Contractors and homeowners are required to call USA, or 811 prior to a dig. We usually call at least 5 days prior to the dig. We mark where we'll be digging and give the the utilities the distance left to right and back from our marks indicating the area we'd like inspected. If PG&E locates a gas line we are not allowed to use equipment within 24" of their marks. Any digging closer to 24" or perpendicular to their marks must be dug by hand.
If we hit a gas line, using equipment, more than 24" from their marks... it's on PG&E. If we hit it within 24", with equipment or hand tools, it's on us. You don't want to hit one. It's a circus. Mass amounts of gas spewing from pipe, an army of fire trucks and PG&E indecent responders and investigators, and lots of explaining.
Contractors that hit a line that was marked correctly are responsible for the cost of repair, gas that was lost not only from the leak, but also for the cost of interrupted service and getting everyone upstream back online.
Yeah, PG&E doesn't always find and mark a line that get's hit, but contractors are just as bad at being sloppy and hitting a marked line anyway.
It'll be interesting to see if the contractor even called USA, and if so, did PG&E locate and mark the line that was hit.
