How to Coordinate Dry Utilities When Providers Won’t Talk to Each Other
ASK:
Why is coordinating power, gas, and telecom so difficult?
ANSWER:
Dry utilities operate independently. Each provider has its own contractors, schedules, and standards. Without coordination, routing conflicts arise. Trenches are reopened. Schedules slip. Costs increase. None are responsible for coordinating with each other.
Developers inherit that coordination role by default.
Depending on the part of the country the designs, contracts, and construction of dry utilities can take just as long as permitting and often delay projects from opening for months or years if not started early enough.
At I&D Consulting, we manage dry utilities as an integrated system. We engage early with all providers, we joint trench when feasible, we coordinate the dry utilities with the other site improvements to avoid design conflicts, and we confirm city standards early.
Dry utility coordination is not optional. It is a management task that directly impacts schedule and cost.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Dry utilities do not coordinate automatically
• Routing conflicts between all utilities & other site improvements cause delays and rework
• Coordination early and often reduces cost and saves time during construction
• Active management protects schedules, budgets, and relationships
People Also Ask
1) What are dry utilities?
Electric, gas, telecom, cable, and fiber. Typically these utilities are not owned or managed by the local municipality.
2) Who coordinates them?
The developer or owner’s representative is responsible for engaging all required utility providers to complete designs, contracts, and construction coordination for the project.
3) Can cities enforce coordination?
Sometimes cities will require confirmation that utility providers have been engaged, but responsibility usually remains with the applicant.
