As I wrote the content for yesterday's Team MPL "811 Day" messaging, it was important to me to reiterate to our audiences that we do not compete with 811/One Call. We sometimes compare our services, using statistics like, "65% of underground infrastructure is Private - not located by 811," or "We locate an average of 46% more utilities and structures than 811 on the same sites." In the same breath however, we purposefully use language to express that 811 is obligated (and limited) to ONLY marking Public utilities.
811 is required by law to protect public utilities; these are essentially the lines that run from the utility's main to the user's meter. This service is free to the public, because it is performed or paid for by the utility owners to protect their infrastructure.
Anything that runs from the user's meter to (or between) their facilities is considered a private utility; they are literally the exact same utilities/lines, yet damage prevention is not required by law on the user's side of the meter.
Are they less dangerous on that side of the meter? No.
Are they less susceptible to damages? No.
Our services (generally speaking) begin where 811's end: at the meter. That is where generations of Masons (Mark Mason, formerly Blood Hound and now Jake Mason, Mason Private Locating) have pioneered, innovated and championed to carry the "damage prevention torch" from the meter to your work zones.
812 Day is a joke - but the message is serious. Without detracting from the work that our friends at 811 do or a day that is dedicated to their cause, 8-1-2 Day was just my way of saying, "Damage prevention doesn't end at the meter." Together, 811 and MPL provide comprehensive damage prevention on your excavation sites.
I hope that everyone received our sincere wishes yesterday for a happy, SAFE 811 Day, but also hope that you will remember this conversation and make that SECOND call. Our CSRs are very knowledgeable, happy to answer your questions and as always: there is no commitment from a phone call. Talk to them about YOUR job site. Tell them what you see. Let them ask you questions. Determine together what the likelihood is of private utilities on your site and IF you should schedule services. We can usually be on site in less than 48 hours!
