BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – A local business owner has spent more than a year demanding answers after utility crews left a large crater in his driveway — and a regulatory loophole is leaving the state with little power to help him.
Jacob May, owner of Empire Roofing on Old Hammond Highway near Millerville Road, said crews from multiple utility companies began work in front of his business in 2024.
“AT&T, Cox, Baton Rouge Water — all down Old Hammond Highway, they were doing construction, specifically on this side,” May said.
No one claims the damage
When the crews left, they left behind a large hole in May’s driveway. He said he has been demanding answers for 18 months, but no company has accepted responsibility.
“We kept getting the runaround. Nobody could figure anything out. Nobody was responsible, so I’m just — I don’t know what else to do, to be honest with you,” May said.
May said the companies involved have benefited from the infrastructure work, while he has been left with the damage.
“AT&T, Cox, Baton Rouge Water — they’re benefiting from this. They’re getting a better infrastructure. I didn’t benefit from any of this,” he said.
A regulatory gap
Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis (District 3) said he suspects Cox Communications is responsible and is working to file a complaint — but he acknowledged a significant limitation on his authority.
“Now that it’s brought to my attention, I can file the complaint and work with Cox, but that’s why it’s an anomaly because they’re not technically regulated by me. They just exist,” Lewis said.
Lewis said the state regulates old landline services but not modern broadband, leaving businesses exposed when disputes arise with telecom companies.
“It created kind of this now where there’s a little bit of the telecom, so we still regulate the few people that have landlines and the land services and attachments on utility poles. But in terms of the business operations, the rate services — they do not fall under the commission’s jurisdiction,” Lewis said.
Push for new rules
Lewis said he is in talks with state lawmakers to expand Public Service Commission oversight to include telecom companies. His office is also continuing to look into how it can help Empire Roofing resolve the issue.
In a statement, AT&T said it would look into the matter and send someone to check, but denied responsibility for the damage.
May said the experience has changed how he will handle any future work on his property.
“Going forward, if this happens- someone’s digging on my property- I’m going to get a ton of pictures. I’m going to see the company. I’m going to ask for names. I’m going to get information just to have to protect myself so that next time I’ll know who did it,” May said.
Lewis said residents and business owners dealing with similar issues can contact Louisiana 811 or reach out to the Louisiana Public Service Commission directly.
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