Press Release

PUC Urges Residents to Dial 8-1-1 Before Digging; Encourages Safe Practices During Safe Digging Month

Published on 4/9/2015

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

HARRISBURG – In conjunction with national Safe Digging Month activities, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today reminded residents, contractors and utilities of the importance of dialing 8-1-1 before digging to help ensure the safety of their excavation projects.

“Safe digging practices are essential to protecting workers and the public, along with protecting our important underground infrastructure,” noted PUC Vice Chairman John F. Coleman Jr. during the Commission’s Public Meeting today. “Construction and renovation work typically accelerates during the spring, making this a prime time to highlight the importance of preventing hits on underground lines.”

Vice Chairman Coleman emphasized the role of the Pennsylvania One Call System (PA One Call), which alerts all utilities within an intended digging area and prompts them to mark where the utilities are located on the property. Pennsylvanians can dial 8-1-1 to connect with the system, while non-Pennsylvania residents can dial 1-800-242-1776.

“When a utility line is hit during digging, it poses a danger to workers and residents, along with the possibility of service interruptions, environmental pollution and costly repairs to damaged lines,” Vice Chairman Coleman said. “Our goal is to reduce the number of hits in Pennsylvania, something that currently occurs about 6,000 times per year, and diminish the risk related to those incidents.”

Vice Chairman Coleman also noted that Senate Resolution 69 and House Resolution 188 both designate April 2015 as “Pennsylvania 8-1-1 Safe Digging Month.” He thanked Senator Robert "Tommy" Tomlinson, Representative Bob Godshall, and the General Assembly for recognizing the importance and public safety impact of preventing damage to underground utility lines.

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.

Pennsylvania law requires contractors and residents to contact PA One Call at least three business days prior to excavation. The PA One Call service is provided at no cost to customers. For more information, visit www.pa1call.org.

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 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.

A video news release about Safe Digging Month, featuring Vice Chairman Coleman, is also available.

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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Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov