- If a project involves digging, then contacting 811 is
needed
- Aug. 11 is a day to remember
to contact 811
- The 811 service is free, required by law and protects public
safety
RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 11,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Thursday is National 811 Day
(8/11), and Dominion Energy is joining utilities across the country
to remind the public to contact 811 and have underground utility
lines marked before completing summer home improvement projects
that involve digging. The 811 service is free, required by law and
protects public safety.
According to a recent national study, nearly
half of all U.S. homeowners who plan to dig this year will put
themselves and their communities at risk by digging without
contacting 811. Accidentally striking an underground utility
line could cause inconvenient outages, traffic disruptions or
public safety issues.
Common home improvement projects such as installing a
mailbox or building a deck are examples of projects
that could damage underground utility lines. State Law
requires the public to contact 811 three business
days before starting a project to request
underground utilities be marked. Property owners and contractors
can dial 811 or submit a request online.
"On 811 Day and throughout the year, we educate homeowners and
professional contractors alike to use the free 811 service before
digging to reduce the risk of damaging an underground utility
line," said Jason Holland, Dominion Energy Virginia's Director
of Distribution Operations Centers and Emergency Preparedness.
"Having lines marked is the only way to know which utilities are
buried in your area so that you can avoid them and dig
safely."
Following the request, 811 will notify the appropriate utility
companies of the project and professional locators will mark the
approximate location of underground lines with flags, spray paint
or both, to help excavators and property owners dig
safely. The utility marking service is funded by utilities,
like Dominion Energy.
To learn more about safe digging,
visit DominionEnergy.com/safety/call-before-you-dig.
About Dominion Energy
About 7 million customers in 15 states energize their homes
and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy
(NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond,
Va. The company is committed to safely providing
reliable, affordable and sustainable energy and to achieving Net
Zero emissions by 2050. DominionEnergy.com to learn
more.
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SOURCE Dominion Energy