What are private Utilities?  The term "private utility" refers to the portion of an underground utility that is generally located on private property between the meter and the dwelling.  Some examples of private utilities are:  Electric or gas lines that feed detached garages, electric or gas yard lamps, lawn sprinklers, invisible pet fencing, propane lines from the tank to the house, water and sewer lines from the meter to the house, etc.

Under normal circumstances if a business or homeowner contacts Miss Utility of Virginia or North Carolina One Call to obtain a utility locate, the utility companies contractor will only locate lines up to the meter.  Locating beyond the meter is your responsibility.

 BE ON THE LOOKOUT!

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• Unless the private facility owner participates with their state one call center, privately or customer owned facilities will not be notified and may not be marked. Therefore, it is imperative that special precautions be taken by excavators as part of every excavation project.

• A good excavator is also a great detective. The excavator knows that private facilities will be part of almost every job. They physically inspect the jobsite prior to entering a ticket or bidding the job, they query the property owner, see what equipment or power may serve buildings they will excavate around and look for warning signs.