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Class A utilities urge mandatory Texas 811 membership, narrower ticket scope and longer notice window
Summary
Representatives of CenterPoint Energy, AT&T and pipeline trade groups told the subcommittee that making Texas 811 truly universal would reduce the need for multiple calls and lower strike risk. They recommended mandatory 811 membership for all utilities, a single‑ticket scope limit (suggested 1,500 linear feet) and extending notice from 48 to 72
Keith Wall, director of regulatory affairs at CenterPoint Energy, testified that mandatory membership by all utilities would make the 811 system a true single‑call system and reduce instances where excavators must contact multiple owners. Wall recommended three priority changes for statutory modernization: mandatory Texas 811 participation for all utilities; limiting the linear scope of a single ticket to 1,500 feet; and extending the notice window from 48 hours to 72 hours.
David Tate (AT&T) described the company's major capital investment in Texas broadband and said AT&T would participate in stakeholder work to update the statute, noting the original state law was a careful balance and needs thoughtful adjustments to scale to today's infrastructure.
Terry Cannon (Texas Pipeline Association) and Daniel Gibson (Texas Rural Broadband Association) supported efforts to strengthen participation and increase notice time but cautioned that a single approach will require tailoring across industries and company sizes.
Panelists said repeated tickets with excessive geographic scope can stretch locators and lead to hurried marks; limiting ticket scope and creating differentiated timelines for complex projects could improve safety and project certainty without unnecessarily delaying routine short‑scope digs.
