PUC cracks down on One Call violations tied to underground utilities
(UI) — The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s Damage Prevention Committee has taken enforcement action in 248 cases involving underground utility damage, issuing education requirements and administrative penalties totaling $232,250, following its December 2025 meeting.
The actions involved 162 underground facility owners, excavators and project owners and included 115 mandatory education requirements, reflecting continued regulatory scrutiny of compliance with Pennsylvania’s Underground Utility Line Protection Law, commonly known as the One Call Law.
The committee, which reviews alleged violations tied to underground line strikes, evaluates each case to determine appropriate responses that may include warning letters, training requirements or financial penalties. The goal of the enforcement program is to reduce damage to buried infrastructure and improve excavation safety across the state.
The next meeting of the Damage Prevention Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, and will be held virtually. Members of the public and media may observe the meeting online or by phone. An agenda will be posted on the PUC’s website in advance of the session.
Pennsylvania law requires contractors and residents to notify PA One Call at least three business days before excavation begins, allowing utilities to mark the location of underground facilities. Officials warn that strikes to buried electric, gas, water, wastewater and telecommunications lines pose safety risks to workers, emergency responders and the public.
The PUC’s Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement oversees compliance with state and federal pipeline and electric safety regulations and has authority to pursue enforcement actions when violations occur.
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