Chesapeake Utilities encourages residents to make a free call at least 48 hours before digging
Dover, Delaware — With August 11 here, Chesapeake Utilities hopes this date will serve as a natural reminder for residents to call 811 prior to any digging project. Making this quick call ensures that all underground utility lines can be appropriately marked. Chesapeake’s friendly reminder comes on the heels of a recent report issued by the Common Ground Alliance, which reported that an underground utility line is damaged during digging projects every three minutes nationwide.
When calling 811, homeowners and contractors are connected to Miss Utility, the local one-call center. Calling Miss Utility notifies the appropriate utility companies of their intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the requested digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags, spray paint or both.
Striking a single line can cause injury, repair costs, fines and inconvenient outages. 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 that necessitate a call to 811 before starting.
“On August 11 and throughout the year, we remind homeowners and professional contractors alike to call 811 before digging. Making this call eliminates the risk of striking an underground utility line.” said Jeffrey Tietbohl, Vice President of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE:CPK). “It really is the only way to know which utilities are buried in your area.”
The depth of utility lines can vary for a number of reasons, including erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces. Utility lines need to be properly marked, as the risk of striking an underground utility line exists at all depths. Residents are encouraged to visit www.call811.com or www.missutilitydelmarva.com for more information about 811 and safe digging practices.
Chesapeake Utilities’ natural gas distribution operations serve approximately 120,200 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Delaware, Maryland and Florida. The Delaware division serves southern New Castle County and is the only natural gas distribution system serving Delaware’s Kent and Sussex counties.
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified utility company engaged in natural gas distribution, transmission and marketing, electric distribution, propane gas distribution and wholesale marketing, advanced information services and other related services. Information about Chesapeake’s businesses is available at www.chpk.com.
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For more information, contact:
Shane Breakie, Director of Energy Services
Chesapeake Utilities
Phone: 302.734.6797
