[CONCORD, Calif]—August 11, 2016, is National 811-Call Before You Dig Day. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is helping to raise awareness about the importance of safe digging by encouraging customers and contractors to call 811 to have critical underground lines marked before any outdoor digging project begins.
A call to 811 can help customers and contractors prevent injury and avoid repair costs, fines and inconvenient outages. Last year, there were over 1600 strikes on PG&E’s underground infrastructure. For more than 55 percent of these dig-ins, a request had not been made to have underground utility lines properly marked in advance of excavation work.
In Alameda and Contra Costa counties alone, PG&E’s gas lines were struck 371 times. Of these dig-ins, 212 had not utilized the 811 service to have underground lines marked in advance. In 2015, the average cost for those who damaged PG&E’s underground utility lines, including fines and repairs, amounted to $5,351.
“Safety is always our top priority. On Aug. 11 and throughout the year, we remind homeowners and professional contractors alike to call 811 in advance of any project that involves digging. This can help avoid significant property damage, injuries or even save a life. A call to 811 can help prevent a call to 911,” said Vic Baker, Senior Manager of PG&E’s Diablo division.
How it works
In California, a toll-free call to 811 will connect callers to Underground Service Alert’s (USA) One Call Center, which will take down the location of the dig site and notify all relevant utility companies, including PG&E. Customers and contractors may also file an e-ticket online, which captures the same relevant information. Experts will then be dispatched to the requested site where they will mark the underground lines with flags and/or biodegradable paint for free.
The following colors have been designated by the American Public Works Association (APWA) as the uniform color for marking of utility lines:
| Red | electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables |
| Orange | telecommunication, alarm or signal lines, cables, or conduit |
| Yellow | natural gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or other gaseous material |
| Green | sewer and drain lines |
| Blue | drinking water |
| Purple | reclaimed water, irrigation |
| White | proposed excavation limits or route |
| Pink | temporary survey markings, unknown/unidentified facilities |
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.
