PSC Chairman Lane’s Column: 811 Day – Call Before You Dig!

Every August 11 the calendar page reminds us to call 811 before digging. WV811 is a free service that coordinates with utilities to locate underground pipes and wires before you put a shovel in the ground. You are required by law to call 811 at least 48 hours before you excavate.

In our state, the One Call law is enforced by the West Virginia Damage Prevention Board (DPB). The Public Service Commission is designated as an active member of the DPB.

The DPB aggressively investigates every reported violation of the One Call law. Anyone can report a suspected violation at www.WVDPB.com . Simply click on “Report Violation” and fill out the form. A board member who represents WV811 will first check to see if a project ticket was issued for the work. If not, the report is forwarded to the full board for review. The board will contact the parties involved and collect all the pertinent information. Then a determination is made as to whether there was a violation.

For a first offence, the violator will receive a letter that explains the law and the nature of their violation. They will be required to watch an instructional video and to pay a $25 fine. The goal is more to educate than to punish. If there are repeat violations, the amount and nature of the penalties will increase. You may even be held liable for the cost of repairing the line. At the top end of the scale, violators may be charged with a misdemeanor and fined up to $5,000 per incident.

If you do strike an underground utility line, call 911 immediately. Never attempt to make repairs to utility lines on your own. Repairs that are not properly made and documented by the utility company can cause even bigger problems down the road.

Even more sobering is that fact that striking an underground utility line can cause severe harm to you or others. Sure, it may inconvenience you and your neighbors if your service is interrupted. But damaging some facilities, such as natural gas lines, can cause serious injury, property damage, or even death.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so always call 811 before you dig. It’s the smart thing to do – and it’s the law.

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