National Grid Offers a Reminder to Prevent Damage to Underground Utilities

WALTHAM, MA (04/28/2011)(readMedia)-- As the construction and home improvement seasons get underway, National Grid is joining with the American Gas Association to remind anyone who has excavation plans to call Dig Safe® so utility companies can mark the location of underground equipment they own and maintain. The service is free and can prevent injuries, property damage and service interruptions.

State laws in the New England states served by National Grid mandate that Dig Safe® be contacted by calling 811 at least 72 hours prior to construction activity. Failure to notify Dig Safe® is punishable by fines, which can be as high as $1,000 for a first offense and $10,000 for subsequent offenses. More importantly, digging or excavating without calling Dig Safe® can result in serious injury or death.

"What may appear to be a simple job can jeopardize public safety if you don't plan ahead and make a call to Dig Safe®," said Kathy Lyford, National Grid's Vice President of Safety, Health and Environment. "A single phone call can potentially avert a tragedy."

Home improvement jobs, such as planting a tree or digging a hole for a fence post or deck footing can damage underground utility equipment, which might be a few feet underground.

Dig Safe® is a not-for profit communications network funded by utility companies to promote public safety, protect utility services and safeguard against property and environmental damage. Utilities must clearly mark their underground equipment within 72 hours of a call.

National Grid is an international energy delivery company. In the U.S., National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. National Grid also owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation that provides power to over one million LIPA customers.

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