Private Utility Locates: Stakeholders, Risks & Why Blind Locates Still Happen

Requesting public utility locates is a well-structured process involving multiple parties who ensure the site is safe for excavation. However, private locates bring their own set of complexities, often without the same guidance or information for excavators. Many companies only become aware of these challenges after incidents occur, scrambling to understand why damages happened.

While private utility locates share some similarities with public locates, they introduce unique hurdles. These include limited information and increased risks of missing buried infrastructure, forcing many contractors to work blind. Without careful management, this gap in understanding can lead to preventable damage.

Across the industry, efforts to prevent underground utility damage have steadily increased, reducing excavation incidents. Processes and regulations for public locates are well-documented, while private locates remain less straightforward despite using similar techniques and equipment. Private locate contractors face a unique set of challenges, including limited access to records, unclear ownership responsibilities, and greater accountability when working without full site information.

Stakeholder Roles

Looking at the roles of major stakeholders reveals key differences between public and private locates:

• Public Utility Owner: Owns, installs, and maintains buried facilities, playing a role in providing utility locates, promoting damage prevention, and ensuring service continuity.

• Locate Service Provider: Works for or contracts with the utility owner to prevent damage by marking underground assets.

• Excavator: Holds the responsibility to complete utility locates in line with local safety regulations.

Public Locates

Public utility locates are regulated, funded, and managed by the utility owners, who are legally responsible for locating assets within public lands and easements. These locates are coordinated by locate 811 call centers, which ensure utility owners are notified of excavation requests to safeguard workers and the public. If records are unclear, utility owners remain accountable and may use alternative methods to assist excavators in finding assets.

Typically, public utility owners are only responsible for assets up to the demarcation point—the point where utility service ends and private ownership begins. Beyond this point, asset protection falls to the property owner.

Private Locates

Although private locates use similar techniques to public locates, their structure and accountability differ significantly. Private locate contractors are often hired by third-party clients—such as excavators or consultants—rather than the actual asset owner. This setup frequently limits the contractor’s access to critical information like utility records, building access, or connection points. As a result, they are often forced to perform blind locates, relying on limited or no documentation.

Without cooperation from the asset owner, private locate contractors must “sleuth out” buried facilities with minimal support, increasing the chance of missing critical infrastructure. Ideally, asset owners would provide full records and facilitate access to key facility areas, but in many cases, contractors are left to investigate independently by examining mechanical rooms, utility spaces, and interviewing facility personnel.

This lack of support can also mislead third-party clients into requesting “clearance” without fully understanding what lies beneath. Private locate contractors are still contractually bound to provide accurate results—yet when working blind, the risk of error increases. The limitations of blind locates highlight the importance of better communication, complete documentation, and shared accountability across all parties involved.

Summary

The public locate process has steadily improved, backed by industry awareness and regulations that help protect public utility assets from damage. In contrast, private locate contractors face a unique set of challenges, often performing locate services without support from asset owners and navigating complex contractual relationships with third parties. These operational conditions make private locating an intricate, high-stakes process, distinct from the standardized controls governing public locates.

Want to know what a private locate really involves? Read our full Private Utility Locate Guideline to understand the process.

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Published January 10th 2025