In San Diego they mark from the street to the meter. For my gas and electric they spray lines across the front lawn to the gas and elect meters on the side of the garage. Same for Cable and telephone. If I want to dig a hole in my back yard it's up to me to know where anything is underground.
Now take the original topic of a 250 ft trench. If the Electric meter is somewhere near the beginning of the trench they will mark to the meter and no farther. It the meter is at the far end of the trench they will mark all the way to that far end.