Press Release

PUC Announces Appointments to Damage Prevention Committee

Published on 12/21/2023

Filed under: Consumer Education Electric Gas Pipeline Telecommunications Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced three appointments to its Damage Prevention Committee (DPC), which is tasked with enforcing the state’s Underground Utility Line Protection Act – also known as the “PA One Call Law.”

The Commission voted 5-0 today to appoint Thomas C. Ceraso, Douglas L. Haupt and William Kukurin to the DPC to serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2024. 

Thomas C. Ceraso, of New Kensington, Westmoreland County, will represent the municipal authority industry on the DPC. Ceraso has served for more than 30 years on the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County. He also has been a member of the Pennsylvania One Call Board as a board member, alternate board member and officer over the last 13 years. Ceraso also was involved in One Call’s Legislative Task Force on rewriting the One Call Law.

Douglas L. Haupt, of Paxinos, Northumberland County, is a Public Safety Supervisor for PPL Electric Utilities, and will represent the electric industry on the DPC. Haupt has been employed in various positions at PPL Electric Utilities for 23 years, and currently provides damage prevention and safety presentations to various groups and organizations. Haupt also serves on the Board of Directors at Pennsylvania One Call representing the electric utility industry and chairs the Board Development Committee. He also co-chairs One Call’s Legislative Task Force on the Reauthorization of Act 50.

William Kurkurin, of Murraysville, Westmoreland County, will represent the excavator industry on the committee. Kurkurin has nearly 29 years of experience working in the industry where he held numerous positions at Kukurin Contracting Inc. He currently serves as the company’s Vice President. He also has served on the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Utility Contractors Association, where he is currently serving in the role of Vice President.

About the DPC

The DPC is a peer-based group of 13 representatives, nominated by their industry or affiliated organization and appointed by the PUC. Creation of the committee was authorized by Act 50 of 2017, which enhances Pennsylvania’s Underground Utility Line Protection Act – also known as the “One Call Law.” The focus of the DPC is to reduce the number of “hits” on underground lines and utilities.

The DPC meets regularly to review alleged violations of the One Call Law and make informal determinations as to the appropriate response including, but not limited to, the issuance of warning letters, mandatory training programs and/or administrative penalties. Summaries of actions taken at monthly DPC meetings are available on the PUC’s website. 

In accordance with Act 50, membership on the DPC includes: non-municipal owned or affiliated facility owner industries, such as the electric, natural gas or petroleum pipelines, telephone, water or wastewater and cable television industries; excavators; municipal governments; and municipal authorities.  Each member shall serve a term of three years. After the term is completed, members are required to reapply for DPC membership.

About the PUC

Visit the PUC’s website at puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Docket No.: M-2018-3000261