AUG. 11 (8/11) Serves as an Important Reminder to Call 811 Before
Digging
One free call to 811 can save lives, time and money. Today, Pacific Gas
and Electric Company (PG&E), one of the largest combined gas and
electric utilities in the nation, and the Common Ground Alliance (CGA),
will spread this important safety message as they ring the closing bell
at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on National 811 Day (8/11). Every
six minutes in America an underground utility line is damaged because
someone decided to dig without first calling 811.
To recognize their vital safety work, members of PG&E’s public
awareness, damage prevention and locate and mark teams will join PG&E
executives and CGA members on the NYSE podium to ring the bell.
“Safety is always our top priority, and we’re honored to help promote
811 on a national stage at the New York Stock Exchange. To safely
operate one of the largest networks of underground gas and electric
lines in the nation, it’s critical that everyone practice safe digging
by calling 811 before any digging project, large or small, residential
or commercial. No matter what state you live in, you can call 811 two
business days before you dig to have underground utility lines located
and marked for free,” said Jesus Soto, senior vice president of PG&E’s
Gas Operations.
When calling 811, callers are connected to their local call center,
which notifies the appropriate utility companies of their intent to dig.
Professional locators are then sent to the requested digging
site—residential or commercial—to mark the approximate locations of
underground lines with flags or spray paint. Digging without calling 811
can lead to severe consequences including death or injury, costly
damages to underground infrastructure, and utility service disruptions.
"Safety is great for business, and a commitment to it makes for great
businesses," said Bob Kipp, President of the Common Ground Alliance.
“There is no better place to communicate this critical message than the
New York Stock Exchange, home to many of the world’s leading companies.
We are privileged to come to the New York Stock Exchange to promote 811.
More than 60 of our member companies are listed on the New York Stock
Exchange.”
The Closing Bell will ring at 4 p.m. EDT and can be viewed live on the
NYSE's website at https://www.nyse.com/bell.
Visit www.pge.com/digsafely
for more information on safe digging.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E
Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas
and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco,
with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the
nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and
Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/
and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.
About the Common Ground Alliance
Common Ground Alliance (CGA) is a member-driven association of nearly
1,400 individuals, organizations and sponsors in 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 leading organization 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 www.commongroundalliance.com.
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