USIC Government Affairs Newsletter Nov. 2022

NOVEMBER 2022

GOVERNMENT & REGULATORY AFFAIRS UPDATE WELCOME to the first update on USIC's collaborative efforts to ensure the governing bodies and regulatory agencies that oversee utility damage prevention across the U.S. are informed and engaged regarding our industry and the issues impacting our customers.

For those whom I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, I am Nancy Mitchell, USIC’s Vice President, Government Affairs. I joined USIC in February 2022 with a background in working for members of the U.S. Congress and as the Director of Government Affairs for the Tennessee Valley Authority.

At USIC, we practice proactive government and regulatory affairs and rely on our partnerships with our customers to strengthen our position in advocating for our industry and ensuring that the regulatory environment in which we operate advances damage prevention and public safety. To begin a consistent dialogue, I am requesting that you complete this brief QUESTIONNAIRE to provide insight into your company and the issues impacting your business. Based on your input, we will highlight the issues you identify, how USIC is addressing them, and how you can get involved.

I am excited about the opportunities ahead to impact the issues affecting our industry and your business as we work together in protecting the nation’s infrastructure and our communities. Please reach out to me directly any time at nancymitchell@usicllc.com or 423.580.2802.

Nancy Mitchell

COLLABORATION ON CHALLENGES OF NEW SYSTEM In 2021, Michigan's utility notification system, MISSDIG 811, installed a new software solution incorporating a polygon mapping system. The installation coincided with: A significant decrease in the amount of detailed marking instructions in the remarks section The broad use of a new 21-day project ticket, which has been neither vetted by the state’s regulatory commission nor legislated These unintended consequences have correlated with a substantial increase in the amount of time required to complete a ticket.

USIC, MISSDIG 811 (Michigan's utility notification system), and some of the customers we serve in the state have met to address these issues and are collaborating on resolutions, which include: Analyzing potential system updates Educating contractors on the need to create an accurate ticket for the excavation area and provide detailed marking instructions Billing based on the time required to complete a ticket Thank you to all involved for your shared commitment to protecting infrastructure and our communities.

PARTNERING TO CLOSE INVESTIGATIONS & AMEND ONE-CALL LAW USIC met with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) in June for a discussion centered on outstanding notices of investigation (NOI) issued by the ICC for potentially late locates.

Significant increases in ticket volume and scope and ongoing hiring challenges in Illinois have impacted on-time performance.

USIC appreciates our customers' collaboration in responding to outstanding NOIs, which has led to a significant number of them being terminated by the ICC, enabling those customers and USIC to avoid fines. Customers with outstanding NOIs are encouraged to reach out to USIC's VP, Government Affairs Nancy Mitchell at

nancymitchell@usicllc.com or 423.580.2802 for assistance with drafting joint responses.

Additionally, USIC has partnered with Illinois' Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators (JULIE), Inc. Board of Directors and lobbyists to advance proposed amendments to the state's One-call Law regarding: Response time requirements The language and codes pertaining to positive response The defining of "reasonable" by the existing law Customers who operate in Illinois and want to learn more and get involved in this collaborative advocacy, should reach out to Nancy Mitchell.

QUALITY CONTROL THROUGH ALIGNMENT, TRAINING, AND AUDITS Always striving for continuous improvement, USIC has launched our Triple ZERO Quality Control program focused on reaching our goals of ZERO safety incidents, ZERO damages, and ZERO losses of tenured locate technicians to voluntary turnover.

The program aligns our risk management, training, and safety teams with field operations leadership on achieving these goals through enhanced training initiatives, expanded quality audits, and consolidated oversight.

customers while meeting the growing demand for our services for long-scope project work.

The utilities sector is evolving rapidly due to significant, ongoing investment in our nation’s infrastructure, including a major increase of fiber overbuilds. Our Triple Zero Quality Control program is a proactive approach to ensuring our locate technicians receive the comprehensive training and support and field experience needed to deliver the highest quality, safest, on-time service for our

The launch coincides with the success we are having in increasing retention of tenured locate technicians with valuable field experience, which is key to taking our quality and safety performance to the next level. Our Quality Control program further differentiates our services within the marketplace and enables us to deliver even greater value for our customers.

USIC'S GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM IS GROWING We are pleased to announce the addition of our new Director, Government Affairs Chris Russ.

Many of you may know Chris from his 29 years in utility locating operations and his industry involvement, having served on the North Carolina 811 Board of Directors for 10 years and currently serving as Board President. He is also serving his second term as a governor-appointed member of the North Carolina Underground Damage Prevention Review Board and was integral to collaborative efforts which resulted in the 2013

enactment of an update of the North Carolina Underground Safety and Damage Prevention Act. Chris will be a valuable resource as we continue working to have an ever greater impact for our customers and our industry.

NOVEMBER 2022