ATLANTA – August 11, 2023 – Summertime is here and for many homeowners, that means starting home improvement projects and digging in the dirt. Aug. 11 is National 8-1-1 Day, and Atlanta Gas Light reminds residents and professional excavators across the state that the date serves as an important cue to always contact GA811 before starting any outdoor digging project.
As per Georgia law, property owners and professionals’ excavators must make a call to 811 at least business days prior to commencing work. This call serves as a notification to the appropriate utility companies prompting professional locators to visit the site for free and mark the approximate locations of underground lines using flags, paint, or both.
Contacting Georgia 811 prior to digging is the simplest way to prevent damage to buried utilities. However, according to a national survey conducted by the Common Ground Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to safeguarding utility line, approximately 34.9 million Americans, accounting for 49 percent of those surveyed, take the risk of not contacting 811 before initiating home improvement projects, that involve digging.
To promote safe digging practices, Atlanta Gas Light encourages homeowners and contractors to adhere to the following guidelines, emphasizing the acronym CARE
In the event of accidental damage to a natural gas line or if the distinct rotten-egg odor associated with natural gas is detected, individuals should immediately call 911 or the 24-hour emergency phone line of Atlanta Gas Light at 1-877-427-4321 from a safe location. It is essential to refrain from operating any machinery or equipment that could potentially cause a spark or create an open flame.
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Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.3 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states with approximately 666,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines, asset management for natural gas wholesale customers and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.
Media Contact:
Holly Lovett
c: 404.275.9321 | hcrawfor@southernco.com