PIERRE, S.D. – This is National Safe Digging month and the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission is reminding South Dakotans that calling 811 is an important step in preparing to start outdoor projects they’ve planned this spring.
Commission Chair Kristi Fiegen says state law requires excavators and property owners to call 811 two business days in advance
before turning dirt.
“We done want any type of injuries,” said Fiegen. “We also don’t want any outages. Everybody in the neighborhood wants their lights to stay on. They also want their broadband and internet to work. We just want people to adhere to the law.”
Those two days give utility providers time to mark all the natural gas, electric, communications, water and sewer lines on your property and help
to minimize the damage and dangers of hitting those buried utilities.
She says calling 811 is like free insurance.
“It’s free to access. And it protects you as the homeowner or landowner”
