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:
- There have been 573 incidents where underground utility lines
were damaged due to digging, and in 58% of incidents when an
underground utility line was damaged due to digging, 811 was not
called
- For homeowners specifically, that percentage rises to 89%
- The average cost to repair a damaged utility line is
$3,500
- Leading causes of damages to underground utility lines while
digging include: building or replacing a fence, gardening and
landscaping, planting a tree or removing a stump, sewer and
irrigation work and building a deck or patio
Calling 811 is Fast and Free
- Customers should call 811 a minimum of two business days before
beginning any project that involves digging, no matter how large or
small. Customers also can visit 811express.com to have underground
utility lines marked for their project site.
- Professional utility workers for all utilities (gas, electric,
water, sewer and telecommunications) will be dispatched to mark the
location of all underground utility lines for the project site with
flags, spray paint, or both
- The 811 call center serving Northern and Central California,
USA North, is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will
provide Spanish and other translation services.
PG&E Safe Digging Tips
- Mark project area in white: Identify the digging location by
drawing a box around the area using white paint, white stakes,
white flags, white chalk or even white baking flour.
- Call 811 or submit an online request a minimum
of two working days before digging: Be prepared to provide the
address and general location of the project, project start date and
type of digging activity. PG&E and other utilities will
identify underground facilities in the area for free. Requests can
be submitted a maximum of 14 days prior to the start of the
project.
- Dig safely: Use hand tools when digging within 24 inches
of the outside edge of underground lines. Leave utility flags,
stakes or paint marks in place until the project is finished.
Backfill and compact the soil.
- Be aware of signs of a natural gas leak: Smell for a
"rotten egg" odor, listen for hissing, whistling or roaring sounds
and look for dirt spraying into the air, bubbling in a pond or
creek and dead/dying vegetation in an otherwise moist area. If you
smell gas, call 911 and then call PG&E at 800-743-5000.
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