April is National Safe Digging Month

GASTONIA, N.C. (April 2, 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 lines. To prevent injuries, service outages and traffic disruptions, North Carolina law requires contractors and property owners to contact 811 at least three full business days before excavation work begins.

“National Safe Digging Months serves as a timely reminder for the community to take advantage of this free service to protect themselves, their communities and our gas lines, which are vital to providing our customers with the energy they count on to fuel their homes and businesses every day,” said Scott Swindler, director of Gas Operations for Dominion Energy’s natural gas business in North Carolina. ”Safeguarding our underground utilities is our No. 1 priority, with third-party damage posing the biggest threat.”

Contact 811 or visit NC811.org 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.