Pennsylvania PUC seeking nominations for committee to prevent damage to underground utilities

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced Wednesday that it is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on its Damage Prevention Committee (DPC), which was established as part of the commission’s efforts to prevent damage to underground utilities.

Act 50 of 2017 authorized the creation of the DPC. Act 50 is designed to enhance Pennsylvania’s Underground Utility Line Protection Act, also known as the “One Call Law,” and will be enforced by the PUC

The DPC will meet regularly to review alleged violations of the Act and determine the appropriate response including, but not limited to, the issuance of warning letters or administrative penalties.

DPC is comprised of a range of organizations, including non-municipal owned or affiliated facility owner industries, such as the electric, natural gas or petroleum pipelines, telephone, water or wastewater and cable television industries; excavators; municipal governments; and municipal authorities.

The PUC will accept nominations until Jan. 19, 2018. Appointments to the DPC will begin in 2018.

The PUC’s enforcement provisions of the One Call Law aims to reduce the number of “hits” on underground utilities. Approximately 6,000 hits on underground lines across the state are reported per year. The enforcement program’s goal is to reduce the number of incidents by 50 percent over the next five years.