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Jim Redelfs

In article ,
wrote:

My former neighbor, a farmer had a waterline leaking underground near
his barn. He took a front end loader and started digging. Not only
did he chop his own phone line to the house, but two other main lines
that feed the whole area. About a dozen farms lost phone service. He
chopped one of those lines in 3 or 4 different places, which made it
look as if it was placed in the same trench as the water line. The
phone company fixed it, then sent him a bill for close to $2000. He
was ****ed, but he had no choice because he should have had them mark
the path (which is free).

He got off cheap if it was a main cable, damaged in more than one place.

I worked yesterday (Sunday) and restored service to a rural residence
(acreage) whose phone line was augered apart in four out of five holes
mechanically dug for tree planting. They just drove in there (no locates) and
started blowing holes in the ground. Look overhead: There's NO WIRES up
there! Where are they? Also, just because there ARE wires in the air, it
does NOT mean there aren't ALSO buried wires. Some utilities bury their
lines, others hang 'em because it's cheaper.

1 cut = 2 splices
2 cuts = 4 splices
3 cuts = 6 splices
etc.

After the first cut, I just abandon the wire and order a new one to replace
the destroyed wire. Of course, to restore service to the affected customer, I
laid a temporary wire across the expansive lawn of the neighbor that cut the
wire.

Call before you dig, folks! You're already paying for the locating service as
part of your utility bills.

Heck, there's anywhere from 240 to 8kVAC down there! Then there's gas, water
and more.
--

JR