News & Press
Spring is in the air…and so are home projects! April marks Safe Digging Month and the beginning of the peak period for outdoor projects in Georgia. In many cases, Tri-County EMC, Tri-CoGo, and other utility companies run cable underground to provide service to your home. Before you begin your next home project, it is important to know if and where those utility cables are buried. Whether it’s planting trees, constructing a backyard fence, or installing a new sprinkler system, be proactive and ensure that you are not digging near any buried electrical or fiber-optic cable.
CONTACT GEORGIA 811
Did you know that nationwide an underground line is damaged every three minutes? Georgia 811 is a free service that exists to help prevent utility damages and safety emergencies. Homeowners are responsible by law to contact Georgia 811 at least three business days before beginning any digging project on their property. You can submit an eRequest online at Georgia811.com, or call 811 to reach the automated system. From there, Georgia 811 transmits the location and description of the project to the affected member utility companies, who will be responsible for sending out a location technician to the proposed area. Once underground lines are marked, you will know the approximate location of utility lines and can practice safe digging.
Failure to contact Georgia 811 can cause expensive damage, disrupting electric or internet service to an entire neighborhood and you could potentially incur fines and repair costs. Before you dig, make sure you take the necessary precautions.