Chattanooga, Tn. – Aug. 11, 2022 – In honor of National 8-1-1 Day (August 11), Chattanooga Gas reminds property owners and professional excavators of the importance of calling Tennessee 811 before starting any outdoor digging projects.
Tennessee law requires a call to 811 at least three business days before the work. The call notifies the appropriate utility companies of the intent to dig. Professional locators will come to the site for free to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags, paint or both.
“The safety of our team members, customers and community is our number one value at Chattanooga Gas,” said Pedro Cherry president, and CEO of Chattanooga Gas. “Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in serious injuries, inconvenient service disruptions and costly repairs. Summer is often the peak time for outdoor projects, and 8/11 Day is a good reminder to contact Tennessee 811 before you dig. It is free and it is the law.”
Contacting Tennessee 811 before digging is the easiest way to avoid damaging buried utilities. However, in a national survey conducted by the Common Ground Alliance, a national nonprofit organization working to protect underground utility lines, 49% of those surveyed, or approximately 34.9 million Americans, will take a risk by not contacting 811 before starting home improvement projects that involve digging.
Chattanooga Gas encourages homeowners and contractors to follow these safe digging guidelines and always dig with CARE:
If a natural gas line is damaged accidentally or the distinctive rotten-egg odor associated when natural gas is present, call 911 or the Chattanooga Gas 24-hour emergency phone line at 1-866-643-4170 from a safe location. Do not operate any machinery or equipment that might cause a spark or create an open flame.
Chattanooga Gas is also partnering with the National Excavator Initiative (NEI) and well-known tv personality, author and social media influencer Mike Rowe to spread the word about safe digging. Known for the hit TV series “Dirty Jobs,” and his groundbreaking Facebook show “Returning the Favor,” Rowe and his animated sidekick “Micro Mike Rowe” are helping Chattanooga Gas highlight the critical importance of underground utility infrastructure and share what can go wrong if homeowners and contractors do not contact 811 before digging.
Learn more about natural gas safety at: https://www.chattanoogagas.com/safety.html
For more information about Chattanooga Gas Light, log on to our website or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
About Chattanooga Gas
Chattanooga Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Chattanooga Gas provides retail natural gas sales and transportation services to approximately 68,000 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, visit chattanoogagas.com.
About Southern Company Gas
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 customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states with approximately 666,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.
Media Contact:
Alicia Young
c: 770-658-9728
e: aliyoung@southernco.com