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HARRISBURG - Whether planting a tree, installing a mailbox, building a deck, or beginning a larger construction project, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is reminding Pennsylvanians that one simple step can help prevent injuries, protect essential services, and avoid costly damage: contact Pennsylvania One Call by dialing 811 before digging.
Observed each year on Aug. 11 (8/11), National 811 Day serves as a reminder that safe excavation begins long before the first shovel enters the ground. A free request to have underground utility lines located and marked helps protect homeowners, contractors, utility workers, and the critical infrastructure that communities depend on every day.
“Beneath nearly every yard, sidewalk, and street are utility lines that provide services we often take for granted - from natural gas and electricity to drinking water, internet service, and emergency communications,” said PUC Chairman Steve DeFrank. “A free call to Pennsylvania One Call before digging helps protect your family, your neighbors, utility workers, and the infrastructure that keeps our communities running safely. It’s one of the easiest - and most important - safety steps anyone can take.”
Underground infrastructure powers nearly every aspect of modern life. Accidentally striking a buried utility line can lead to serious injuries, fires, explosions, service outages, environmental damage, or disruptions to internet, telephone, and even emergency 911 communications.
Many homeowners are surprised to learn that projects as simple as planting shrubs, installing fence posts, replacing a mailbox, or building a retaining wall may require an 811 request before work begins.
Fortunately, the process is simple and free for residential property owners.
Anyone planning to disturb the earth with powered equipment should contact Pennsylvania One Call at least three business days before excavation begins. Utility companies will then identify and mark underground facilities within the work area, allowing projects to proceed more safely.
The PUC encourages homeowners and contractors to follow these simple steps before beginning any excavation project:
— Contact Pennsylvania One Call by dialing 811 or submitting a request online at least three business days before digging.
— Wait until underground utilities have been properly marked before beginning work.
— Respect utility markings throughout the project and excavate carefully around them.
— If hiring a contractor, make sure the contractor - not the homeowner - obtains the required excavation ticket.
Even with proper planning, accidents can happen.
If you strike an underground utility line or suspect a natural gas leak while digging: Stop work; leave the area immediately if a gas leak is suspected; call 911 and notify the affected utility company.
Never attempt to repair a damaged utility line yourself.
“Safe digging protects far more than a single work site,” DeFrank added. “It helps safeguard neighborhoods, protects the men and women who respond to utility emergencies, and helps ensure that essential services remain available for everyone.”
During 2025, Pennsylvania One Call processed more than 1,095,000 excavation tickets across the Commonwealth, helping identify and protect thousands of miles of underground utility infrastructure before excavation projects began. In addition, the Damage Prevention Committee reviewed 9,387 alleged violations of the Underground Utility Line Protection Law, underscoring the continuing importance of education, compliance, and shared responsibility for safe excavation.
For more information about Pennsylvania One Call, legal requirements for safe excavation, or to submit an excavation request, visit www.pa1call.org or dial 811. Callers outside Pennsylvania may contact Pennsylvania One Call at 1-800-242-1776.