In recognition of National Call Before You Dig Day, PECO reminds customers to prioritize safe digging
August 11 was National Call Before You Dig Day, an annual reminder for all residents, businesses, and contractors that safe digging must remain a priority to prevent damage to critical underground energy infrastructure and keep communities safe.
Planning a digging project? Contact 811 or visit PA One Call at least three business days before digging to have underground utilities marked. From planting trees to installing mailboxes, decks, and patios, every project begins with a call to 811.
Last year, PECO was called to more than 500 incidents where damage was caused to underground electric or natural gas equipment due to unsafe digging practices. Of those, 190 were tied to unsafe digging practices overall, including 90 incidents where 811 was not called prior to digging. Beyond fines and the cost of repairing damaged utility lines, taking the right steps before digging helps prevent service disruptions to neighbors and, more importantly, reduces the risk of injury.
Residents and businesses should take the following steps when planning a digging 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. Do not allow work to begin if the lines are not marked.
After you contact 811:
- You will be connected to PA One Call, the state 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.
- Visitcomfor more information.
Once the area is marked, understanding the color codes used for marking is essential:
A recentsurveyby the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), a national association focused on underground utility safety, highlights the importance of calling 811. According to the national survey, 10 million Americans planning digging projects in the next year will not contact 811, putting themselves and their communities at risk of utility service disruptions, costly fines and repairs, and even serious injury or death.
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It is also important for customers and contractors to be aware of aerial power lines. The public should always assume power lines are energized and should keep themselves, equipment, and all other items at least 10 feet away from power lines. Residents and contractors should take the following steps if work is required around aerial power lines:
- Call PECO at 1-800-454-4100 at least 14 days in advance of work beginning.
- Customers also can submit an application to make a worksite safe through PECO’s Make Work Safe Site.
- For some projects depending on the overall scope, additional lead time may be required, especially if construction will occur within 7 feet of an aerial wire. Contractors need to inform PECO 6 to 8 weeks in advance as poles and wires may need to be relocated.
PECO encourages all homeowners, businesses, and contractors to make safe digging a priority by contacting 811 before every project, helping prevent service disruptions, injuries, and damage to critical utility infrastructure. To learn more.
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