As a Damage Prevention Specialist (underground utility locator) of several years, I can not count the number of times a contractor or a homeowner has been in need of having THEIR utilities marked out for them. At the time, the company I was employed by charged $150-$200 per hour with a minimum of 1 hour to mark these out for them! I start with a flat fee of $45 for marking out the Electric, Cable, Phone and Fiber if it is in the area. That's less than 1/4 what they were charging. Many couldn't afford it or couldn't justify the high cost and continued without them being marked out. Unfortunately, the end result of a homeowner or a contractor hitting the secondary electric is just as dangerous as if they hit the primary electric maintained by the electric company. It is critical that people are able to afford to be safe while digging and that's where Effective CD LLC comes in. I am a Licensed Safety Professional, and very well versed in Code Rule 753 (as is my staff) which states the requirements when it comes to digging. These rules apply to ALL not just contractors. Some common examples of customer owned utilities often not thought of being marked are: Pet fencing, Driveway/walkway lighting, electric running to the swimming pool or garage and out buildings. Gas running to a heated pool or cook grill. Digging into any of these is not only dangerous, but expensive and time consuming to repair. Some contractors call in multiple tickets such as tree planting or gas or water main installations. For these, where there is nothing to mark on the customer side, I charge a flat $9.00 for a site visit. This allows the contractor to get a heads up ahead of time before they even receive their trees for planting that it is either clear, or it has been marked. Quick and efficient. 65% of ALL buried utilities in the US are customer owned. If your a homeowner, and just really can't afford $45.00 please use extra caution and give us a call we can work something out to ensure your digging safe.