Damaging an underground utility line while digging can result in thousands of dollars in repair costs
OAKLAND, Calif., April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Every day in Central and Northern California, underground utility lines are damaged due to homeowners and contractors failing to call 811 before starting digging projects. Not only is digging without knowing the location of underground lines dangerous, it can also result in expensive repairs and inconvenient outages. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is joining with others across the country during National Safe Digging Month to help raise awareness of the importance of calling 811 before you dig.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PRNewsfoto/Pacific Gas and Electric Company)
Underground utility lines can be shallow, sometimes only a few inches below the surface, due to erosion, previous digging projects or landscaping, shifting or settling of the ground and uneven surfaces. Customers should call 811 a minimum of two business days before starting any digging project, large or small, as damaging an underground utility line while digging is dangerous and can leave customers responsible for repair costs averaging $3,500.
"Calling 811 before any size digging project will help keep you, your family and neighbors safe and will also help you avoid expensive repairs averaging $3,500 should you damage an underground line while digging. Professional utility locators will come to your home and mark the location of underground utilities free of charge so that you can dig safe and know what's below," said Joe Forline, PG&E senior vice president, gas operations.
Warmer weather months see an increase in digging projects, and unfortunately 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 homeowners plan to dig without calling 811 first. But, failure to call 811 before digging resulted in over 1,300 incidents during 2024 where underground utility lines were damaged due to digging in PG&E's service area alone.
2024 by the numbers:
There were 1,302 incidents in Northern and Central California where homeowners or contractors damaged underground gas or electric lines while digging
In 60 percent of incidents when an underground utility line was damaged due to digging, 811 was not called.
For homeowners specifically, that percentage rises to 89 percent
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 can also 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 Central and Northern 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.
About CGA
CGA is a member-driven association of nearly 4,200 damage prevention professionals spanning every facet of the underground utility industry. Established in 2000, CGA is committed to saving lives and preventing damage to North American underground infrastructure by promoting effective damage prevention practices. CGA has established itself as the preeminent source of damage prevention data and information in an effort to reduce damages to underground facilities in North America through shared responsibility among all stakeholders. For more information, visit CGA on the web at http://www.commongroundalliance.com.
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.
