Calling 811 Reduces Risk of Damaged Utility Lines by 99 Percent
Did you know that, before you dig, it is required by law to call 811 to
have all buried utility lines located and marked? Atmos
Energy wants to thank homeowners and excavators alike for observing
the law and keeping our communities safe by always calling 811 before
digging.
Since 2008, Atmos Energy has seen a 36 percent increase in requests by
the public to have underground natural gas lines marked. Once
underground utility lines are marked, it is important to take special
care around all line markings by digging by hand.
“The greatest risk to our natural gas pipelines is accidental damage
while digging,” said John Paris, president of Atmos Energy’s Mid-Tex
division. “Even minor damage, such as a scrape, dent, or crease in a
pipeline or its coating, can cause a leak.”
Every time the excavating public calls 811 before digging, the chance of
hitting an underground utility line decreases by 99.9 percent. When
calling 811, homeowners and contractors are connected to their local
one-call center, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of
their intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the digging
site to mark the locations of underground utility-owned lines with flags
and spray paint, free of charge.
“Atmos Energy located 1.5 million underground natural gas lines in 2015.
We appreciate our customers observing this important safety law. Calling
811 is the law in every state that we serve. All excavators call 811 at
least three business days before digging on public or private property,”
said Paris.
For more information, visit atmosenergy.com/811
or call811.com.
B-roll available for media upon request.
About Atmos Energy
Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is the country's
largest natural-gas-only distributor, serving more than 3 million
natural gas distribution customers in about 1,400 communities in eight
states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains
in the West. Atmos Energy manages company-owned natural gas pipeline and
storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas
pipeline systems in Texas and also provides natural gas marketing and
procurement services to industrial, commercial and municipal customers
primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. For more information, visit www.atmosenergy.com.
Atmos Energy can also be accessed through social media platforms such as Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram,
and YouTube.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160810005069/en/
Copyright Business Wire 2016
Source: Business Wire
(August 10, 2016 - 3:00 PM EDT)
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