MAYS LANDING – Aug. 11 serves as a reminder for all customers and contractors to call 811 before digging so utility-owned underground lines can be identified and marked.
While incidents of damage to Atlantic City Electric’s electric system have been reduced by 20 percent since 2014, an underground utility line is damaged every six minutes nationwide.
The Common Ground Alliance, the national association that promotes the 811phone number and safe digging practices, reminds everyone that striking an underground electric or natural gas line can cause serious injury, damages and service interruptions.
Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects where a call to 811 should be one of the first steps.
Atlantic City Electric has nearly 2,900 circuit miles of underground electric lines. Aside from Atlantic City Electric’s lines, there are underground communications cables, water and sewer lines, and other utilities.
Accurately locating underground lines is essential to safely completing any digging job.
Atlantic City Electric is committed to promoting safe digging practices and each year conducts outreach to thousands of contractors and excavators across the state to share safe digging tips and best practices.
To help raise awareness, Atlantic City Electric annually holds underground utility safety and damage prevention seminars to promote awareness of underground facility protection.
When calling 811 at least three business days prior to digging, customers and contractors are connected to New Jersey One Call to provide information about their project. New Jersey One Call will notify Atlantic City Electric and all member utilities of your plan to dig. The utilities will then mark their underground facilities.
Once lines are located, excavators also must understand the markings and look for evidence of unmarked lines, such as water and sewer lines on private property. Sewer clean-outs and water valve covers can indicate the presence of underground lines.
Atlantic City Electric joins the Exelon family of companies in recognizing National Call Before You Dig Day and is a member of the Common Ground Alliance to share best practices to promote safe excavation and lower instances of damage to underground lines.
Find out more about Safe Digging Practices or call 1-800-642-3780 for more information.
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