Severed Underground Electrical Wires

5/12/2023 at 2:14:35 PM

I'm not sure where you live but before you dig you should always call Ontario one call.

The contractor should have told you that.

Ontario one call would have indicated what lies beneath the ground removing liability from yourself.

Unfortunately I can't comment on if he is liable or not but I would try to locate his business information and location. Unfortunately again if you have to track him down legally it may not be worth the money.

Does the electrical service company have any opinions? Do you have a signed contract with the contractor?

It's hard to give any more advice without some of these questions answered.

5/12/2023 at 8:52:40 PM

You can back charge. I mean it's hard but worth a shot.

5/13/2023 at 1:09:03 AM

Unfortunately there is nothing you can do. You can try to sue him but that in it self will cost you more money.

Would be nice to know what city you are in. All cities have different rules and liability.

5/13/2023 at 2:50:21 PM

Obviously 1st call was not done & he is not going to honor his work with you. Did you have a written contract with the contractor? If you did "he is liable" for cutting the line and failing to follow legal requirements. Sue him! you can represent yourself to cut costs, it will be a drawn out legal affair taking up to a year. You will need to have all documentation of contracts, issue and repair, take lots of pictures as well. If you had no contract you are out of luck.

5/13/2023 at 6:22:55 PM

Peter from Hammer and Castle is correct. He is liable and should incur the cost. These are the risks we do our best to circumvent as professional contractors. This is what separates professionals from amateurs. If your contractor had integrity he would eat the cost complete the job, learn a valuable lesson and move on. Best of luck.

6/19/2023 at 4:42:08 PM

Hello Sam

There are a couple of different options provided how you arranged the contract for the work.

If you are acting as your own general contractor (GC), then it is your responsibility to arrange for locates on public property with Ontario 1Call. If the lines are on private property, then it is still on you, but you have to hire a local company to complete a private locates of the cables / wires and other utilities.

Now if he was contracted to be the GC, then those responsibilities fall on them as the GC and he would be responsible for any costs and fines associated the severing of the cables.

Cheers

John Kuehnl-Cadwell, CD, ME

Master Electrician

Datawise Solutions Inc