Pepco and Miss Utility are urging residents, contractors and businesses to call 811 before digging as part of National Safe Digging Month in April.
The utility company responded to 110 incidents due to unsafe digging practices in 2024. Pepco maintains more than 7,360 miles of underground electric lines across its service area, alongside other buried utilities including water, sewer and communication lines.
Safety officials recommend following these procedures before starting any excavation project:
- Call 811 at least three business days before digging to have underground utility lines marked
- Confirm all local utilities have marked their lines
- Consider relocating projects that are close to utility markings
- Verify that hired contractors have called 811 before beginning work
A recent survey by the Common Ground Alliance found that 27.2 million Americans planning digging projects in the coming year will not contact 811, risking service disruptions, costly repairs and potential injuries.
Pepco is joining other Exelon companies, the U.S. Department of Transportation and state governors in the national safety campaign.
More information about safe digging practices is available at pepco.com/Safety or by calling 202-833-7500.
