Colorado 811

What Colorado 811 does

Colorado 811, legally the Utility Notification Center of Colorado and also known as CO811 or UNCC, is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization founded in 1986 and headquartered in Golden, Colorado. It operates as the state-mandated One-Call Notification System, providing the legally required, free communication link between excavators (both professional contractors and homeowners) and the underground facility owners/operators whose buried assets — gas, electric, water, sewer, communications, and pipelines — could be struck during excavation. Per Colorado law, excavators must contact 811 at least three business days before any digging activity, and every qualifying utility owner/operator must be a member. Colorado 811 serves all 64 Colorado counties, supports 2,500+ member companies, and processed 1,179,438 to 1.2M+ locate ticket requests in the most recent year, of which 72% were submitted online through its web portal.

The platform backbone is the Exactix Ticketing System, a web-based ticketing and positive-response management platform launched in January 2026 to replace the legacy Norfield system. It supports 24/7 online ticket submission, a positive-response subsystem under which facility owners post mandated responses with automatic renotification on missed deadlines, interactive statistics dashboards, a public API for third-party ticket management systems and electronic Positive Response submission, and accessibility tools (via the Recite Me integration) spanning 100+ languages and assistive reading features. The organization complements the platform with three regional Education & Damage Prevention Liaisons (Denver Metro/Northeast, Southern, Western), a Digital Learning Academy with on-demand courses for excavators and utility members, and an annual Damage Prevention Summit & Expo. It contributes data to the Common Ground Alliance's Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) and coordinates with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, PHMSA, and pipeline-safety associations.

Colorado 811's revenue model is membership- and transmission-fee based, with the underlying service free to end-users. Facility owner/operator members (mandatory under Colorado law) pay a one-time $150 Application & Administrative Fee plus monthly per-ticket transmission fees, billed annually under an Assessment and Billing Model; voluntary excavator and sustaining members pay $150 annual fees, with sustaining members also billed per-tmission. Non-revenue activities include alternative dispute resolution for damage disputes and ticket research. The organization is governed by a sector-representative Board of Directors (cable television, electric distribution, gas transmission and distribution, water/sewer, communications, electric cooperative, government, and excavator directors from companies including Comcast, Xcel Energy, Kinder Morgan, Colorado Springs Utilities, Denver Water, Lumen, Holy Cross Energy, Fountain Sanitation District, and Authentic Drilling) and is led by Executive Director Claudia Randall.

Name

Colorado 811

Legal name

Utility Notification Center of Colorado

Website

https://colorado811.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Colorado 811 is a state-mandated 501(c)(4) nonprofit One-Call Notification System that connects Colorado excavators and homeowners with underground utility owners via its Exactix ticketing platform, processing 1.2M+ locate requests annually across all 64 counties for 2,500+ member companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Golden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Facility Owner/Operator Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from underground facility owners/operators who are required by Colorado law to be members. New members pay a one-time $150 Application & Administrative Fee plus monthly transmission fees based on ticket volume.
2. Excavator Membership Fees: Annual membership fee of $150 for professional excavators who choose to join voluntarily. Provides nomination privileges for Underground Damage Prevention Safety Commission representatives.
3. Sustaining Membership Fees: Annual membership fee of $150 plus per-transmission fees for regular transmissions and separate per-transmission costs for positive response renotifications.
4. Ticket Transmission Fees: Billed annually through an Assessment and Billing Model for ticket transmission fees. All locate tickets processed generate transmission fees for member utility companies.
5. Positive Response Renotification Fees: Per-transmission fees for Automatic Positive Response Re-notifications when no response is posted by the locate-by date.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Colorado 811 operates the state-mandated, free utility locate notification service that connects professional excavators and residential homeowners with underground facility owners/operators across Colorado. The organization processes over 1.2 million locate ticket requests annually through its Exactix web platform, 811 phone line, and mobile app, enabling utility companies to respond with marking of underground public utilities within required timeframes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Colorado 811 Notification Service Free, state-mandated service that connects professional excavators and residential homeowners with underground facility owners/operators across Colorado. Service operates 24/7 via online ticket submission (Exactix), phone (811), and mobile web app. Excavators must contact 811 at least three business days before digging; utility companies respond within mandated timeframes.
• Facility Owner/Operator Membership Legally required annual membership for underground facility owners/operators in Colorado. Includes one-time $150 Application & Administrative Fee, monthly transmission fees based on ticket volume, and invoicing via email. Members receive locate ticket notifications and post positive responses through the Exactix platform.
• Exactix Ticketing System Web-based platform for submitting and managing utility locate ticket requests, available 24/7. Features enhanced customer service, expanded self-service capabilities, improved communication tools, and Positive Response posting functionality. Includes API for third-party ticket management software integration with electronic ticket transfer capabilities.
• Positive Response System Communication tool for facility owners to post responses to locate requests, mandated under Colorado State law. Includes automatic renotification functionality for late responses and per-transmission fees for renotifications. Members receive dedicated Positive Response Support through [email protected].
• Digital Learning Academy Self-paced online courses available 24/7 covering 811 One Call Basics, Reasonable Care and CGA Best Practices, Ticket Entry Training, Locator Refresher Training, and specialized courses for excavators and utility members.
• Damage Prevention Summit & Expo Annual event hosted by Colorado 811 featuring education tracks for locators, excavators, pipeline operators, and professional development. Includes tailored sessions for damage prevention professionals across multiple utility sectors.
• Excavator Membership Voluntary annual membership for professional excavators at $150/year. Provides nomination privileges for Underground Damage Prevention Safety Commission representatives and includes membership-related benefits for professional digging contractors.
• Sustaining Membership Annual membership for entities with interest in damage prevention at $150/year plus per-transmission fees for regular transmissions and separate per-transmission costs for positive response renotifications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.2+ million locate ticket requests processed annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and secondary.

• Recite MesupportingTechnology or Integration · 15 October 2025Accessibility and language translation technology provider. Colorado 811 implemented Recite Me accessibility tools across their website to enhance digital inclusion, supporting users with disabilities and providing translation to 100+ languages.
• Colorado Public Utilities CommissioncoreOthersRegulatory oversight body for utilities in Colorado. Colorado 811 coordinates with the PUC on damage prevention and pipeline safety matters. The organization references the PUC's role in understanding regulatory requirements for pipeline operators.
• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)coreOthersFederal agency within the Department of Transportation responsible for safely transporting hazardous materials. Colorado 811 maintains informational partnership for pipeline damage prevention education.
• Common Ground Alliance (CGA)coreOthersNational organization dedicated to preventing damage to underground infrastructure. Colorado 811 participates in CGA initiatives, contributes data to the Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT), and follows CGA best practices.
• National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA)secondaryOthersTrade association for utility construction contractors. Colorado 811 provides educational resources and training for NUCA members in Colorado.
• American Public Works Association (APWA)secondaryOthersProfessional association for public works professionals. Colorado 811 engages with APWA members on damage prevention and safe digging practices.
• Colorado Contractors AssociationsecondaryOthersTrade association for contractors in Colorado. Colorado 811 provides education and compliance resources for CCA members.
• Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (APSR)secondaryOthersOrganization supporting pipeline safety professionals. Colorado 811 collaborates on pipeline damage prevention education and best practices.
• Pipeline Awareness NetworksecondaryOthersNonprofit organization promoting pipeline safety and damage prevention awareness. Colorado 811 participates in network initiatives to educate communities about safe digging.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• GPRS (Ground Penetrating Radar Systems): National private utility locating and concrete scanning firm offering services adjacent to Colorado 811's notification function. Increasingly competing for excavator attention through private-locate subscriptions and integrated marking.

Others

• Common Ground Alliance (CGA): National nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing damage to underground infrastructure. Colorado 811 actively participates in CGA initiatives and contributes data to its DIRT reporting tool, making CGA an industry-association peer rather than a direct competitor.
• Badger Daylighting: North American hydrovac excavation services provider whose work often begins with an 811 locate request. Adjacent to Colorado 811's ecosystem rather than a direct competitor, but a relevant comparable for excavation infrastructure services.

Direct peers

• Georgia 811: Georgia's nonprofit One-Call center operating with the same state-mandated model, member-driven revenue, and free excavator service. A close functional peer to Colorado 811.
• Texas 811: Texas's designated One-Call notification center serving the largest excavation market in the US. Operates with the same mandatory-member, free-to-excavator model, processing millions of tickets annually — a close functional analog at greater scale.
• Miss Utility (MD/DC): Maryland/DC One-Call notification center serving as the regional damage prevention hub. Operates the same locate-request/member-fee model and serves a comparable excavator and utility member base.
• Sunshine 811: Florida's state-mandated One-Call notification center operating under the same legal/regulatory framework as Colorado 811. Directly comparable business model — free excavator service funded by member utility fees, similar ticketing platform, and equivalent damage prevention mission.
• Pennsylvania 811 (PA One Call): Pennsylvania's state One-Call system with equivalent regulatory structure, member-based funding, and excavation notification mission. Comparable in scale and operating model to Colorado 811.
• Virginia 811: Virginia's state One-Call notification center operating with the same legal mandate, member-driven revenue model, and free excavator service as Colorado 811. A close operational peer.

Broad incumbents

• USIC (USIC Holdings): The largest private utility locating company in North America, performing the on-site marking work that complements Colorado 811's notification role. Comparable damage prevention mission but operating as a private enterprise rather than a regulated One-Call center.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/colorado811
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4_VCLMk1NZD9ravSaweG0w
• Facebookfacebook.com/Colorado811
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colorado-811
• Instagraminstagram.com/colorado811

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colorado 811