Spring is here which means the yard work season has officially begun. Before you pick up that shovel, Gulf Power Company reminds you to dig safely.

 April is “National Safe Digging Month,” so if yard projects including planting trees or hedges or putting in a fence or mailbox are on your to do list, call 8-1-1 before you begin.

Homeowners often disregard possible safety issues that can arise from digging without knowing what’s lying below. If you hit an underground utility line you can harm yourself or others in the process. And, you could be held responsible for possible fines or repair costs. 

“We encourage all of our customers, homeowners and business owners to call 8-1-1 before digging,” said Natalie Smith, Corporate Communication specialist. “This is a great free service provided to the community to help our customers stay safe and prevent costly damage.”

According to the 811 website you can call 8-1-1 from anywhere in the country, your call will be routed to your local One Call Center. Tell the operator where you're planning to dig and what type of work you will be doing and the affected local utility companies will be notified about your plans to dig.

In a few days, a locator will come to your home to mark the approximate location of your underground lines, pipes and cables, so you’ll know where you can dig safely.

For more information on the 8-1-1 campaign, visit www.call811.com.

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves more than 430,000 customers in eight counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely deliver affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible electric service to our customers while working to improve the communities we serve. Visit online at GulfPower.com or on the company’s Facebook page, “Gulf Power Company.”