1. INVESTIGATIONS AND COMPLIANCE
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

2. HYDRO PANELISTS
Hydro panelists representing their respective hydro companies:
Rod McNeil – Toronto Hydro - Damage Prevention Supervisor
- Greg Davidson – Energy Plus - Manager Locate Dept
Rodney Guy – Chief Operator – Sudbury Hydro
Representing Contractors:
Gordon Campbell - Platform Specialist – Locates – On behalf of Rogers excavation
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

3. PRIVATE HYDRO LINES UNDER PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY
Question – who’s locating them?
Hydro companies
Business or commercial companies
Private locating companies
No one
Homeowners
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

4. O.U.I.N.S. ACT L.D.C.’S RESPONSIBILITIES
To identify for excavators whether underground infrastructure is located in the vicinity of a proposed excavation or dig site. Every operator of a distribution system as defined in the Electricity Act 1998, must become a Member, including local distribution companies, LDC’s Section 5 (7) of the Act is very broad and captures infrastructure buried in the public right of way. Interpretation Bulletin 1 carves out some exceptions.
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

5. Ontario One Call Interpretation Bulletin 1.0
Underground infrastructure means assets designed to provide a utility or service to persons and property which is intentionally placed beneath the ground
Safety and efficiency are paramount.
To meet the public interest in terms of membership, One Call continues to focus on owners/operators of underground infrastructure located in the public right of way, rather than wholly on private land.
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

6. WHY IS THIS DISCUSSION HAPPENING
Complaints from contractors, not all lines in the public right of way were marked.
Contractors have hit hydro lines in the public right of way.
Contractors have gone from one district that locates all lines to another that does not, inconsistency is dangerous.
Owners of recently purchased properties don’t know they own a private hydro line in the public right of way.
There is no continuity across Ontario with respect to the locating of private hydro lines. There is a need for a consensus approach.
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

7. COMPLAINT SCENERIO
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

8. HYDRO COMPANYS REPLY We do not own this infrastructure.
We do not have as build's for this private line.
We will not undertake the liability for locating someone else's line.
The contractor should have obtained private locates to protect his employees.
Ontario Regulation 22/04 (Electrical Distribution Safety) defines what a ownership demarcation point means. This regulation is administered by ESA.
The Distributor established where an ownership demarcation point is as per their Conditions of Service
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

9. QUESTIONS PRESENTED TO THE COMPIANCE COMMITTEE
Q: Is there a risk of a contractor hitting this hydro line?
A: 100% said yes
Q: Is this considered a dangerous situation for any contactor?
A: 100% yes
Q: Should the hydro company have located this line in some fashion?
A: 80% yes
Q: Is there inconsistency across Ontario with respect to locating
private hydro line in the public right of way?
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

10. SOME LDC’S DON’T LOCATE THESE LINES WHY
LDC’s do not have records of privately installed lines
There will be a huge cost increase to do these lines
They have defined where the ownership demarcation point is
It is the contractors responsibility to ensure all services have been located
We did not install it
We don’t own it
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

11. SOME LDC’S DO - WHY
Some hydro companies do not locate these private lines, what about the ones that do. Why do they?
Safety – “no one gets killed on my watch”. (quote)
If we go there once for a locate and a line gets hit, might have to attend the site up to 3 times. A) the locate B) turn power off C) turn power on. So why not locate all lines and avoid going back.
Liability: have never been sued for locating a private line in the public right of way.
Records: someone has them, they have to be inspected, by working with the property owner this can be resolved
Right thing to do. We have the means to identify these lines by way of equipment, some records, access to hydro connections and experience
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

12. MEETING WITH HYDRO COMPANIES REGARDING PRIVATE HYDRO LINES
12 hydro companies met with Compliance.
Q: Where do you locate to in spite of who owns the hydro line?
Various responses were:
Ownership demarcation point established by the distributor which does not include privately installed lines
Always to the property line
To the hydro box even if on private property
Always to the meter for the homeowner – one company stated they would not go to the meter if the homeowner had the line privately installed
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

13. WHAT IS ON1CALL LOOKING FOR
CONSISTENCY CONSENSUS LOCATES
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

14. WHAT DOES COMPLIANCE RECOMMEND
Locate a homeowners hydro line to the meter – like gas
Hydro companies locate any and all lines that the hydro company owns to the meter, hydro box, vault, or other physical structure.
Private hydro lines under the public right of way – LDC’s will locate any hydro line to the property line. Thus mitigating any contact with a hydro line by the contractor.
How can our municipalities assist – Consider not permitting the installation of private hydro lines under the public right of way, other than by an LDC.
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

15. ON1CALL’S COMPLIANCE OUTLOOK
If it is a utility owned line, locate to the meter/box vault. If it is a privately owned line, utilities locate only the portion in the public right of way, (eg: terminate locate at property line) To have the best scenario possible that our excavators get home safely after work.
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

16. HYDRO PANELISTS
Hydro panelists representing their respective hydro companies:
Rod McNeil – Toronto Hydro - Damage Prevention Supervisor
Rodney Guy – Chief Operator – Sudbury Hydro
Greg Davidson – Energy Plus - Manager Locate Dept.
Representing Contractors:
Gordon Campbell - Platform Specialist – Locates – On behalf of Rogers excavation
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018

17. QUESTIONS?
Steve Waugh Investigations & Compliance Manager Phone: Ext ext 8201
Damage Prevention Symposium 2018