Common Ground Alliance (CGA) released state-by-state estimates of the economic impact caused by strikes to buried power, water, natural gas, communications and other utility lines, giving policymakers, industry leaders and the public a local view of a problem CGA valued at $83.2 billion nationally last month.
The state estimates build on Between the Lines: The True Cost of Damage to America's Buried Utilities, CGA's national report released in August, which found that direct repair costs represent just 5.9 percent of what utility damage actually costs the country – with business interruption, emergency response, property damage, community impact and other consequences accounting for the rest.
The national $83.2 billion estimate applies a model to data submitted to CGA's Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) to account for damage that goes unreported and estimate the total cost of damages nationwide. The new state-level figures instead apply the economic impact model directly to the 2025 DIRT reports submitted by states with more than 25 incidents. Because DIRT reporting is voluntary, and reporting requirements vary by state, the state-level figures are a conservative floor.
"The national $83.2 billion impact number is our best estimate of the full scope of this problem. The state numbers are a floor, not a ceiling — they reflect only damages reported in 2025, but the actual cost in most states is higher," said CGA President and CEO Sarah K. Magruder Lyle. "State lawmakers, regulators and industry partners now have a local, data-backed case for investing in damage prevention — and every one of them can start by evaluating the strength of their legislation governing excavation as well as how effectively their enforcement programs hold stakeholders accountable."
Underground utility damage is largely preventable, but reversing the trend of rising damages requires systemic improvements. CGA's Best Practices — developed and updated by the industry itself – offer a roadmap for excavators, facility operators, 811 Centers, locators and policymakers alike to close the gaps that lead to damage. As states and utilities invest in infrastructure, CGA urges stakeholders at every level to adopt and enforce these practices as a foundation for reducing damage.
The complete Between the Lines: The True Cost of Damage to America's Buried Utilities is available at https://commongroundalliance.com/Publications-Media/Economic-Impact-Report.
