Member Information Packet

Member Information Packet

Table of Contents Membership Benefits 2-3 Procedures for Joining 4 Implementation Guidelines 5-9 Click one of the following for additional information: Texas811 Board Members - http://www.texas811.org/about-texas811/board-members GeoRemote - http://www.texas811.org /public/userfiles/pdfs/introducing_georemote_v3.pdf Texas811 Utility Members - http://www.texas811.org/member-information/current-members Bylaws - http://www.texas811.org/member-information/bylaws

Membership Benefits Member-Directed, Non-Profit notification center Contact Center located in Dallas. Highly trained staff with a low turnover rate. Bilingual customer service representatives. Strict quality control and oversight. Up-to-date technology serves approximately 25% of all locate requests in the U.S. More than 1300 member utility operators represented by a member-elected Board of Directors. The Board makes decisions based on what best serves our member companies, excavators, and the general public. Texas811 doesn t require a contract with its member companies. We owe our growth and member-retention to exemplary service.

Membership Benefits Cont... Texas811 keeps member costs low Texas811 services are billed on a per use basis at $0.95 per notification. We use the same billing structure for our largest down to our smallest member so everyone pays the same low price. There are no additional fees or add-ons and your satisfaction with our notification service is guaranteed. GeoCall notification system utilizes shape-files to define notification parameters. This results in fewer over notifications regarding work done outside of your service area. There is no charge for initial mapping or any future service territory updates. Texas811 updates GeoCall with Tele Atlas digital mapping at least every 6 months or as necessary to address geographic locations experiencing rapid growth. Texas811 offers all members FREE online ticket management software. Texas811 distributes notification tickets to multiple locations for no additional charge. There is no additional charge for re-sent tickets. All excavators can enter locate requests on-line with GeoRemote which reduces time and increases efficiency, especially when mapping the requested area. Members benefit from GeoRemote due to reduced operating costs associated with the GeoCall interface. Members benefit from extensive industry and public outreach conducted by Texas811 staff that spread the Dig Safely message at conferences, safety meetings, and with individual excavators on our member s behalf. Texas811 also

Procedures for Joining Click here to access Application (Be sure to attach mapping at the bottom of the form.) If you have any questions regarding... The Texas811 Organization Texas811 Bylaws Implementation Procedures or Mapping Or any other questions Please contact Ombudsman at (972) 280-8783.

Member Implementation Guidelines Topic Operation Description Building the Database Message Receipt Options Page 6-7 8 9

Center Operating Characteristics Anyone planning excavation can call 811 24 hours, 7 days per week. The call will be answered by one of the Damage Prevention Agents. The operator will ask the caller a series of questions concerning the planned excavation. For Web Entry or to process your own tickets please visit: http://www.texas811.com When you call, the Texas811 representative finds the location of the excavation site on an automated mapping system based on the callers directions. The area of excavation is then cross-referenced against all Texas811 member databases to determine which members will be notified of the excavation. The caller is then given a unique Locate Request number (aka Ticket Number ) as proof of contacting the Texas811 Contact Center. The Locate Request number (Example: 1310757934) is composed of the following fields: 13 = Year 107 = 107th Day of Year 57934 = Daily Sequence Number In addition to the Locate Request number, each message sent to a member is assigned a Sequence Number. Using this number, the member can verify receipt of all messages. All conversations in and out of the Center are recorded and saved for a minimum of four years.

Center Operating Characteristics Cont... Locate Request messages sent out by Texas811 are classified by priority. These classifications are: Emergency Dig-up Non-Compliant Normal No Response Recall Survey/Design Update - situations involving danger to life, health, or property. - situations involving a damaged underground line. - calls for locates with less than 2 work-day notice. - calls for locates with at least 2 work-day notice and not more than 14 days notice. - if one or more utility companies have not responded to mark their lines - if any changes are to be made to an existing ticket. - If no excavation will take place but need to know where the lines are so design work can be implemented. A second call prior to excavation would be required. - if the customer needs the markings refreshed on an ongoing job and/or wants to keep the ticket in the system. Within minutes from the time a ticket is completed, all members with facilities in the excavation area will receive a locate request message.

Excavators are required, by law, to give at least 2 work-day notice to our members for locate requests. Our members will be asked to locate their facilities or notify the contractor within 2 working days from the time of receipt of the locate request that they will not be located. Building the Database Texas811 makes every effort to ensure that building a database is as simple and painless as possible. The member s first step in doing this is to contact the Ombudsman at (972) 280-8783 or at Ombudsman@Texas811.org. We will discuss the various methods of submitting your database, so that we can facilitate a smooth transition into the Texas811 system. After this task is completed, Texas811 will provide a copy of the new database for verification. The mapping assistance that our Ombudsman provides at no extra charge is just another example of the many benefits enjoyed by Texas811 members.

Center Message Receipt Options Locate Request Messages may be received at member locations in the following ways: 1. Email - The Center will email up to three email addresses at no additional charge. We recommend that these email addresses be dedicated for receiving Texas811 notifications. 2. TM Express - Third party web-based ticket management service 3. FTP - Members will need software to retrieve locate requests from our FTP site or designate a site of your own for us to deliver locates. We will need the IP address and a user name and password to access your FTP server. In case of Emergency or Dig Up locate requests; automated messages or voice-outs will contact each member as well as transmitting the hard copy message. Each locate request transmitted will have a sequence number (in addition to the Locate Request number) to help the member verify receipt of all messages.