April is National Safe Digging Month

CAYCE, S.C. (April 1, 2024) – As warmer weather brings an increase in outdoor home improvement projects, Dominion Energy is reminding the public to stay safe and contact 811 to have their underground utility lines marked before any digging project begins. 

Landscaping, irrigation and fence installations are among the projects that routinely cause damage to underground natural gas and electric utility lines. Last year, more than 1,000 third-party damages occurred on Dominion Energy’s natural gas system in South Carolina.

To prevent injuries, service outages and traffic disruptions, South Carolina law requires contractors and property owners to contact 811 at least three full business days before excavation work begins.

“National Safe Digging Month serves as a timely reminder for the community to take advantage of SC811, a free service that protects excavators, the public and our underground infrastructure, which is vital to providing our customers with the energy they count on to power their homes and businesses every day,” said Greg McGlohorn, general manager of gas operations for Dominion Energy South Carolina. ”Safeguarding our underground utilities is one of our top priorities, and excavation damages pose the biggest threat.”

Contact 811 or visit SC811.com to submit a request. Professional locators will mark utility lines with flags or paint at no charge within three business days after your request. Once all utility lines have been marked, careful digging around the marks can begin.

To learn more about the importance of safe digging and 811, visit  DominionEnergy.com/safety/call-before-you-dig.

About Dominion Energy
About 6 million customers in 15 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to providing reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy every day and to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more.