Cheyenne, WY — October 21, 2021 — The first snow has already fallen and with more winter weather on the way soon, Black Hills Energy reminds contractors and residents to be sure to call 811 when finishing up fall digging projects. 

“It’s easy to get in a rush, when you know the bad weather is coming,” said Black Hills Energy’s Wyoming Damage Prevention Coordinator, Jesse Henderson. “Everyone is rushing to complete their jobs in the fall so that’s when we see an uptick of natural gas line strikes, so we are issuing reminders to promote safety awareness in our communities.”

So far in 2021, there have been 50 natural gas line hits in Wyoming without the proper call to 811.  Sixteen natural gas line hits have occurred in the month of September alone. Striking a single line can result in injury, repair costs, inconvenient outages, and fines. For every digging project, no matter how large or small, call or click 811 — it’s free, it’s safe and it’s the law.

When calling 811, homeowners and contractors are connected to One Call of Wyoming, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of the intent to dig. Requests can also be made online at: www.onecallofwyoming.com. At no cost to you, professional utility locators will arrive at the digging site to mark the approximate location of underground utility lines with flags, spray paint or both.

Black Hills Energy reminds you:

1. Call or Click Before You Dig. Always “Call or Click Before You Dig” at least two working days in advance to have utility lines marked.  You can call 811 toll-free, or schedule online at www.onecallofwyoming.com. At no charge to you, utility locators will respond within two business days to mark the approximate location of buried utility lines at your site with color-coded paint or flags.
2. Mark Your Planned Excavation Site. Using white spray paint, stakes, or flags mark the area around your planned excavation site before you call. “White-lining” helps the utility locator understand your plan and reduces the chance for project delays if the utility locator must return to locate additional areas.
3. Respect the Marks. Always hand dig with care within 24 inches of any utility line markings, as opposed to using powered equipment. Just a nick can create a weak spot that may develop into a gas leak, cause an electrical or internet outage or result in injury.
4. Don’t Rely on Old Line Locate Marks. If you don’t dig within 14 business days of having utility lines marked, contact One Call of Wyoming again. At no charge, utility locators will return to re-mark the lines as quickly as possible. Never rely on outdated information.   

Visit www.call811.com or www.blackhillsenergy.com/safety and click on Call 811 before you dig for more information about 811 and safe digging practices.