Call 811 Before You Dig

Spring is here, and summer is just around the corner. As the weather improves, many of our customers will undertake outdoor projects. Wasco Electric Cooperative (WEC) reminds you to use caution while you are working outdoors, especially around power lines—overhead and underground power lines can pose a danger.

811, the national Call Before You Dig number, was created to help protect you from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines while working on digging projects. People digging often make risky assumptions about whether they should get their utility lines marked due to concerns about project delays, costs, and previous calls about other projects—incorrect assumptions can be life-threatening.

Every digging job requires a call—even small projects such as planting trees or shrubs. If you hit an underground utility line while digging, you can harm yourself or those around you, disrupt service to an entire neighborhood and potentially be responsible for large fines and repair costs.

One call to 811 automatically notifies all 811 members, including electric utilities, natural gas providers, and communication providers who may have underground lines at your work site. 811 members, such as WEC, will mark or stake the horizontal path of their underground facilities, provide information about, or give clearance to dig. This simple service protects you from personal injury and protects the utility’s underground facilities from being damaged. You can also visit the 811 website.