As Iowans make spring plans and plan to celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Day with new trees, Black Hills Energy plans to shut off power or even We offer a number of helpful tips to help you avoid becoming a bad neighbor. wood.
Simple rules for safe excavation both at home and as a contractor:
Call 811 before digging. This simple phone call will notify all utility companies in your area of your drilling plans. You can also submit your request online. Be sure to do this at least two full business days before drilling. On average, seven utilities are notified per request.
Pre-mark where you plan to dig using white paint, stakes, or flags. Marking sites makes it easier for utility locators to understand your plans and reduces the chance of project delays if locators need to return to find additional areas.
Please respect Mark. Rather than using heavy equipment, carefully dig by hand with a shovel to a tolerance of 18 inches or more, depending on the size of the pipe.
Don't rely on old line locate marks. If you do not excavate within 20 business days of marking the utility line, please contact Iowa 811 again. Line Locator will recheck your lines for free within 2 days.
“Safety should always be a top priority, whether you're a homeowner planting a tree or a contractor using a backhoe,” said Iowa Damage Prevention Coordinator Brad Henningsen. “At any time of the year, you need to dig safely and always call before digging. Buried utility lines may not be visible, but they should never be out of mind. not.”
Failure to follow “call before you dig” laws can result in civil penalties and costly repairs to public and private property. More importantly, hitting underground utility lines can cause widespread service outages and serious injuries to everyone in a wide area.
If a natural gas line is accidentally damaged or if you smell the distinctive rotten egg odor associated with natural gas, leave the area immediately and call 911 first and then call Black Hills Energy at 888-890- 5554). Do not operate machinery or equipment that may generate sparks or open flames.
For more information about 811 and safe mining methods, visit blackhillsenergy.com/811. You can also follow Black Hills Energy on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to safely mine resources.
About Black Hills Energy
Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer-focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving lives with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. The company, based in Rapid City, South Dakota, serves 1.3 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. I am. Additional information is available at blackhillscorp.com and blackhillsenergy.com.
