Even without the projected growth of projects, damage prevention programs are under pressure due to several factors, including:
- Aging infrastructure
- Decarbonization to electrification amid the energy transition
- Microgrids
- Heightened focus on safety and resilience due to failures
- New PHMSA regulations
- Severe weather events and wildfires
- Complexity of networks
- 24/7 connection
Utilities, oil and gas, telecom and media, and transportation companies are looking for ways to accelerate digital transformation and improve processes, automation and data quality amid these pressures.
Another reason a growth surge is expected in 811 tickets is because the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act authorized $550 billion of new spending over the next five years. There is also a $500 billion resilience investment gap to respond to risks from climate change effectively, according to ICF. This means more projects, more digs and more 811 tickets.
Utilities and other companies with critical network infrastructure are accelerating the adoption of third-party software to help manage 811 tickets, maximize operational efficiency and optimize their damage prevention programs.