PSEG Long Island Reminds Customers to Dig Safe by Calling 811

LongIsland.com

Know where utility lines are buried before digging.

Print Email

PSEG Long Island is reminds the public of the importance for calling 811 before digging to avoid hitting underground pipelines, conduits, wires and cables.

Photo by: fingers

Uniondale, NY – April 4, 2017 - April is National Safe Digging Month and PSEG Long Island is reminding customers and contractors of the importance for calling 811 to request a mark-out before digging to avoid hitting underground pipelines, conduits, wires and cables. Calling 811 is not only a free, safe and smart practice to avoid injuries and disruptions to vital utility services, it is also a requirement by New York State.
 
PSEG Long Island has more than 5,000 circuit miles of underground electric distribution and transmission lines across Long Island and in the Rockaways. In addition to the electric service lines, there are buried communications cables and natural gas, water and sewer lines, among other utilities. Even areas across the service territory that are not served by a particular service may still have utility lines running below ground.
 
Calling New York 811 automatically connects you to the New York One-Call Center, which collects information about your digging project. The one-call center then provides the information to the utility companies, who will send representatives to mark the locations of underground lines in the immediate vicinity of the planned work location with flags, paint or both. Once lines have been properly marked and you receive confirmation, you can begin your project.
 
Tips for safe digging:
 
  • Call 811 at least two business days before each job to have underground facilities located.
  • If you hired a contractor, confirm that a call to 811 has been made. Do not allow work to begin if the lines aren’t marked.
  • Large and small projects, such as installing a fence, building a deck and planting a tree, all warrant a call to 811.
  • Property owners must maintain and respect the marks. Always hand dig within two feet of marked lines or the area known as the Tolerance Zone.
  • Various colors are used when marking lines, learn what each color represents at www.call811.com.
 
If an underground facility is struck resulting in an electrical or gas emergency:
 
  • Leave the area immediately and keep others away.
  • Call 911 to report the incident and the respective utility:
  • If electrical equipment was damaged, call PSEG Long Island’s electric service line at 800-490-0075.
  • If you accidentally damage gas piping or smell gas when excavating, call 911 and National Grid Long Island’s gas emergency line at 800-490-0045 immediately from a safe area.
 
PSEG Long Island operates the Long Island Power Authority’s transmission and distribution system under a 12-year contract.  PSEG Long Island is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (NYSE:PEG), a publicly traded diversified energy company with annual revenues of $9.1 billion.