Atlanta Residents can learn safe digging practices from Atlanta Gas Light professionals at Piedmont Park's Green Market this weekend

Atlanta, GA. – August 8, 2025 – Representatives from Atlanta Gas Light’s Asset Protection team will be sharing resources and information with Atlanta residents to promote safe digging at the Piedmont Park Green Market in honor of National 811 Day coming up on Monday, August 11. 

Atlanta residents will have the opportunity to learn first-hand from Atlanta Gas Light’s Asset Protection specialists how they can engage in safe digging practices at home. Georgia 811 merchandise will be given out to help share Atlanta Gas Light’s message about the importance of safe digging to keep our communities safe. The Green Market will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. this Saturday, August 9. 

The need to share best practices has become increasingly critical for Georgia communities. Georgia 811, a non-profit organization promoting safety and preventing damage to underground facilities, reported that 14% of damage incidents last year had no requests to locate infrastructure. On an even larger scale, 27.2 million Americans shared that they are not likely to contact 811 before beginning a digging project in a recent survey.  

About 25 years ago, the Georgia Underground Facility Protection Act (GUFPA), enacted by the General Assembly in July 2000, provides protection of buried utility facility infrastructure within the State of Georgia. Contacting 811 before starting a digging project reduces the risk of disrupting service to neighborhoods and potentially incurring fines. It is also the law. 

For those who are not able to make it to the Green Market this week, Atlanta Gas Light is sharing how residents can participate in safe digging practices as well by encouraging everyone to dig with C.A.R.E: 

• Call or Click Before You Dig - Always contact GA811 by dialing 811 or visiting georgia811.com at least three business days before starting any digging project. This free service ensures all underground utility lines like gas, electric, water, sewer and cable are properly marked. 
• Allow Time for Marking – After submitting a request, wait for professional locators to mark the approximate location of underground lines using color-coded paint or flags. Yellow indicates natural gas.
• Respect the Marks – Use only hand tools when digging near marked lines to avoid accidental damage.
• Excavate Carefully – Keep utility markings visible throughout your project. If they fade or are disturbed, contact GA811 to have them refreshed.

If a gas line is damaged or the smell of natural gas (often described as a rotten-egg odor) is detected, leave the area immediately, call 911, then contact the Atlanta Gas Light emergency line at 877-427-4321. 

For more information on safe digging and natural gas safety, visit atlantagaslight.com/safety/digging. 

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About Atlanta Gas Light 
Atlanta Gas Light is one of four 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 approximately 1.8 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. 

Media Contact: 
Ashley Hoffman | 678.357.1685 |  ahoffman@southernco.com