(Helena) The Montana Public Service Commission, in cooperation with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners are highlighting April as “Safe Digging Month” in Montana and across the United States.
A recent national survey released by the Common Ground Alliance shows that more than half of U.S. homeowners plan to complete an outdoor do-it-yourself project that involves digging in the next year, but 26.9 million Americans do not plan to notify 811 ahead of their next project.
The PSC says the spring season inevitably brings with it an increase in outdoor projects that can result in hitting buried utility lines, before strongly urging anyone undertaking outdoor residential or business projects to call 811 beforehand.
The costs of striking and damaging underground gas, electric, communications, water and sewer lines in the U.S. is billions of dollars annually
