With a steadfast commitment to safety and innovation in damage prevention, New York State Electric & Gas Corp. and Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. have achieved remarkable progress, including a notable 39% reduction in fiber installation-related damages in 2023.
Continuously striving to stay at the forefront of industry developments, their strategies for minimizing damage to underground utilities were informed by the 2023 Common Ground Alliance (CGA) Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) report and aligned with CGA’s 50 in 5 industry challenge.
Damage Prevention Programs
Subsidiaries of Avangrid, New York State Electric & Gas Corp. (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. (RG&E) operate an extensive infrastructure, including approximately 43,900 miles (70,650 km) of electric distribution lines and 5600 miles (9012 km) of transmission lines as well as more than 19,000 miles (30,578 km) of natural gas distribution pipelines and 125 miles (201 km) of gas transmission pipelines. Protecting this vast infrastructure is paramount to ensuring public safety and maintaining reliable energy delivery.
NYSEG and RG&E leverage advanced technology to monitor their systems 24/7. Their damage prevention efforts consist of three key elements:
- Aerial and ground inspections — Regular inspections ensure the early detection of potential issues. These inspections involve drones, helicopters and on-the-ground surveys to identify vulnerabilities before they escalate into significant problems.
- Maintenance programs — Comprehensive upkeep supports safe and reliable operations. Proactive maintenance reduces the likelihood of system failures and ensures compliance with regulatory standards.
- Membership in UDig NY — Partnering with the state’s one-call notification system streamlines excavation coordination, ensuring clear communication between stakeholders and reducing the risk of accidental utility strikes.
The utilities also collaborate with regulators and industry groups to adopt these forward-thinking initiatives in pipeline safety, inspection and maintenance.
Compliance and Education
NYSEG and RG&E’s damage prevention programs align with New York Department of Public Service’s 16 NYCRR Part 753, the code rule for underground facility protection. Although not enforcers of the code rule, the utilities emphasize education to ensure contractors and homeowners understand their responsibilities under the law. Encouraging 811 calls before digging is central to their outreach efforts.
Educating contractors and homeowners about safe digging practices involves more than distributing brochures. NYSEG and RG&E conduct community workshops, training sessions and awareness campaigns tailored to various audiences. For contractors, these sessions often include demonstrations of safe excavation techniques and the importance of marking underground utilities. Homeowners are taught to recognize the potential hazards of digging, even for seemingly minor projects like planting shrubs.
The 50 in 5 Challenge
CGA’s 50 in 5 industry challenge aims to reduce damages to critical underground utilities by 50% within five years. This initiative targets three focus areas:
- Effective and consistent use of 811 — Promote awareness and adherence to the one-call system to ensure excavation activities are preceded by proper utility locating.
- Key excavator practices — Implement standardized best practices during excavation, such as proper equipment use, hand-digging near utility lines and maintaining clear communication with utility locators.
- Accurate and timely utility locating — Ensure precise and efficient marking of underground facilities.
- Advanced technologies, such as ground-penetrating radar and geographic information system (GIS) mapping, are increasingly used to enhance accuracy.
These focus areas address more than 76% of all utility damages, according to CGA’s 2023 DIRT Report. By integrating these principles into their operations, NYSEG and RG&E have significantly reduced gas hits during fiber installations.
A Coordinated Approach
The rapid expansion of fiber networks presents unique challenges for damage prevention. In Northwestern New York, NYSEG and RG&E partnered with Bermex Inc., USIC LLC, UDig NY and major fiber companies to establish preinstallation walk-throughs and on-site coordination. This proactive approach has driven a 39% reduction in damages during fiber installations.
These walk-throughs are not limited to simple site inspections. They involve collaborative planning sessions during which utility representatives, contractors and subcontractors identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies. For instance, fiber installation projects often require excavation in areas densely populated with gas pipelines and electrical lines. By addressing these challenges upfront, the utilities have avoided many potential accidents.
Lessons From DIRT
The 2023 CGA DIRT report underscores the importance of the following:
- Excavation best practices: Failure to call 811 and insufficient site preparation account for many damages. NYSEG and RG&E’s focus on preinstallation coordination directly addresses these issues.
- Technology integration: Advanced tools like global positioning system (GPS) mapping and augmented reality improve utility locating accuracy. By incorporating these technologies, NYSEG and RG&E have enhanced their ability to detect and mark underground assets. Stakeholder collaboration: Unified efforts among utilities, excavators and regulators enhance safety outcomes. The success of the 50 in 5 challenge relies heavily on fostering such partnerships.
Teamwork Drives Safety
To improve NYSEG and RG&E’s damage prevention efforts, significant challenges had to be addressed, such as high volumes of dig tickets, recurring damages, contractor disengagement, high turnover and the lack of a unified team approach. A key milestone was the 2023 partnership with Bermex, a company with a proven history in metering services, to enhance the damage prevention division.
Utility management prioritized a collaborative and safety-first mindset across the team. Supported by four supervisors, the program’s efforts focused on creating a safe excavation environment. Bermex damage prevention drivers have conducted thorough investigations and provided essential education to both contractors and homeowners on safe digging practices.
This shift toward proactive teamwork and robust communication has resulted in a significant reduction in damages.
Expanded Public Awareness
Educating homeowners about safe digging practices is equally vital. Many homeowners are unaware that activities as simple as planting a tree require an 811 call. Through community outreach and clear messaging, NYSEG and RG&E address this knowledge gap.
Awareness campaigns often include real-life examples of utility strikes and their consequences. By illustrating the potential dangers of unsafe digging, these campaigns drive home the importance of calling 811. Additionally, NYSEG and RG&E leverage social media, local media outlets and public events to reach a broader audience.
Blueprint for Safer Networks
The reduction in fiber installation damages achieved by NYSEG and RG&E showcases the power of collaboration, innovation and a steadfast commitment to safety. As utilities across the U.S. face similar challenges, NYSEG and RG&E’s success serves as a model for building safer, more resilient networks. Their efforts provide a compelling blueprint for others to follow, demonstrating that through strategic partnerships and staying abreast of the latest industry developments, substantial improvements in infrastructure protection can be achieved.
