GASTONIA, N.C. – As the temperature increases, so too does digging activity for outdoor home improvement and construction projects. This National Safe Digging Month, Dominion Energy is reminding the public to always call or click 811 to request that utility lines be marked as a part of their project checklist if the work involves digging. The utility marking service is free and paid for by utilities like Dominion Energy to protect public safety.

“We saw a decrease in natural gas line damages during the pandemic and we want that trend to continue to ensure the public stays safe and connected,” said Scott Swindler, director of Gas Operations for Dominion Energy’s natural gas business in North Carolina. “Contacting 811 doesn’t take time or money away from your project. In most cases, you can conveniently submit a request online instead of calling 811 to speak to a representative.”

North Carolina state law requires contractors and property owners to contact 811 at least three full business days in advance of digging activity. Examples of excavation projects include installation of a septic tank, swimming pool, fence, water well, sprinkler system, mailbox post or tree planting. Digging into utility lines can cause injuries, traffic delays or inconvenient outages, but having lines marked before digging can prevent these problems.

There are three convenient ways to submit an underground utility marking request:

• Dial 811, a toll-free number.
• Visit nc811.org to submit a single address ticket.
• Use the NC811 app from your mobile phone.

Once the request is submitted and processed, Dominion Energy locators, like Robert (video), will mark the location of the natural gas lines on your dig site within three days after your call. Once all utility lines have been marked, careful digging around the marks can begin. To learn more about natural gas safety and the 811 process, click here.

About Dominion Energy
About 7 million customers in 13 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 sustainable, reliable, affordable and safe energy and to achieving net zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions from its power generation and gas infrastructure operations by 2050. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more.