August 11 is National 811 Day
Merrillville, Indiana – In conjunction with National 811 Day on Wednesday, August 11, NIPSCOhopes that 8/11 on
the calendar serves as a natural reminder for residents to call 811 or visitIndiana811.org at least 2 business days
before any digging project to have underground utility lines marked. With the summer heat in full swing and more
people spending time at home, homeowners turn to do-it-yourself (DIY) work in and around their yards. National
811 Day is the perfect opportunity to remind folks of the importance of calling 811 at least 2 business days before
digging.
In 2020, 38% of damages occurred due to failure to call 811 before a digging project in Indiana. The primary cause
of damages in the late summer was due to fence installations and landscaping projects. If you contact 811 before
you dig, there’s less than a 1% chance of damaging a utility line.
When calling 811, homeowners and contractors are connected to Indiana 811, the local one-call center, which
notifiesthe appropriate utility companies of their intent to dig. Requests can also be conveniently made online
atIndiana811.org. Professional locators then arrive at the digging site to mark the approximate locations of
underground lines with flags, spray paint, or both. Requests should be made at least 2 business days before
digging, this service is provided free of charge.
An underground utility line is damaged every few minutes because someone decided to dig without first
contacting 811. Striking a single line can cause injury, repair costs, inconvenient outages, and fines. With more
people at home during the summer and relying on their utilities to work and communicate, inconvenient outages
are important to avoid. Every digging project, no matter how big or small, warrants contacting 811 by phone or
online. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree, and laying a patio are just some examples of digging
projects that need a call to 811 or a visit to Indiana811.org before starting.
About NIPSCO: Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), with headquarters in Merrillville, Indiana,
has proudly served the energy needs of northern Indiana for more than 100 years. As Indiana’s largest natural gas
distribution company and the second-largest electric distribution company, NIPSCO serves approximately 820,000
natural gas and 470,000 electric customers across 32 counties. NIPSCO is part of NiSource’s (NYSE: NI) six regulated
utility companies. NiSource is one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States, serving
approximately 3.7 million natural gas and electric customers through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands.
More information about NIPSCO and NiSource is available at NIPSCO.com and NiSource.com.