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Progress Energy sued by Verizon

The telecom says the electric company cut two of its cables.

By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer
Published October 20, 2007

It happens all the time. Someone carelessly digs into the ground, slicing through a utility line underneath, leaving you without water, or electricity, or, even worse, cable TV.

A lawsuit filed Friday in Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court accuses Progress Energy Inc. of doing just that.

But look at who filed the suit: Verizon.

Yes, Verizon, the communications giant that has spent the past few years digging up the Tampa Bayarea to install its fiber-optic lines - and has been repeatedly blamed by government officials for cutting through more than its share of utility lines.

Glass house, meet stone.

"Their contracting people are out there cabling the world," said Bruce Kennedy, Pasco's assistant county administrator for utility services. "They've been quite a problem for a lot of people."

The lawsuit alleges that Progress cut through two Verizon cables in Pasco County, once in 2004 near County Line and Livingston roads in Lutz and again in 2005near Washington Street in New Port Richey.

The phone company accuses the electric company of negligence for failing to locate the underground lines before digging. Verizon says Progress also failed to call Sunshine State One Call, the 811 state hotline to get underground lines marked for free.

As for Verizon's past digs, Pasco County officials report that the company has worked hard to be less of a problem in recent months.

The suit demands $28,225.33 in damages to cover the cost of repairing the lines, and for the loss of use of those lines.

Verizon did not return calls for comment late Friday.

Progress Energy, however, vows to defend itself against Verizon's civil suit. "We feel fairly confident that we'll be able to defend ourselves," Progress spokesman Buddy Eller said.

Eller, who deemed these types of suits between the two telecom rivals as uncommon, said he didn't have much information on the 2004 incident. But he said Progress has an explanation for why the cable got cut in 2005.

The markings for that underground line were several feet off, he said. And who marked the ground?

Verizon did, he said.

Times researcher Shirl Kennedy contributed to this report. Jamal Thalji can be reached at thalji@sptimes.com or 727 869-6236.

[Last modified October 19, 2007, 23:11:17]