Press Release

PUC Stresses #SafeDigging; Joins Utilities and Agencies to Emphasize Importance of Calling 8-1-1 Before Any Digging Project

Published on 8/10/2018

Filed under: Electric Gas Water and Wastewater Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chairman Gladys M. Brown today joined with utilities and agencies from across the state to stress the importance of #SafeDigging – at job-sites and at home – including the need to call 8-1-1 before any digging project to ensure that underground utilities are properly located and marked.

“We are here today to highlight a serious public safety threat – involving thousands of ‘hits’ every year on our underground utilities – and to emphasize that we all play a role in reducing this hazard,” said Chairman Brown.

The PUC joined with concerned utilities and organizations during a #SafeDigging demonstration at the Columbia Gas Training Center’s Safety Town in Monaca, Beaver County.  Chairman Brown gathered with leaders from Columbia Gas, Comcast, Duquesne Light, First Energy, Pennsylvania American Water, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), the Pennsylvania One Call System, Peoples Gas, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority, UGI Utilities, Inc. – Gas Division and the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers to emphasize their shared concerns and collective efforts to reduce the number of incidents in Pennsylvania.

Every year, underground lines across the Commonwealth are struck more than 6,000 times – which means that during the average workday a pipeline or other vital utility system is hit every 20 minutes. 

“Every time a line is hit there’s the danger of injury or serious damage – along with the possibility of lengthy service interruptions, spills or other environmental impacts, costly repairs to damaged lines and lost productivity for those impacted,” said Chairman Brown. “Fortunately, there is something quick and easy that we can all do to help reduce the number of incidents and curb potential dangers – which is to contact the Pennsylvania One Call system, by calling 8-1-1, before starting any excavation project.”

State law requires contractors and residents to contact PA One Call at least three business days prior to excavation – triggering alerts to all utilities within an intended digging area and prompting utilities to mark where their facilities are located. Pennsylvanians can dial 8-1-1 to connect with the One Call system, while out-of-state residents or businesses can call 1-800-242-1776.

Act 50 of 2017 enhanced the PA One Call Law, eliminating exemptions that allowed some facility owners to not participate in the program and avoid marking their lines, or allowed some excavation to occur without first contacting PA One Call. The statute also shifted enforcement authority to the PUC and established a Damage Prevention Committee, modeled after successful programs in other states. The goal of the PUC program is to reduce the number of hits to underground lines by 50-percent over the next five years through increased enforcement and education.

Utilities and safety organizations added their perspective:

“We talk about preparedness and planning in emergency management, but those same concepts can easily be applied to work sites,” said PEMA Director Richard D. Flinn Jr. “Planning ahead helps prevent unnecessary project delays and can even keep your loved ones safe whether they live or work at that location.”

“We have been helping to keep excavators safe 24 hours a day since 1972,” said Bill Kiger, President and CEO of Pennsylvania 811. “According to the Common Ground Alliance, when an excavator dials 8-1-1 in advance of excavation, there is a 99 percent chance the excavation will be completed without incident. Conversely, 16 percent of all underground utility damages are caused when the excavator does not call 8-1-1. Please dial 8-1-1 before you dig!”

“Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania’s number one threat to our natural gas system is third-party damage, so we encourage homeowners, excavators and contractors to call 8-1-1 before they dig,” said Mike Davidson, Columbia Gas Vice President and General Manager. “Calling 8-1-1 gives us the opportunity to mark our gas lines and prevent a potentially dangerous situation.”

“We want all customers to have safe, reliable utility service,” said Paul Becker, Vice President of Construction & Engineering for Peoples Natural Gas. “There are tens of thousands of miles of underground pipeline infrastructure throughout the Commonwealth. Dialing 8-1-1 before you start a project protects you, your family and your community, and ensures there is no disruption to your utility services.” Becker stated.

“The safety of our customers, contractors and employees is Duquesne Light’s number one priority,” said Russ Profaizer, General Manager, Underground at Duquesne Light Company. “We encourage anyone who is planning a project that includes digging to take advantage of the PA One Call system. It’s quick and easy and provides peace of mind that your project doesn't result in an avoidable injury, property damage or a power outage.”

“At FirstEnergy we support the effort being made by the Commissioners and staff of the PUC to educate customers about the importance of calling 8-1-1 before starting any digging project,” said Linda Moss, President, Pennsylvania Operations, FirstEnergy. “Safety is a top priority for our West Penn Power, Penn Power, Met-Ed, and Penelec utilities.”

“Providing public water means ours is the only utility whose service is ingested, so our primary focus is the safety and reliability of drinking water for our communities. Thanks to PA One Call, we can prevent accidents that damage water mains, adversely impact water quality and disrupt service.”

Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority Chief of Administration Debbie Lestitian said, "We applaud the PUC for highlighting the importance of safe digging. Striking our underground water and sewer lines not only disrupts service to customers, but also can present a public health and safety risk. We urge anybody planning to dig to do the right thing and take advantage of 8-1-1."

“We feel the partnership between the PUC, Pennsylvania One Call, the utilities of the state and organized labor has done a great job to increase awareness and safety among the hard-working men and women who perform these tasks daily,” said Kris Anderson, International Representative for IBEW Third District.

Chairman Brown and utility leaders also highlighted Utility Career, challenging more skilled candidates to consider the opportunities available with utilities serving their communities.

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Contact:

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