What is a locate and when do I need one?

A locate is the process of marking the surface location of underground utilities before any excavation or construction work. This service is essential to prevent accidental damage to buried infrastructure.

Call 811 before you dig

Alaska law requires you to call 811 (Alaska Dig Line) at least two business days before any excavation.

• Phone: 811 or 1-800-478-3121
• Website: alaska811.com
• This service is free for locating public utility lines
• Required by law for all excavation projects

When you call 811, all utilities in the area (water, gas, electric, phone, cable) will mark their underground lines. However, 811 members do not locate private facilities.

Utility locates vs. private locates

What the utility locates (public facilities):

• Water mains in public rights-of-way
• Service connections from the main to your keybox
• Utility facilities within utility easements

What the utility does NOT locate (private facilities):

• Water service lines from the keybox to any buildings on your property
• Private plumbing on your property

For lines beyond the keybox to buildings, you must hire a private utility locator.

When you need a locate

• Before any digging, excavation, or construction on your property
• When installing fences, decks, or other structures
• For landscaping projects that involve digging
• Before hiring contractors for any work that disturbs the ground
• When planning to excavate in public rights-of-way or utility easements

How utility locates work

1. Call 811 or contact the utility at (907) 222-4084
2. A contractor or property representative must be present during the locate
3. The utility will mark underground facilities within the requested area
4. The first locate is provided free of charge
5. Subsequent locates for the same customer cost $122 during business hours or $172 after hours

Your responsibility

If you or your contractor damages utility facilities located within 30 inches of the utility’s locate markings, you are responsible for repair costs. Always call for a locate before you dig!

Tariff Reference: Section W-002 (Definitions - LOCATE), Section W-022-E, Section W-027.12