damages to DIRT or a failure of the operator to share DIRT reports with TPUC, the Board’s ability to evaluate the effectiveness of the program is often hindered by the inability to review this information.
The Board has worked diligently to implement a program of underground utility damage prevention that ensures Tennesseans receive continuous, safe, and reliable utility service, while protecting the assets of utilities. You
can partner with the Board in this mission by ensuring that the Board has complaints to consider, participating and cooperating in the investigative process, providing data that is necessary to demonstrate the effectiveness of the program, and by providing input in
the Board’s rulemaking process. If you would like additional information on the Board or the underground utility damage prevention program, please contact Consumer Services Director Stacy Balthrop or Senior Counsel Aaron Conklin at the Tennessee Public Utility Commission via phone (800) 342-8359 or via email TRA.UUDP@tn.gov.
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2020, Issue 3 Tennessee811 • 17