April is National Safe Digging Month, and PECO reminds residents, businesses, and contractors that safe digging must remain a priority to prevent damage to critical underground energy infrastructure and keep communities safe. 

Before taking on any project that involves digging, customers must call 811 or visit PA One Call at least three business days in advance to identify the approximate location of underground utility equipment. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree, and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects where a call to 811 should be one of the first steps.

In 2025 alone, PECO was called to nearly 500 incidents where damage was caused to underground electric or natural gas equipment due to unsafe digging practices. Of those, 190 were tied to unsafe digging practices overall, including 90 incidents where 811 was not called prior to digging. Beyond fines and the cost of repairing damaged utility lines, taking the right steps before digging helps prevent service disruptions to neighbors and, more importantly, reduces the risk of injury. 

Residents and businesses should take the following steps when planning a digging project: 

• Call on Monday or Tuesday for work planned for an upcoming weekend, providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked. 
• If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has called 811. Do not allow work to begin if the lines are not marked. 

After you contact 811: 

• You will be connected to PA One Call, the state’s coordinator for utility line marking. 
• PA One Call will collect information about the project and provide it to PECO and other member utilities. 
• The utilities will then mark their underground facilities. 
• Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings. 
• Visit Call 811 for more information. 

Once the area is marked, understanding the color codes used for marking is essential:

A recent survey by the Common Ground Alliance, a national association focused on underground utility safety, highlights the importance of calling 811. According to the national survey, 10 million Americans planning digging projects in the next year will not contact 811, putting themselves and their communities at risk of utility service disruptions, costly fines and repairs, and even serious injury or death. 

It is also important for customers and contractors to be aware of aerial power lines. The public should always assume power lines are energized and should keep themselves, equipment, and all other items at least 10 feet away from power lines. Residents and contractors should take the following steps if work is required around aerial power lines: 

• Call PECO at 1-800-454-4100 at least 14 days in advance of work beginning.  
• Customers also can submit an application to make a worksite safe through PECO’s Make Work Site Safe. 
• For some projects, depending on the overall scope, additional lead time may be required, especially if construction will occur within seven feet of an aerial wire. Contractors need to inform PECO six to eight weeks in advance as poles and wires may need to be relocated. 

PECO joins its Exelon sister utilities in marking National Safe Digging Month and is a member of the Common Ground Alliance to share best practices that promote safe excavation and lower instances of damage to underground lines. Learn more at PECO. Customers can also contact PECO’s Damage Prevention team by calling 610-941-1809 or emailing [email protected].