Click here to learn more about the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act and be sure to bookmark the page. If you need more information or have any questions about the JULIE process, please contact a Damage Prevention Manager.
Yes. Illinois state law requires anyone planning an outdoor project that involves digging to submit a locate request to JULIE at least 2 days (not including the day of the notice) before putting a shovel in the ground, regardless of the depth or the size of the project. Learn more about the process and common examples of projects that require notification. Even if you have notified JULIE for a previous project in the same area, you must notify JULIE again (every project, every time).
Simply call 8-1-1 or 800-892-0123 or choose one of our self-service options such as submitting an Online Request, Remote Ticket Entry (RTE) or Remark/Extend/View (REV).
Speed up the process by having the following information on hand when submitting a locate request:
Download a full locate request form now or click here to learn more.
Yes. There is no cost for using JULIE. Submitting a locate request and the locating services provided by our utility members are free to professional excavators. Please note: JULIE personnel do not own or locate and mark any underground lines.
We are always open. Call center agents and self-service online options such as Online Request, Remote Ticket Entry (RTE) and Remark/Extend/View (REV) are available to receive and process locate requests 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.
Member utility companies (NOT JULIE) mark their own lines. JULIE functions as a communications link between our member utility owners/operators and individuals planning to dig on their property or work site. We notify our members who are operating utility lines in the proposed digging area once we have received a locate request. Keep in mind that companies often hire locating services to mark the lines for them.
Based in Joliet, JULIE is a non-for-profit corporation dedicated to keeping Illinois safe and connected. Our organization’s mission is to prevent damages to underground utilities, the environment and property, reduce service interruptions and costly repairs, and save lives. As an important reminder about our role in the process, JULIE does not own, locate and mark any underground utility lines. Learn more about JULIE history.
No. Our call center agents do not have information on the specific location or depth of underground lines.
JULIE member utility companies use the American Public Works Association (APWA) color code to place marks or flags on the ground to correspond to their utility type. Learn what type of utility each color represents.
State law requires an excavator exercise due care at all times to protect underground utility lines. After waiting the required 2 days (not including the day of the call), if the excavator observes clear evidence that there is an unmarked utility line in the area of the proposed excavation, the excavator should not begin excavating until two (2) hours after an additional call is made to the Statewide One-Call Notice System (JULIE) for the area. Learn more about what happens after the call.
Yes. State law requires excavators pre-mark the dig site prior to contacting JULIE either by physically marking the proposed excavation or route, electronic white lining (when available) or with verbal pre-marking when the description provided is explicit enough to limit markings to the actual excavation area. Learn more about pre-marking here.
According to state law, the person actually doing the digging is required to notify JULIE with the locate request information at least 2 days (not including the day of the notice) in advance of the start of the excavation, not the homeowner or company for whom the work is being done. The general contractor’s locate request only applies to its company. The general contractor should only request a locate if the general contractor itself is planning to dig at the site.
The excavator has an obligation to honor all time and marking requirements and then to dig in a reasonable and prudent manner, taking all reasonable and required precautions to avoid damaging underground lines. Always do a visual observation before digging. The law requires extra precaution, such as hand digging and/or vacuum excavation within 18 inches on either side of a marked underground line. Learn more about the tolerance zone.
If facility markings are becoming or have become indistinguishable due to factors such as weather, fading, construction traffic or vandalism, you can request that facility markings be refreshed by the utility owners. Refresh Marks requests can only be submitted for excavation projects that were started within 10 calendar days of the initial locate requests. Refresh Marks requests may be submitted via our online, self-service option know as REV or by calling 8-1-1 or 800-892-0123.
First, if you have created a potentially dangerous situation (i.e., damaged gas line, etc.), evacuate the area and immediately call 911 and/or the proper emergency responders. State law requires the excavator call both JULIE and the owner of the damaged utility line, as well. Learn more about damaged lines.
An emergency locate request is processed immediately by the JULIE system. According to state law, excavators must wait at least two hours (or until the date and time requested on the notice, whichever is longer) before digging. If an earlier start time is needed, the excavator must demonstrate that site conditions warrant the earlier start time. If a member(s) does not respond within the required wait time, call the member company directly and/or JULIE again. JULIE will send another request to the member(s) not responding.
While all underground line owners and operators (except for the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois Toll Authority and railroads) are required by state law to be members of JULIE, there may be some owners and operators who are not current members. Non-members can be reported to the Illinois Commerce Commission at 217-558-4010 (see Law & Enforcements).
Operators of underground lines only locate the buried lines that they own, operate and/or maintain. They DO NOT locate private underground lines which are lines installed after the operator or their contractor have installed the basic service. These lines are considered customer-owned or private lines, and it is the owner’s responsibility to cover the cost to protect private underground utilities. Examples of private lines include, but may not be limited to: sewer lines, private lighting, sprinklers, fire mains, secondary electric lines to detached garages, pools, and septic lines. Learn more about Private Lines.