Call 811 before you dig!

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — As the spring season arrives, Alabamians are reminded to contact 811 at least two days before beginning outdoor digging projects.

The Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC) recognizes April as “811 Safe Digging Month” and recommends using the free service to avoid damaging important underground utility lines, which could cause injury and service disruptions.

“To prevent unnecessary damage to utilities around your home, call 811 before you dig,” President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh said. “Calling 811 first protects you, your family, your home and your community.”

Other around-the-house projects to utilize the service, which is required by law before any excavation can begin, include landscaping, installing a fence or adding a deck onto the home. Once a utility company is notified, the company will send a representative to the homeowner’s property to mark underground lines with paint and flags.

“Contacting 811 before digging provides protection for folks as they begin their spring projects around their homes,” Commissioner Chris V. Beeker III said. “The dedicated utility workers in our state go above the call of duty to ensure homes, businesses and citizens are kept safe. I appreciate and commend the hard work they do for all of Alabama.”

“National Safe Digging Month serves as an important safety reminder we want everyone to take note of before starting their spring and summer outdoor projects,” Commissioner Jeremy H. Oden said. “The simple yet crucial step of contacting 811 not only ensures the safety of the homeowner before they dig, but also helps prevent damage and service interruptions for underground utilities like natural gas, electricity and water.”