Utility Notification Center of Colorado

What Utility Notification Center of Colorado does

Colorado 811, officially the Utility Notification Center of Colorado, is a state-mandated 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization founded in 1986 that operates the central one-call communication hub for underground utility locate requests across all 64 Colorado counties. Its core product is the Exactix Ticketing System, a web-based platform launched January 30, 2026, replacing the legacy Norfield system; Exactix handles ticket creation, positive response posting, automatic renotifications, GIS-based notification area management, and reporting for both excavators and utility owner/operators. The platform processed over 1.2 million ticket requests in the most recent year, with 72% of tickets submitted online through the self-service web channel and the remainder handled via the 811 phone hotline; the Positive Response System is a legally mandated component under Colorado state law that enables facility owners to confirm utility marking status to excavators. Supporting the core platform are add-on modules including the Digital Learning Academy (on-demand training hosted on Coursettra), the annual Damage Prevention Summit & Expo, Regional Roundtables, a Ticket Research Service, Statistics Dashboards, and an Alternative Dispute Resolution program operated in partnership with the American Arbitration Association.

The organization makes money primarily through mandatory membership fees levied on 2,500+ utility owner/operator members using a tiered subscription model: free for 0–25 annual transmissions, $70 for 26–100, $225 for 101–300, and percentage-of-budget for 301+, plus $1.75 per positive response renotification. Secondary revenue streams include voluntary excavator memberships ($150/year), sustaining memberships ($150/year), event registrations, and sponsorship/advertising through an annual media kit. The go-to-market is community-led, with no paid sales force; member acquisition is statutory, while utilization is driven by three regional Education & Damage Prevention Liaisons covering Denver Metro & Northeast, Southern, and Western Colorado who provide free training and outreach. The board of directors is composed of representatives from each utility sector (Xcel Energy, Comcast, Denver Water, Colorado Springs Utilities, Kinder Morgan, Lumen, Holy Cross Energy, Authentic Drilling, and Fountain Sanitation District), embedding cross-utility governance into the operating model.

Name

Utility Notification Center of Colorado

Legal name

Utility Notification Center of Colorado

Website

https://uncc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Colorado 811 is a state-mandated 501(c)(4) nonprofit one-call center that connects excavators and property owners with 2,500+ utility members across all 64 Colorado counties, processing 1.2 million+ locate ticket requests annually through its Exactix web platform and 811 hotline.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Golden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Utility Owner/Operator Membership Fees: Mandatory membership for utility owners/operators with annual assessment fees based on transmission volume tiers. First tier (0-25 transmissions) is free, Second tier ($70 annual), Third tier ($225 annual), Fourth tier (percentage-based). Positive response renotifications billed separately at $1.75 each.
2. Excavator Membership: Professional excavator membership is voluntary with an annual fee of $150, providing access to training, compliance resources, and ticket management.
3. Sustaining Member Fees: Additional tier for utility operators with annual membership fee of $150 plus percentage-based transmission assessment.
4. Sponsorship and Advertising: Event sponsorship opportunities, website advertising, newsletter advertising through annual media kit offerings targeting industry professionals and excavation stakeholders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Colorado 811 operates a state-mandated One-Call communication hub connecting professional excavators and residential property owners with underground utility owners/operators across all 64 Colorado counties. The Exactix Ticketing System processes over 1.2 million locate ticket requests annually, routing dig notifications to more than 2,500 member utilities and capturing their Positive Responses. Core services are free to the public, while utility owner/operator membership fees, advertising, and paid training events sustain operations.

Product overview

Colorado 811 is a single-product communication platform with supporting modules. The core offering is the Exactix Ticketing System — a web-based platform for submitting and managing underground utility locate requests that replaced the legacy Norfield system in January 2026. Built around this platform are several integrated modules: the Positive Response System (mandated communication between facility owners and excavators), the Statistics Dashboards (contact center, ticket, and positive response analytics), and the Member Portal for billing and GIS-based notification area management. Supporting the platform are an Education division (Digital Learning Academy with locator/excavator courses), Event programming (annual Damage Prevention Summit & Expo, Regional Roundtables, Excavator Breakfasts), and a Ticket Research Service. Colorado 811 does not perform utility locate services directly — it serves as the state-mandated communication hub between excavators and utility owners, routing locate requests and facilitating responses. The ADR Program and Knowledge Base provide additional member services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exactix Ticketing System Web-based platform for submitting and managing underground utility locate ticket requests; replaced the legacy Norfield system in January 2026. Supports excavator ticket creation, Positive Response posting by utility owners, ticket status tracking, automatic renotifications for late responses, documentation attachments, and account management. Used by professional excavators, residential requesters, and 2,500+ utility owner/operator members in Colorado.
• Positive Response System Mandated communication tool under Colorado state law enabling underground facility owners to post responses to excavators regarding locate requests, including photo and document attachments, and automatic renotifications (Late Tickets) when no response is posted by the locate-by date.
• Statistics Dashboards Interactive analytics dashboards providing aggregated data on contact center performance (call volume, wait times, abandon rates), ticket volume trends by state and county, and Positive Response activity. Supports resource planning, baseline forecasting, and damage prevention monitoring for members.
• Digital Learning Academy Online education platform hosted on the Coursettra learning management system offering on-demand interactive courses covering One-Call 811 Law, damage prevention, Exactix Ticketing System training, locator training, and professional development. Includes the Colorado 811 Locator Course, Excavator Course, ticket creation training, and positive response procedures.
• Damage Prevention Summit & Expo Annual paid damage prevention event featuring educational tracks for excavators, utility members and locators, pipeline operators, and professional development, with expert-led sessions, networking, keynote presentations, exhibit hall, and workshops. 2026 registration fee is $35.
• Regional Roundtables Small-group regional engagement events hosted across Colorado communities bringing together professionals from excavation, locating, utility operations, engineering, and public works for discussions on damage prevention issues and industry collaboration.
• Ticket Research Service Research service for reviewing past locate requests, providing documentation and clarification of what occurred before and during excavation. Supports ticket research for utility owner/operator members, excavators, and litigation-related subpoena requests, with associated fee structures.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program Voluntary dispute resolution program partnering with the American Arbitration Association for mediation and arbitration of disputes arising from damage to underground utility facilities, as outlined in the Colorado One-Call Law (C.R.S. § 9-1.5-104.3). Colorado 811 provides subject matter experts for proceedings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Processing over 1.2 million locate ticket requests annually with 72% submitted online through digital platforms
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• American Arbitration Association (AAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Colorado 811 partners with AAA for the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program as outlined in Colorado One-Call Law. AAA provides expert mediation/arbitration services for disputes involving damage to underground facilities. Colorado 811 provides subject matter experts for proceedings.
• Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado PUC partners with Colorado 811 on pipeline operator education and regulatory compliance, including dedicated session tracks at the annual Damage Prevention Summit focused on pipeline safety and state/federal regulatory requirements.
• Common Ground Alliance (CGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGA is the national industry association for damage prevention. Colorado 811 participates in CGA initiatives, uses CGA Best Practices, contributes data to the DIRT (Damage Information Reporting Tool) report, and aligns with Common Ground Alliance standards.
• Underground Damage Prevention Safety CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado state commission within the Department of Labor and Employment that develops best practices and reviews complaints of alleged violations of the One-Call Law. Colorado 811 collaborates on complaint hearings and shares data for enforcement purposes.
• National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerNUCA represents utility and excavation contractors. Colorado 811 partners with NUCA for education content, presenting sessions at the Damage Prevention Summit on excavation safety, trenching hazards, and safe digging practices.
• American Public Works Association (APWA)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerAPWA represents public works professionals. Partnership supports education on damage prevention and safe excavation practices for government and municipal workers involved in infrastructure projects.
• Colorado Contractors Association (CCA)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerState-level association representing contractors in Colorado. Partnership focuses on excavation compliance, safety training, and promoting 811 awareness among construction professionals.
• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency under the Department of Transportation regulating pipeline safety. Colorado 811 participates in federal damage prevention initiatives and education programs in alignment with PHMSA guidelines.
• CoursettracoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital learning platform hosting the Colorado 811 Digital Learning Academy with on-demand courses covering One-Call 811 Law, damage prevention, Exactix Ticketing System, and locator training.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Texas 811: Texas 811 is the largest state One-Call center in the U.S., operating an identical mandated notification model for excavators and utility operators. Structurally and functionally a direct peer — same regulatory mandate, similar tiered membership model, comparable Positive Response and education programs.
• Georgia 811: Georgia's state One-Call center providing locate request routing, positive response, and damage prevention education. Operates the same nonprofit, member-funded model with comparable product mix (ticketing platform, training, events).
• New York 811: New York 811 is the state-mandated One-Call center providing locate request and damage prevention services across New York State. Operates the same core model as Colorado 811, serving excavators, homeowners, and utility members.
• Miss Utility (Maryland/DC): Miss Utility serves as the One-Call notification center for Maryland and the District of Columbia under the same state-mandated framework. Direct peer operating an analogous ticketing, positive response, and damage prevention mission.
• Sunshine State One-Call of Florida: Florida's state One-Call center providing the same mandated communication hub between excavators and utility owners. Operates the same membership-fee revenue model, Positive Response workflow, and damage-premission education programs as Colorado 811.
• Ohio Utilities Protection Service: Ohio's nonprofit One-Call notification service with the same mandate, member-funded model, and Positive Response framework. Direct peer serving a comparable utility and excavator ecosystem.
• Pennsylvania 811: Pennsylvania's state-mandated One-Call center with the same mission, governance structure, and tiered utility membership model. Direct peer in member-supported nonprofit One-Call notification services.
• Dig Safe (New England): Dig Safe is the One-Call notification center serving New England states (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont). Direct peer in the state-mandated damage prevention nonprofit model, with similar member-funded revenue structure and education programs.

Others

• USIC (USIC Locating Services): USIC is the largest private utility locating services provider in North America, performing the actual physical marking of utilities that Colorado 811 routes requests for. Adjacent / downstream ecosystem participant — not a peer in notification services, but operates in the same damage prevention value chain on the locating side.

Broad incumbents

• Common Ground Alliance: Common Ground Alliance is the national nonprofit industry association for damage prevention that Colorado 811 actively partners with. It sets national best practices, aggregates DIRT (Damage Information Reporting Tool) data, and coordinates policy — making it a broad incumbent that shapes the standards all 811 centers follow.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/colorado811
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4_VCLMk1NZD9ravSaweG0w
• Facebookfacebook.com/Colorado811
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/utility-notification-center-of-colorado
• 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 Utility Notification Center of Colorado