​Calling 811 must be one of the first steps residents, businesses, and

contractors take before digging

PHILADELPHIA, PA (April 11, 2022) — April is National Safe Digging Month, and PECO reminds residents, businesses, and contractors that safe digging must remain a priority to prevent damage to critical underground energy infrastructure and keep communities safe.

Before taking on any project that involves digging, 811 must be called at least three business days in advance to identify the approximate location of underground utility equipment. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree, and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects where a call to 811 should be one of the first steps.

In 2021 alone, PECO was called to 688 incidents where damage was caused to underground electric or natural gas equipment due to unsafe digging practices. Beyond fines and costs for repairing damage to underground utility lines, taking the right steps before digging will help avoid accidental damage to underground lines that could disrupt services to surrounding neighbors, and more importantly prevent potential injury from striking an underground electric, natural gas, or other utility lines.

Despite damage prevention laws that have been in place for decades, recent statistics indicate that 32 percent of incidents are caused by someone who did not contact 811 before digging. A recent survey also states that 37 percent of homeowners who are planning digging projects, do not plan to call 811 beforehand, putting themselves and their communities at risk.

Residents and businesses should take the following steps if planning a digging project this spring:

• Always call 811 at least three business days before your project. Call on Monday or Tuesday for work planned for an upcoming weekend, providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked.

• If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has called 811. Don't allow work to begin if the lines aren't marked.
• You will be connected to PA One Call, the state's coordinator for utility line marking.
• PA One Call will collect information about the project and provide it to PECO and other member utilities.
• The utilities will then mark their underground facilities.

• Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings.

• Visit call811.com for more information.

PECO joins the Exelon utilities in marking National Safe Digging Month and is a member of the Common Ground Alliance to share best practices to promote safe excavation and lower instances of damage to underground lines.

To learn more, visit peco.com/safety.

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