If you’re planning any outside work, the number you want to call is 811.
Whether installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree or laying a patio, ComEd customers, or their contractors, should call 811 before starting a digging project of any size.
When customers and contractors call 811, they are connected to JULIE (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators), a service that provides information about their project at no charge. JULIE will notify all member utilities of your plan to dig. The utilities will then mark the underground facilities. Calls are required at least three days in advance.
April is National Safe Digging Month and ComEd is reminding customers and contractors to stay safe and avoid underground power lines by calling 811. Damage to an underground utility line occurs every nine minutes in the U.S. because people dig without calling 811, according to the Common Ground Alliance, the national association that promotes safe digging practices.
More than 40 percent of homeowners who plan to dig this year for do-it-yourself projects don’t plan on calling 811. By not taking that extra step, they puts themselves and their communities at risk, according to the alliance’s national survey conducted in March. Striking an underground electric line can cause serious injury, costly damages and loss of power.
ComEd manages nearly 33,000 miles of underground electric lines in its region, many of which cross residential properties. Properly locating these lines is essential to safely completing a digging job. In addition to ComEd’s lines, there are underground communications cables, water and sewer lines, gas lines and other utility lines. Even properties that are not served by a particular service may still have utility lines running below ground.
To learn more visit www.ComEd.com/safety.