May 20, 2009

Chattanooga, Tenn. – May 20, 2009 – Many property owners and professional contractors are taking advantage of the warm weather to undertake landscaping and outdoor projects that require digging or excavating. Chattanooga Gas urges landowners and contractors to dial the toll-free “Call Before You Dig” hotline, 8-1-1, before beginning a project.
 
“Exercising caution when digging around gas lines and other buried utility facilities is important, not only for personal safety, but also to help maintain safe and reliable service,” said Steve Lindsey, vice president, Chattanooga Gas.
 
Dialing 8-1-1 will connect callers to the Tennessee damage prevention center. This quick and efficient one call center notifies the appropriate local utilities, which then send locate technicians to the requested site to mark the approximate location of underground lines. Chattanooga Gas will mark the surface locations of buried natural gas lines at the job site, which helps prevent damage to those facilities.
 
According to Lindsey, it is important for residents and contractors to call before beginning any outdoor project. “Safety is good business and even small, do-it-yourself jobs using mechanized equipment should be marked to prevent possible injury and costly damage,” he continued.
  
For more information about the 8-1-1 service visit www.call811.com. 

Chattanooga Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources (NYSE: ATG), provides retail natural gas sales and transportation services to approximately 61,000 customers in Hamilton and Bradley counties in southeast Tennessee. The Chattanooga Gas service area includes the communities of Chattanooga, Cleveland, Red Bank, East Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain. For more information, please see www.chattanoogagas.com.