D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24 § 206
Each public utility company that, according to the records of the District, operates or maintains any equipment or service in the area beneath the surface space for the use of which application is made shall be given an opportunity by the Director to inform the Director concerning the company's objections, if any, to the proposed use to be made of the space.
If any utility company fails, within fifteen (15) days after request for its recommendation, to notify the Director of any objection it may have to the use, the Director may assume that the company has no objection to the proposed use.
The District government and the several public utility companies operating in the District shall be permitted to have immediate access to manholes located in public space.
No objects or structures shall be placed on ventilation gratings over transformer manholes.
The District government and the utility companies shall have the right, under permit, to have access to all public space for the purpose of repairing or reinforcing existing facilities and to build new facilities.
The District government, the utility companies, and their officers and employees, shall be held harmless for any loss or damage arising out of their use of all or part of a public space, or for the interruption or discontinuance of use resulting from the performance of work under, on, or above a space by the District government or by any of the utility companies.
D.C. Mun. Regs. Tit. 24, § 206