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PA One Call

Call Before You Dig - 811

Homeowners and contractors must call 8-1-1 at least three business days before starting any digging or excavation project, as required by law.

Pennsylvania One Call System is a non-profit corporation created to protect underground facilities before anyone begins to disturb the earth. PA One Call receives requests from excavators, contractors, plumbers, builders, designers, and the general public to find out where underground lines are located. Pennsylvania One Call notifies member underground facility owners of the intent to excavate. The facility owner then marks where their lines are located.

Calling 811 Keeps You Safe

Underground power lines, communication cables, gas lines, water lines or other utilities may lie below the surface of your property or areas of planned excavation. To keep you safe and prevent damage to utilities, it is critical to call 8-1-1 before starting any digging or excavating. Be sure to allow time for utility companies to visit the area to mark the location of their underground facilities.

Consumer Resources for PA One Call

Know What's Below. Call Before You Dig - A PUC brochure that explains 811 and PA One Call.

811 Public Service Announcement: 30 seconds - An ad for the 811 Call Before You Dig campaign.

811 Public Service Announcement: 60 seconds - An ad for the 811 Call Before You Dig campaign.

Avoid a Grimm Situation - A 30-second Public Service Announcement for the 811 Call Before You Dig campaign.

PA One Call

The website for Pennsylvania One Call System is designed for the public, excavators, designers and facility owners.

Visit PA One Call Website

Pennsylvania One Call Enforcement

Act 50 of 2017 authorizes the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) to enforce provisions of the state’s Underground Utility Line Protection Law, Act 287, also known as the “One Call Law.” The PUC’s Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement has created a section called “PA1Call Enforcement.” This section will consist of a supervisor and investigators. As a requirement of Act 50, all underground facility damages are to be documented and submitted to the PA1Call System via a facility damage investigation form found on the PUC website and the PA1Call System website.

The PUC representative on the Board of Directors of Pennsylvania One Call is a supervisor of the Pipeline Safety Section.

Damage Prevention Committee

Included in Act 50 is the creation of a Damage Prevention Committee (DPC), which will meet regularly to review alleged violations of the Act and make determinations as to the appropriate response including, but not limited to, the issuance of warning letters or administrative penalties.

Reporting Violations

Report an Alleged Violation

The report should be submitted to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission through the One Call System pursuant to the time frame set forth in Act 50 of 2017. You must have a POCS web account and be Signed in to Report an Alleged Violation (AVR).

Pennsylvania Law

PA One Call Law - The Underground Utility Line Protection Act was signed by Governor Tom Wolf on October 30, 2017.

Common Ground Alliance

Common Ground Alliance Website - CGA is a member-driven association of 1,700 individuals, organizations and sponsors in every facet of the underground utility industry.

Act 50 Statistical Report

The PUC was authorized to enforce the provisions of Act 287, also referred to as the Underground Utility Line Protection Law or Act 50, on April 28, 2018.  Since that time, stakeholders have worked in a partnership with the Damage Prevention Section to support the goals of the Act. The Statistical Report uses data from the beginning of the PUC enforcement in order to examine the current Act 50 violation trends. 

2022 Statistical Report - Released September 2023.

2021 Statistical Report - Released July 2022.

2020 Statistical Report - Released July 2021.

2019 Statistical Report - Released June 2020.

PA One Call Enforcement Staff

Act 50 Statistical Report

The PUC was authorized to enforce the provisions of Act 287, also referred to as the Underground Utility Line Protection Law or Act 50, on April 28, 2018.  Since that time, stakeholders have worked in a partnership with the Damage Prevention Section to support the goals of the Act. The Statistical Report uses data from the beginning of the PUC enforcement in order to examine the current Act 50 violation trends.

Need More Help?

If you can't find what you're looking for here, please contact the PA Public Utility Commission. Call us at 1-800-692-7380 or contact us online.

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