Planning plays a big part in any project. If your project involves digging, please remember to call 811 to have underground utilities located and marked prior to beginning your project. According to the Common Ground Alliance, roughly every 62 seconds there is an underground utility strike causing service outages, property damage, and injuries.
If you think calling 811 is only for contractors who are digging with big equipment, think again. Some utilities are buried only a few inches deep, so even if it’s only a post hole for a mailbox, call 811 first. You can also submit a request online at call811.com.
Before you request a locate, make sure you have the information required. You will need to provide the address, the county, the nearest cross street, as well as the type of project on which you are working. It will take a few business days for utilities to locate and mark underground equipment they own that is in your project area. It is important to wait until all utilities have had a chance to mark equipment before you dig.
Keep in mind that private lines are not included in 811 locate requests. When EEA receives an 811 locate request we will locate and mark our underground distribution lines up to the meter. If you have an overhead electric service with your meter on the pole and your home is connected to the meter with underground lines, the underground lines are not EEA property and we will not locate them. You will need to contact a private utility locate company or an electrician with equipment for locating underground lines to mark the lines you own.
The same case applies to EEA underground services where your meter is on a pedestal at your property boundary. EEA will locate and mark our primary voltage lines leading to the transformer and then our secondary voltage lines from the transformer to the meter pedestal but no farther. EEA ownership stops at the meter pedestal — electric lines beyond that belong to you and you will need to hire a third party to locate those lines before you dig.
Ignoring risk does not make it disappear. Digging before having underground utilities located and marked can result in loss of service, property damage, or injuries. Make the safe call and have underground utilities located and marked before you dig.
Empire Electric Association’s primary mission is to safely, responsibly, and reliably meet the electrical energy needs of our member-owners.
