12 Sep Hydros New Click Before You Dig Clicks With Manitobans
It’s been a little over five months since Manitoba Hydro launched their new Click Before You Dig program, and it’s safe to say it’s a hit with the public. To date, more than 31,000 locate requests have poured in via the online service, an increase of 12 percent compared to this time last year.
The new service replaces Hydro’s telephone-based “Call Before You Dig” program and allows homeowners and contractors to easily submit their locate requests online. Within three to five business days of the request, the utility owner or contracted locator contacts the homeowner or contractor to schedule a locate.
The success of Hydro’s new program is a perfect example of how innovation can improve on the safety and efficiency of your maintenance program. By adopting new technology, Hydro increased their adoption rate (locate requests up 12 percent) and lowered their turnaround (locates responded to automatically via email and electronic locate clearance approvals for Hydro customers), which ultimately leads to more locates and safer excavation.
When it comes to causes of damage in the Outside plant, improper locating and marking techniques results in 17% of all reported damage while no locate request results in 25% (source: 2014 CGA DIRT Report). Whatever your system, it’s important to make sure your Call/Click Before You Dig program is promoted and utilized by all stakeholders, and that you respond to locate requests promptly and accurately.
For more information on the program, please visit http://clickbeforeyoudigmb.com/