LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Every six
minutes an underground utility line in the country is damaged
because someone did not call 811, the national "Call Before You
Dig" phone number. On Aug. 11 - National 811 Day - Southern
California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) reminds the public to dial 811 two
working days prior to digging to identify the location of
underground utility lines and to avoid striking them.
"Whether installing a mailbox, putting in a fence or sprinkler
system, planting trees, building a new patio or deck or launching
an outdoor business remodeling project, we urge the public to dial
811 several days before digging to ensure the site is properly
marked," said Jimmie Cho, senior
vice president of gas operations and systems integrity for
SoCalGas. "Knowing where underground utility lines are buried
prevents injuries, unintentional damage, inconvenient outages and
costly repairs."
When contacting 811, homeowners and contractors are connected to
the local one-call center that notifies the appropriate utility
companies of their intent to dig. Utility representatives are then
sent to the requested digging site at no charge to mark the
approximate location of underground lines with flags, color-coded
paint or stakes. If they do not find any underground utility lines
in the area, they will mark "clear." Once all lines are identified,
customers should carefully use only hand-digging tools within two
feet on each side of marked natural gas lines.
More than 100 billion feet of utility lines lay buried
underground in communities throughout the
United States - which equates to more than one football
field's length of buried utilities for every man, woman and child
in the country, according to Common Ground Alliance, an
organization dedicated to protecting underground utility lines.
These utility lines provide amenities such as cable TV,
high-speed Internet, landline telephone, electricity, natural gas
and water. The depth of utility lines can vary due to years of
erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces.
By California state law, anyone
working on a project that requires digging into the ground must
dial 811 two days in advance. Here are steps to protect you and
your community:
- Regardless of the depth of the digging or familiarity with the
property, always contact 811 before initiating a project that
involves extensive shoveling.
- If you have hired a contractor, make sure the contractor called
811. Don't allow work to begin until you have confirmed utilities
were notified and marked the area.
- Make sure to dig around the marked lines, not on them.
Even a slight gouge, scrape or dent to a pipeline or coating may
cause a dangerous break or leak in the future. If a customer
inadvertently causes minor damage to a natural gas line or an
attached component, that customer should call SoCalGas immediately
at 1-800-427-2200.
About Southern California Gas Co.
Southern California
Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has been delivering clean, safe and reliable
natural gas to its customers for more than 145 years. It is the
nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing
service to 21.6 million consumers connected through 5.9 million
meters in more than 500 communities. The company's service
territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout
central and Southern California,
from Visalia to the Mexican
border. SoCalGas is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:
SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in
San Diego.
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SOURCE SoCalGas