UNCC began utilizing polygon notification in October, 2004. The intent being to minimize the amount of locate request tickets members receive by narrowing the geographic corridor of each participating members database.
Over the past (18) months, multiple members have redefined their facility service areas within a geographic region, which has created a great financial impact to UNCC. To date, approximately 28% of the Tier One members are using some form of polygonal notification. Depending on the type of facility, some members, especially those with linear facilities such as fiber and gas transmission, have seen a reduction of approximately 60-70% of tickets received. Municipals and water/sanitation members are able to redefine their outer boundaries of their service territories, as well as any transmission lines beyond these areas (with an adequate buffer zone) to create a 30 to 40% reduction in locate requests.
Every member, regardless of facility type, can usually find areas to redefine, which will reduce the amount of tickets they receive. In addition, Tier 2 members benefit as well by receiving less calls from excavators.
The savings to the membership is substantial; however, the overall financial impact to UNCC is immense. In 2005 alone, the savings to the membership, but loss of revenue to UNCC, totaled approximately $400,000.00. With the extreme success of polygons, additional members are expecting to redefining in 2006 at a substantial rate, and UNCC could possibly experience a revenue loss in excess of $500,000.00.
UNCC will continue to explore advanced technology so we can continue to provide our members and excavators with exceptional service. However, In order to preserve the high quality of technology such as GIS and polygonal notification, a future ticket rate increase is imminent. UNCC’s current rate for each ticket transmission is $1.03, on January 1, 2007 the cost will increase to $1.12 per transmission.
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