April is National Safe Digging Month, A Reminder to Call to 811 Before Any Size Digging Project, Large or Small
PG&E is highlighting National Safe Digging Month by emphasizing the importance of calling 811 before starting any digging project. The company reports that in 2024, there were 1,302 incidents of damaged underground utility lines in Northern and Central California, with 60% of cases occurring without prior 811 notification. For homeowners specifically, this rises to 89%.
The average repair cost for damaged utility lines is $3,500. Common damage causes include fence construction, landscaping, tree work, and irrigation projects. Underground lines can be as shallow as a few inches below surface level. PG&E requires a minimum two-business-day notice before digging and provides free professional utility location marking services.
According to a Common Ground Alliance survey, 56% of homeowners plan to dig without calling 811 first. The company emphasizes safe digging practices, including marking project areas in white and using hand tools within 24 inches of underground lines.
PG&E sta mettendo in evidenza il Mese Nazionale della Scavatura Sicura sottolineando l'importanza di chiamare il 811 prima di iniziare qualsiasi progetto di scavo. L'azienda riporta che nel 2024 ci sono stati 1.302 incidenti di linee di servizi sotterranei danneggiate nel Nord e Centro della California, con il 60% dei casi avvenuti senza una notifica preventiva al 811. Per i proprietari di casa, questa percentuale sale all'89%.
Il costo medio di riparazione per linee di servizi danneggiate è di $3.500. Le cause comuni di danno includono la costruzione di recinzioni, lavori di paesaggistica, potatura di alberi e progetti di irrigazione. Le linee sotterranee possono trovarsi a pochi centimetri sotto il livello della superficie. PG&E richiede un preavviso minimo di due giorni lavorativi prima di scavare e offre servizi gratuiti di marcatura professionale delle posizioni dei servizi.
Secondo un sondaggio della Common Ground Alliance, il 56% dei proprietari di casa prevede di scavare senza chiamare prima il 811. L'azienda sottolinea le pratiche di scavo sicuro, inclusa la marcatura delle aree di progetto in bianco e l'uso di strumenti manuali entro 24 pollici dalle linee sotterranee.
PG&E está destacando el Mes Nacional de la Excavación Segura al enfatizar la importancia de llamar al 811 antes de comenzar cualquier proyecto de excavación. La empresa informa que en 2024 hubo 1,302 incidentes de líneas de servicios subterráneos dañadas en el norte y centro de California, con el 60% de los casos ocurriendo sin notificación previa al 811. Para los propietarios de viviendas, este porcentaje asciende al 89%.
El costo promedio de reparación por líneas de servicios dañadas es de $3,500. Las causas comunes de daños incluyen la construcción de cercas, paisajismo, trabajos de árboles y proyectos de riego. Las líneas subterráneas pueden estar a solo unos centímetros por debajo del nivel del suelo. PG&E requiere un aviso mínimo de dos días hábiles antes de excavar y ofrece servicios gratuitos de marcado profesional de ubicación de servicios.
Según una encuesta de la Common Ground Alliance, el 56% de los propietarios de viviendas planea excavar sin llamar primero al 811. La empresa enfatiza las prácticas de excavación segura, incluyendo la marcación de áreas del proyecto en blanco y el uso de herramientas manuales dentro de los 24 pulgadas de las líneas subterráneas.
PG&E는 안전한 굴착의 중요성을 강조하며 굴착 프로젝트를 시작하기 전에 811에 전화할 것을 강조하고 있습니다. 회사에 따르면 2024년에는 북부 및 중앙 캘리포니아에서 1,302건의 사고가 발생했으며, 이 중 60%는 사전 811 통보 없이 발생했습니다. 주택 소유자의 경우 이 비율은 89%로 증가합니다.
손상된 유틸리티 라인의 평균 수리 비용은 $3,500입니다. 일반적인 손상 원인으로는 울타리 건설, 조경, 나무 작업 및 관개 프로젝트가 포함됩니다. 지하선은 표면에서 몇 인치 정도만 깊이 있을 수 있습니다. PG&E는 굴착 전에 최소 이틀의 사전 통지를 요구하며, 무료 전문 유틸리티 위치 표시 서비스를 제공합니다.
Common Ground Alliance의 조사에 따르면 주택 소유자의 56%가 811에 먼저 전화하지 않고 굴착할 계획입니다. 회사는 프로젝트 지역을 흰색으로 표시하고 지하선에서 24인치 이내에서 수동 도구를 사용하도록 안전한 굴착 관행을 강조합니다.
PG&E met en avant le Mois National de la Creusage Sûr en soulignant l'importance d'appeler le 811 avant de commencer tout projet de creusage. La société rapporte qu'en 2024, il y a eu 1 302 incidents de lignes de services souterrains endommagées dans le nord et le centre de la Californie, dont 60 % des cas se sont produits sans notification préalable au 811. Pour les propriétaires, ce chiffre monte à 89 %.
Le coût moyen de réparation des lignes de services endommagées est de 3 500 $. Les causes courantes de dommages comprennent la construction de clôtures, l'aménagement paysager, les travaux d'arbres et les projets d'irrigation. Les lignes souterraines peuvent se trouver à quelques centimètres sous le niveau du sol. PG&E exige un préavis minimum de deux jours ouvrables avant de creuser et propose des services gratuits de marquage professionnel des emplacements de services.
Selon une enquête de la Common Ground Alliance, 56 % des propriétaires prévoient de creuser sans appeler d'abord le 811. L'entreprise met l'accent sur les pratiques de creusage sécurisées, y compris la marquage des zones de projet en blanc et l'utilisation d'outils manuels dans un rayon de 24 pouces des lignes souterraines.
PG&E hebt den Nationalen Monat der sicheren Grabungen hervor und betont die Wichtigkeit, vor Beginn eines Grabungsprojekts 811 anzurufen. Das Unternehmen berichtet, dass es im Jahr 2024 1.302 Vorfälle mit beschädigten unterirdischen Versorgungsleitungen in Nord- und Zentral-Kalifornien gab, wobei 60% der Fälle ohne vorherige 811-Benachrichtigung auftraten. Bei Hausbesitzern steigt dieser Anteil auf 89%.
Die durchschnittlichen Reparaturkosten für beschädigte Versorgungsleitungen betragen $3.500. Zu den häufigsten Schadensursachen gehören der Bau von Zäunen, Landschaftsgestaltung, Baumarbeiten und Bewässerungsprojekte. Unterirdische Leitungen können nur wenige Zentimeter unter der Oberfläche verlaufen. PG&E verlangt eine Mindestbenachrichtigung von zwei Werktagen vor dem Graben und bietet kostenlose professionelle Markierungsdienste für Versorgungsleitungen an.
Laut einer Umfrage der Common Ground Alliance planen 56% der Hausbesitzer, zu graben, ohne zuerst 811 anzurufen. Das Unternehmen betont sichere Grabungspraktiken, einschließlich der Markierung von Projektbereichen in Weiß und der Verwendung von Handwerkzeugen innerhalb von 24 Zoll von unterirdischen Leitungen.
- Free utility location marking service helps prevent costly damages
- 24/7 multilingual support through 811 call center enhances service accessibility
- High incident rate of 1,302 damaged utility lines in 2024 indicates significant operational risk
- 60% non-compliance rate with 811 calling requirement (89% for homeowners) shows poor safety protocol adherence
- Each incident results in substantial repair costs averaging $3,500
Damaging an underground utility line while digging can result in thousands of dollars in repair costs
Underground utility lines can be shallow, sometimes only a few inches below the surface, due to erosion, previous digging projects or landscaping, shifting or settling of the ground and uneven surfaces. Customers should call 811 a minimum of two business days before starting any digging project, large or small, as damaging an underground utility line while digging is dangerous and can leave customers responsible for repair costs averaging
"Calling 811 before any size digging project will help keep you, your family and neighbors safe and will also help you avoid expensive repairs averaging
Warmer weather months see an increase in digging projects, and unfortunately many of those projects are proceeding without a free call to 811 to have underground utilities marked for project sites. In fact, according to a recent national survey conducted by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA),
2024 by the numbers:
- There were 1,302 incidents in Northern and
Central California where homeowners or contractors damaged underground gas or electric lines while digging - In 60 percent of incidents when an underground utility line was damaged due to digging, 811 was not called.
- For homeowners specifically, that percentage rises to 89 percent
- The average cost to repair a damaged utility line is
$3,500 - Leading causes of damages to underground utility lines while digging include: building or replacing a fence, gardening and landscaping, planting a tree or removing a stump, sewer and irrigation work and building a deck or patio
Calling 811 is Fast and Free:
- Customers should call 811 a minimum of two business days before beginning any project that involves digging, no matter how large or small. Customers can also visit 811express.com to have underground utility lines marked for their project site.
- Professional utility workers for all utilities (gas, electric, water, sewer and telecommunications) will be dispatched to mark the location of all underground utility lines for the project site with flags, spray paint, or both
- The 811 call center serving Central and Northern California, USA North, is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will provide Spanish and other translation services.
PG&E safe digging tips
- Mark project area in white: Identify the digging location by drawing a box around the area using white paint, white stakes, white flags, white chalk or even white baking flour.
- Call 811 or submit an online request a minimum of two working days before digging: Be prepared to provide the address and general location of the project, project start date and type of digging activity. PG&E and other utilities will identify underground facilities in the area for free. Requests can be submitted a maximum of 14 days prior to the start of the project.
- Dig safely: Use hand tools when digging within 24 inches of the outside edge of underground lines. Leave utility flags, stakes or paint marks in place until the project is finished. Backfill and compact the soil.
- Be aware of signs of a natural gas leak: Smell for a "rotten egg" odor, listen for hissing, whistling or roaring sounds and look for dirt spraying into the air, bubbling in a pond or creek and dead/dying vegetation in an otherwise moist area.
About CGA
CGA is a member-driven association of nearly 4,200 damage prevention professionals spanning every facet of the underground utility industry. Established in 2000, CGA is committed to saving lives and preventing damage to North American underground infrastructure by promoting effective damage prevention practices. CGA has established itself as the preeminent source of damage prevention data and information in an effort to reduce damages to underground facilities in
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and
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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company
FAQ
How many underground utility line damage incidents occurred in PG&E's service area during 2024?
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What percentage of PCG utility line damage incidents occurred without calling 811 first?
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