More common than you think. I have had the same issue 3 times in the past month. It's unfortunate but true. Here in the Houston area the builders will try to take the shortest distance to the box instead of running in the easement like they are suppoed to. Just curious did line locate mark that line?

No they did not. Not to happy about that.

Thanks

Power lines were not checked by PB.

Do you not have a 1-800 number to have the utilities come out and mark for free? And BTW, my city permitting process mandates that a builder that plans to dig either search themselves, or call the 1-800 number.

In fact, my PB took out a whole block of homes, a few weeks before starting my build, but since the power company failed to mark the line, the power company had to eat the cost of the repair.

Is this in an easement? I could probably go on, but instead would suggest you don't just fold on the bill until you look into the problem a bit more.

Looks like the home builder took a shorter route and went over the easement. The pool builder did not call for the line to be located.

Is there anything i can do???

Thanks
Mark

It the builder didn't go where he was supposed to and the town approved everything and released any bonds to the builder, I would say that makes them responsible for not having inspected it correctly. Given that the easement is specifically for utilities, right? They won't like that.

Scott

Scott,

Just spoke to the city. There is no easment on the sides of my yard and the survey dosent show this power line. I am having the builder speak to the City and then the electrical co.

Here in south Texas (San Antonio) it seems everything is buried shallow. During my pool renovation the phone line from the box to the house was 2" underground. I ran a new line from the box to the house 5' in conduit as it should have been. As far as electrical service, that is buried 6' and the gas service 6' also. Call your utility company and have them correct the problem. As far as IÂm concerned they should relocate the line at no cost to you.

If the builder did not call line locate then he is responsible.

Thanks for all your imput guys. My PB is talking with the electric co today. Hopefully everything will work out.

Mark

I am sure in the end it will all work out. Again these things do happen, just a speed bump in the road.

Good Luck,

David

If it was all easy it would be no fun

My line was marked prior to the dig ... so I had to pay to have it moved. $2K I had not planned on spending.

My husband and I began construction on a swimming pool on May 1st. Utility locators came to our home nor once but TWICE and did not locate the electrical line. Needless to say, the line was unearthed. Thankfully, no one was injured. We contacted Center Point IMMEDIATELY and were informed that we own the line and it was not their responsibility to come out and mark the line. Utility locator advised they do not have a locate contract with Center Point therefore, they are not responsible either. Our home will be two years old in August. This main line runs diagonally from one corner of our home to the other corner, straight through the middle of the back yard, which is approximately 1000 feet. The utility easement runs down the fenceline on the side then turns left along the fenceline in the back edge of the yard. No one wants to take responsibility. During the reroute process we also discovered our line is aluminum which the builder failed to fisclose to us as well as failing to advise us that our line did not follow the easement as indicated on our survey....they took the cheapest route....running through the yard AND using aluminum. do we have ANY recourse? I am exhausted from listening to all these folks pass blame on each other. when a potentially dangerous and life threatening condition exists, who has a duty to disclose?

THANKS FOR ANY HELP/INFO!!!