Turn Lagging Joint Use Backlog into Faster Results

With a growing demand for broadband and increased attachment requests, even the most well-built joint use work coordination system can start to feel the strain. Each request can trigger a chain reaction of work to accommodate new lines. A new attachment can mean a string of work tickets on hundreds of poles that may need replacing, inspections, transfers or raising or lowering existing lines. If your utility work management system isn’t built to scale, you may experience a growing backlog and a constant game of catch-up.   

Why Bottlenecks Happen 

Most backlogs don’t happen intentionally. They can be a result of mounting complexity and incomplete handoffs. Here’s why it happens: 

• Fieldwork is completed but not recorded. Utility may have swapped poles or made space for an attachment, but the ticket remains open. Not notifying the person next up to complete work.  
• One delayed step holds up the rest. A job might involve multiple parties. If one party fails to complete their step it can stall the entire chain of remaining tasks.  
• A lack of transparency leads to more delays: When it’s unclear who owns the next step, or whether work has been completed, coordination breaks down and momentum is lost. 

Over time, these delays compound. Requests pile up, and what began as an operational delay becomes a reputational and financial liability.  

The Risk of Staying Behind 

Unresolved joint use work introduces risk across the board. Safety issues arise when pole transfers remain incomplete. Reputational risk increases when attachers, regulators or the public view the utility as the roadblock to progress.  

Even more, chronic backlog weakens internal trust and erodes what should be solid documentation on key assets. Work systems store records of work indefinitely that can offer clarity when needed.  

TRC Can Turn Chaos into Clarity 

TRC understands how quickly ticketing systems can fall behind and how overwhelming they can be to get back under control. Our approach to NJUNS cleanup is practical, proven and built for action. Electric utilities looking to take control of joint use operations can benefit from adopting some of these proven strategies.  

We start by breaking down the entire ticket backlog into manageable batches, grouped by type and territory. We also organize by status: what’s waiting on a contractor or attacher and what’s already been completed but simply needs to be closed out. This gives the utility immediate clarity on where to start.  

Once triage is complete, we help prioritize risk by identifying tickets linked to public or worker safety concerns, company to reputational damage or delays in revenue. This data-driven visibility lets the utility focus its efforts where they matter most, instead of sifting through endless noise. Importantly, we also help clarify who’s up next. By identifying the next party in line for each permit, we give your team a clear roadmap for follow-up and accountability, resolving issues that may have been idle for months.