Be Safe, Be Smart and Know What’s Below – PECO Reminds Customers to Call 811 Before You Dig
August 11 2017 - 1:00PM
Business Wire
August 11 (8/11) is National Call Before You
Dig Day
Today, 8/11, serves as a natural reminder for all customers and
contractors to call 811 to have utility-owned underground lines
marked before digging. Nationwide, every six minutes someone
damages an underground utility line because of digging without
first calling 811, according to the Common Ground Alliance, the
national association that promotes the 811 phone number and safe
digging practices. More than 137 incidents occurred last year alone
on the PECO system because some failed to call before digging.
Striking an underground electric or natural gas line can cause
serious injury, damages and service interruptions. 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. Customers and contractors also
are required to call 811 before clearing blocked sewer lines to
determine if any utility lines are nearby as well.
PECO has more than 9,000 circuit miles of underground electric
lines, 13,000 miles of natural gas distribution and service lines,
and 30 miles of natural gas transmission lines buried throughout
southeastern Pennsylvania. In addition to PECO’s lines, there are
underground communications cables, water and sewer lines, and other
utilities. Even properties that are not served by a particular
service may still have utility lines running below ground.
When calling 811, customers and contractors are 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. Calls are required at least three business
days in advance of digging.
Once lines are located, customers and contractors doing work
also must understand the markings and look for evidence of unmarked
lines, such as water and sewer lines on private property. Sewer
clean-outs and water valve covers are examples of equipment that
can indicate the presence of underground lines.
PECO joins the Exelon family of utilities in recognizing
National Call Before You Dig Day and is a member of the Common
Ground Alliance to share best practices to promote safe excavation
and decrease instances of damage to underground lines. The company
also provides customers and local contractors with important
information about safety around overhead and underground utility
lines through mailings, customer newsletters, social media and
advertising.
To learn more, visit peco.com/safety.
PECO, founded in 1881, is Pennsylvania’s largest electric and
natural gas utility. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PECO delivers
energy to more than 1.6 million electric customers and more than
516,000 natural gas customers in southeastern, Pennsylvania. The
company’s 2,500 employees are dedicated to the safe and reliable
delivery of electricity and natural gas as well as enhanced energy
management conservation, environmental stewardship and community
assistance. PECO was named 2017 Best Mid-size Employer in
Philadelphia by Forbes Magazine. The company also has an estimated
annual economic impact of $4.3 billion in Pennsylvania, supporting
more than 8,700 local jobs and producing $732 million in labor
income. PECO is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the
nation's only Fortune 100 utility and leading competitive energy
provider. For more information visit PECO.com, and connect with the
company on Facebook and Twitter.
If you are a member of the media and would like to receive
PECO news releases via email, please send your email address to
PECO.Communication@exeloncorp.com.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: PECO will display “TODAY IS NATIONAL
811 DAY – KNOW WHAT’S BELOW & CALL 811 BEFORE YOU DIG!” on its
Crown Lights message system, atop the company’s headquarters at
2301 Market Street in Philadelphia, Friday morning and evening.
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170811005482/en/
PECOKristina Pappas,
215-841-5555Kristina.Pappas@exeloncorp.com
Exelon (NYSE:EXC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
Exelon (NYSE:EXC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024