Press Release

PUC Promotes Safe Digging Month, Urges Residents to Dial 8-1-1 Before Digging to Ensure Safe Practices

Published on 4/4/2014

Filed under: Electric Gas Water and Wastewater Telecommunications Transportation and Safety

HARRISBURG – As we enter Safe Digging Month this April, as proclaimed by Governor Tom Corbett, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) this week reminds utilities, residents and contractors to ensure safety this spring and to dial 8-1-1 before digging.

“The greatest threat to our utility infrastructure in Pennsylvania is not aged infrastructure, but third-party contractor hits to the infrastructure,” said PUC Vice Chairman John F. Coleman at the Commission’s Public Meeting.

Vice Chairman Coleman leads the initiative to reduce the number of lines hit in Pennsylvania, which currently occurs more than 6,000 times a year. When a utility line is hit, it poses threats of danger to workers, damage to lines, environmental pollution and loss of utility service to citizens.

A large part of the Safe Digging effort is the Pennsylvania One Call System (PA One Call), through which Pennsylvanians can dial 8-1-1 to connect with the system, which will alert all utilities within the intended digging area and prompt them to come out and mark where the utilities are located on the property. Non-Pennsylvania residents can dial 1-800-242-1776.

PA One Call, established in 1972, is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit corporation aimed to prevent damage to underground facilities by providing an efficient, cost-effective communications network among designers, excavators and facility owners. Excavators and residents must contact PA One Call at least three business days prior to excavation, as required by Pennsylvania law.

Vice Chairman Coleman applauded PA One Call personnel, noting that they are the face of the Safe Digging process. The system receives more than 750,000 notifications and transmits more than 6 million notifications per year, providing protection to more than 100,000 excavators and 3,600 critical infrastructure owners.

The PA One Call service is provided at no cost to customers. For more information, visit www.Pa1Call.org.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov. Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility.  “Like” PAPowerSwitch on Facebook for easy access to information on electric shopping.

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