August 11 is National 811 Day--A Reminder to Call 811 Before Any Digging Project, Large or Small

Rhea-AI Summary

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (NYSE:PCG) is raising awareness for National 811 Day on August 11, emphasizing the importance of calling 811 before any digging project. The company reports 471 incidents of damaged underground utility lines in 2025, with 59% of cases occurring without prior 811 notification. For residential customers, this percentage rises to 90%.

The free service helps avoid costly repairs, which average $3,500 per incident. Professional locators mark underground utility lines including gas, electric, water, telecom, and sewer. Customers must call 811 at least two business days before digging, and the service is available 24/7 with translation options through USA North.

Positive

• Free service available 24/7 with translation options
• Professional utility marking service helps prevent expensive damages averaging $3,500
• Online request option available through 811express.com for customer convenience

Negative

• High incident rate with 471 underground utility line damages in 2025
• 59% of damage incidents occurred due to failure to call 811
• 90% of residential customers failed to call before digging, indicating poor awareness

A Free Call to 811 Will Help Keep You Safe and Avoid Expensive Repairs Averaging $3,500

OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Monday, August 11, is recognized as National 811 Day, to raise awareness of the importance of making a free call to 811 before any digging project, large or small. Whether you are a property owner or a contractor, calling 811 will help ensure that projects involving digging can be done safely while avoiding expensive repairs due to damaged underground utility lines.

Underground utility lines can be shallow, sometimes only a few inches below the surface, so it is important to call 811 before any project that involves digging, including building or replacing a fence, planting or landscaping, and beginning construction work.

In Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (PG&E) service area, underground gas and electric lines have been damaged due to digging 471 times so far this year. In 59% of those cases, 811 wasn't called. For residential customers, 90% of those striking lines while digging didn't call 811.

Making a free call to 811 will not only help keep you safe, it can save you money, as damaging an underground line while digging leads to repair costs averaging $3,500.

"By making a fast and free call to 811, utility professionals will come to your home or job site and mark the location of underground lines so that you can dig safely and avoid expensive repairs. Know what's below before you start any size digging project, whether you are planting, landscaping, or doing fence work and call 811 two days before you dig," said PG&E Damage Prevention Director Mitch Smith.  

When a call is placed to 811 to have lines located and marked, a professional locator will come to your project site to mark the location of underground utility lines, including gas, electric, water, telecom and sewer, free of charge. Knowing where underground lines are buried while you are digging and following safe digging practices will help keep you and your family safe and connected to essential utility services.

Warmer weather months see an increase in digging projects and a corresponding increase in the number of strikes to underground lines that have not been marked ahead of time. In fact, in 2025 throughout PG&E's service area of Northern and Central California:

• There have been 471 incidents where underground utility lines were damaged due to digging, and in 59% of incidents when an underground utility line was damaged due to digging, 811 was not called
• For homeowners specifically, that percentage rises to 90%
• The average cost to repair a damaged utility line is $3,500
• Leading causes of damages to underground utility lines while digging include: building or replacing a fence, gardening and landscaping, planting a tree or removing a stump, sewer and irrigation work and building a deck or patio

Calling 811 is Fast and Free

• Customers should call 811 a minimum of two business days before beginning any project that involves digging, no matter how large or small. Customers also can visit 811express.com to have underground utility lines marked for their project site.
• Professional utility workers for all utilities (gas, electric, water, sewer and telecommunications) will be dispatched to mark the location of all underground utility lines for the project site with flags, spray paint, or both
• The 811 call center serving Northern and Central California, USA North, is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will provide Spanish and other translation services.

PG&E Safe Digging Tips

• Mark project area in white: Identify the digging location by drawing a box around the area using white paint, white stakes, white flags, white chalk or even white baking flour.
• Call 811 or submit an online request a minimum of two working days before digging: Be prepared to provide the address and general location of the project, project start date and type of digging activity. PG&E and other utilities will identify underground facilities in the area for free. Requests can be submitted a maximum of 14 days prior to the start of the project.
• Dig safely: Use hand tools when digging within 24 inches of the outside edge of underground lines. Leave utility flags, stakes or paint marks in place until the project is finished. Backfill and compact the soil.
• Be aware of signs of a natural gas leak: Smell for a "rotten egg" odor, listen for hissing, whistling or roaring sounds and look for dirt spraying into the air, bubbling in a pond or creek and dead/dying vegetation in an otherwise moist area. If you smell gas, call 911 and then call PG&E at 800-743-5000.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

 

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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company

FAQ

What is National 811 Day and why is it important for PG&E (NYSE:PCG) customers?

National 811 Day on August 11 promotes awareness about calling 811 before digging to prevent damage to underground utilities. It's crucial for PG&E customers as it helps avoid accidents and expensive repairs averaging $3,500.

How many underground utility line damages has PG&E reported in 2025?

PG&E has reported 471 incidents of damaged underground utility lines in 2025, with 59% of cases occurring without calling 811 first.

How long before digging should PG&E customers call 811?

PG&E customers should call 811 a minimum of two business days before starting any digging project. Requests can be submitted up to 14 days before the project start date.

What are the main causes of underground utility damage in PG&E's service area?

The leading causes include building or replacing fences, gardening and landscaping, planting trees or removing stumps, sewer and irrigation work, and building decks or patios.

How does PG&E's 811 service work and what does it cost?

PG&E's 811 service is completely free and provides professional locators who mark underground utility lines with flags, spray paint, or both. The service covers gas, electric, water, telecom, and sewer lines.