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A Free Call to 811 Will Help Keep You Safe and Avoid Expensive Repairs
OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunday, Aug. 11, is recognized as National 811 Day, to raise awareness of the importance of making a free call to 811 before any digging project, large or small. Whether you are a property owner or a contractor, calling 811 will help ensure that projects involving digging can be done safely while avoiding expensive repairs or fines due to damaging underground utility lines.
Underground utility lines can be shallow, sometimes only a few inches below the surface, so it is important to call 811 before any project that involves digging, including building or replacing a fence, planting or landscaping, and beginning construction work.
In Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (PG&E) service area, underground gas and electric lines have been damaged due to digging 573 times so far this year. In 58% of those cases, 811 wasn't called. And for residential customers, the percentage of those striking lines while digging who didn't call 811 is 89%. In addition, making a free call to 811 can also save you money, as damaging an underground line while digging leads to repair costs averaging $3,500.
"By making a fast and free call to 811, utility professionals will come to your home or job site and mark the location of underground lines so that you can dig safely and avoid expensive repairs. Know what's below before you start any size digging project, whether you are planting, landscaping, or doing fence work and call 811 two days before you dig," said Joe Forline, PG&E Senior Vice President of Gas Operations.
When a call is placed to 811 and a request is made to have lines located and marked, a professional locator will come to your project site to mark the location of underground utility lines, including gas, electric, water, telecom and sewer, free of charge. Knowing where underground lines are buried while you are digging and following safe digging practices will help keep you and your family safe and connected to essential utility services.
Warmer weather months see an increase in digging projects and a corresponding increase in the number of strikes to underground lines that have not been marked ahead of time. In fact, in 2024 throughout PG&E's service area of Northern and Central California:
Calling 811 is Fast and Free
PG&E Safe Digging Tips
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company