Failure to call 811 caused nearly 1,300 underground utility damage incidents in 2023, PG&E reports
(UI) – Warmer weather months see an increase in digging projects. Many of those projects are proceeding without a free call to 811 to have underground utilities marked for project sites.
In fact, according to a recent national survey conducted by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), 56% of projects proceed with digging without calling 811 first. According to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, failure to call 811 before digging resulted in nearly 1,300 incidents during 2023 where underground utility lines were damaged due to digging in PG&E's service area alone.
There were 1,262 incidents in Northern and Central California where homeowners or contractors damaged underground gas or electric lines while digging. In 63% of incidents when an underground utility line was damaged due to digging, 811 was not called. For homeowners specifically, that percentage rises to 90%.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation, is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California.
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