Media Contact: Mashi Nyssen, (626) 302-2255

Knowing What’s Underground Prevents Injuries and Power Outages

ROSEMEAD, Calif., April 24, 2012 — This is National "Safe Digging Month," and Southern California Edison reminds its customers and the public to call 811 before starting any construction, home improvement or gardening projects that involve digging. Striking an underground electric line can be dangerous — even fatal — so it’s important to know where the lines are buried.

"SCE wants people to be safe, especially around electric wires. Digging without knowing the location of underground utility lines can cause serious injuries and result in electric service disruptions and repair costs" said William Messner, SCE director of Corporate Health and Safety.

Customers and the public are encouraged to call 811 for the free service at least two working days before any excavating or building projects, such as installing pools, decks, digging trenches, even planting trees or shrubs. A call to 811 before digging helps protect against unintentionally hitting underground cables. A technician will be sent out to locate and mark where all underground public utility lines are buried at a work site or home.

We at SCE continue to work hard year after year to create awareness for our customer’s safety. Over the past year dig-ins decreased by 18%. “Our hope is to see these dig-in occurrences continue to decrease through simple safety measures, such as calling 811 before you start a digging project,” Messner said.

The depth of underground utility lines varies, and there may be several lines buried in one area. Even a simple gardening project can pose a potential hazard. Whether doing it yourself or hiring a professional, SCE urges the use of the free 811 service to get the information needed to complete building projects safely.

For more information on the 811 service and for more safety tips, visit www.sce.com/safety.

About Southern California Edison
An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.  

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Southern California Edison Reminds Customers To Call 811 Before Starting a Digging Project