April is National Safe Digging Month and ComEd reminds all customers and contractors to call 811 to have utility-owned underground lines marked before digging. Nationwide, every eight minutes an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without first calling 811.
Striking an underground electric line can cause serious injury, damages and service interruptions. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects where a call to 811 should be one of the first steps.
ComEd manages nearly 21,000 miles of underground electric lines in its region, many of which may cross through residential properties. Properly locating these lines is essential to safely completing a digging job.
When calling 811, customers and contractors are connected to JULIE to provide information about their project. 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.
ComEd works hard to ensure the safety of its customers, area contractors and its employees. As part of this effort, the company will launch a public safety advertising campaign to educate those who work around aerial and underground utility lines.
To learn more visit www.ComEd.com/safety.
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with approximately 6.6 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population.
Contacts:
(312) 394-3500
