Use free service to locate underground utility lines
Dig safely by calling 811 two days before you begin an outdoor project, PG&E says
Pacific Gas and Electric Company is using National Safe Digging Month to encourage California residents and businesses to continue to lead by example and always call 811 before any digging project. The service is free.
Homeowners and contractors will help protect the safety of their communities’ and can prevent outages with a simple call to 811. In California, contractors are required to provide notification of their intent to dig two working days in advance. Failing to do so can result in costly fines and delayed projects, PG&E says.
When calling 811, customers are connected to a local center, which notifies the appropriate utility companies—such as PG&E—of their intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the requested digging site to mark the approximate of underground lines —gas, sewer, water, etc.— with flags, paint or both.
PG&E offers the following tips for safe digging:
• Mark your project area in white: Identify the location where you will be digging by drawing a box around the area using white paint, white stakes, white flags, white chalk and even white baking flour.
• Call 811 or go online for a USA ticket 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. This free program notifies PG&E and other utilities so that we can identify whether there are underground facilities at your project area.
• Get marked: Utility companies will locate and mark their own pipelines, telephone, communications, water or other underground lines.
• Dig safely: For your safety, use hand tools when digging within 24 inches of the outside edge of our underground lines. Leave utility flags, stakes or paint marks in place until you have finished digging.
For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.
Comments
