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Atlanta Gas Light Continues Effort to Raise Awareness of Safe Digging on National 811 Day

ATLANTA – Aug. 11, 2017 – Keeping families safe and natural gas flowing to homes and businesses is Atlanta Gas Light’s highest priority. That’s why on National 811 Day, Atlanta Gas Light is joining other utility companies, one-call centers, damage prevention advocates and professional contractors in an effort to raise awareness of calling 8-1-1.

Each year, Aug. 11 (8/11) serves as a reminder to the public to call 8-1-1 before starting an outdoor digging project, such as putting in a mailbox, planting a flowerbed and building a deck. Dialing 8-1-1 prevents injuries, property damages and inconvenient outages.

When making the free call to 8-1-1, homeowners and contractors are connected to the one call center, which notifies the appropriate utility companies (natural gas, electric, water, sewer, telephone and cable lines) of the intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the requested digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags or spray paint. Once lines have been accurately marked, digging can begin.

Atlanta Gas Light is providing the following safe digging guidelines for homeowners and contractors:

  • Call 8-1-1 Before You Dig: When starting an outdoor project involving digging, make contacting Georgia 811 at 8-1-1 or 1- 800-282-7411 part of your plans. Calls to the free locating service can be made up to 10 days in advance. The requests to have utility operators mark underground facilities, including natural gas, electric, water, sewer, telephone and cable lines, can be made 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Allow the Required Time for Marking: Before doing any digging, customers are urged to call 8-1-1 and wait the required time to have underground utility lines marked. The approximate location of underground utility lines will be marked with color-coded spray paint, flags or stakes that correspond to the utility. The color used for natural gas is yellow.
  • Respect the Marks: Once the lines are marked, use the appropriate digging methods, which may include hand tools, and dig no closer than 18 inches from the marked utility lines.
  • Excavate Carefully: Make sure the marks remain visible during the project. If the lines are damaged or removed, customers are encouraged to call 8-1-1 to have lines re-marked. If a natural gas line is damaged accidentally or the distinct odor of gas is present, call 9-1-1 or the Atlanta Gas Light 24-hour emergency phone line at 1-877-427-4321 from a safe location.

For information about natural gas safety, visit www.atlantagaslight.com.

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About Atlanta Gas Light
Atlanta Gas Light is one of seven natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Atlanta Gas Light provides natural gas delivery service to more than 1.6 million customers in Georgia. In operation since 1856, the company is one of the oldest corporations in the state. For more information, visit atlantagaslight.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 4.6 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in seven states and more than 1 million retail customers through its companies that market natural gas and related home services. 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 Southern Company Gas at southerncompanygas.com.

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Media Contact:
Mekka Parish
o: 404.584.4165  |  c: 404.387.8067 |  msparish@southernco.com