April is National Safe Digging Month, and PECO reminds residents, businesses, and contractors that safe digging must remain a priority to prevent damage to critical underground energy infrastructure and keep communities safe.

Before taking on any project that involves digging, 811 (PA One Call) must be called at least three business days in advance to identify the approximate location of underground utility equipment. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree, and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects where a call to 811 should be one of the first steps.

In 2024 alone, PECO was called to nearly 600 incidents where damage was caused to underground electric or natural gas equipment due to unsafe digging practices. Beyond fines and costs for repairing damage to underground utility lines, taking the right steps before digging will help avoid accidental damage to underground lines that could disrupt services to surrounding neighbors and, more importantly, prevent potential injury from striking an underground electric, natural gas, or other utility lines.

Residents and businesses should take the following steps if planning a digging project:

• Always call 811 at least three business days before your project. Call on Monday or Tuesday for work planned for an upcoming weekend, providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked.
• If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has called 811. Don’t allow work to begin if the lines aren’t marked.
• You will be connected to PA One Call, the state’s coordinator for utility line marking.
• PA One Call will collect information about the project and provide it to PECO and other member utilities.
• The utilities will then mark their underground facilities.
• Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings.
• Visit Call811.com for more information.

Once the area is marked, understanding the color codes used for marking is essential:

A recent survey by The Common Ground Alliance — a national association dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them, and their communities — highlights the importance of calling 811. According to the national survey, 27.2 million Americans planning digging projects in the next year will not contact 811, putting themselves and their communities at risk of utility service disruptions, costly fines and repairs, and even serious injury or death.

It is also important for customers and contractors to be aware of aerial power lines. The public should always assume power lines are energized and should keep themselves, equipment, and all other items at least 10 feet away from power lines. Residents and contractors should take the following steps if work is required around aerial power lines:

• Call PECO at 1-800-454-4100 at least 14 days in advance of work beginning.
• Customers also can submit an application to make a worksite safe through PECO.
• For some projects depending on the overall scope, additional lead time may be required, especially if construction will occur within seven feet of an aerial wire. Contractors need to inform PECO six to eight weeks in advance as poles and wires may need to be relocated.

PECO joins its sister utilities in marking National Safe Digging Month and is a member of The Common Ground Alliance to share best practices that promote safe excavation and lower instances of damage to underground lines.