Media Contact: Steve Schultz 608-458-3285
April is national “Call Before You Dig” month
MADISON, WI – April 5, 2011 – For many, warm sunny weather equals being outdoors and working on home improvements. Whether you’re landscaping, installing a fence, or building a deck, Alliant Energy urges you to “call before you dig.”
“Safety for both our customers and employees is always a top priority at Alliant Energy,” said Rosanne Rogers, compliance and operations support manager. “The benefits of this free service are invaluable. Not only can it prevent utility service interruptions, but it can save lives as well.”
Calling before you dig is more than just a smart idea – it’s the law. Failing to call before digging or starting to dig before the lines are properly marked can result in injury or death, or at least severe penalties and fines. Wisconsin residents should call at least three working days before starting a project, and residents in Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa should call at least two working days before beginning a project.
You can always call 811 to contact your state’s One Call Center. If you live near the border, call the direct line to avoid confusion. By calling your state’s number listed below, your local One Call Center will contact all utilities involved. Crews from those utilities will then come to the area and mark the location of any underground service lines on your property. It’s a free service.
* In Iowa: Iowa One-Call, 1-800-292-8989
* In Minnesota: Gopher State One-Call, 1-800-252-1166
* In Wisconsin: Diggers Hotline, 1-800-242-8511
* In Illinois: JULIE, 1-800-892-0123
Once the crews mark the lines and you begin digging, stay at least 18 inches away from the marked lines (24 inches in Minnesota).
If you make contact with a buried line, call 811 to report the damage. Don’t try to cover up the damage, because it could eventually become a hazard. Reported damage is repaired so buried lines stay safe.
If you’re planting a tree, remember to consider the length of the roots as the tree matures, and avoid planting tall-growing trees under power lines.
Visit call811.com for more information about 811 and safe digging practices. If you have questions or concerns, or to report an outage, please call 1-800-ALLIANT (1-800-255-4268) or visit alliantenergy.com .
Alliant Energy is an energy-services provider with subsidiaries serving approximately 1 million electric and over 412,000 natural gas customers. Providing its customers in the Midwest with regulated electric and natural gas service is the company’s primary focus. Wisconsin Power and Light, the company’s Wisconsin utility subsidiary, serves approximately 457,000 electric and 179,000 natural gas customers. Alliant Energy, headquartered in Madison, Wis., is a Fortune 1000 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNT. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.alliantenergy.com.
