August 11 (8/11) Serves As Crucial Reminder To Contact Indiana 811 To Have Utility Lines Marked Before Digging

August 11 (8/11) Serves As Crucial Reminder To Contact Indiana 811  To Have Utility Lines Marked Before Digging

With August 11 quickly approaching, NIPSCO is acknowledging  the 8/11 date as a natural reminder for anyone planning a digging project to contact 811 to have  underground utility lines marked. Every few minutes an underground utility line is damaged because  someone decided to dig without first contacting 811. 

A yard project can quickly turn into an emergency without advance planning and contacting 811. Underground lines are often “out of sight, out of mind” which can pose a risk to contractors and home  owners. The depth of utility lines can vary for a number of reasons, such as erosion, previous digging  projects and uneven surfaces. Utility lines need to be properly marked because even when digging only  a few inches or digging in a previously marked location, the risk of striking an underground utility line  still exists. 

When contacting 811 at least two business days in advance of breaking ground, local utility companies  mark the approximate location of any buried main lines and service lines. This minimizes risk of  personal injury and of disrupting utility service to the neighborhood. It’s easy to make a free request by  calling 811 or going online to Indiana811.org. 

Striking a single line can cause injury, repair costs, inconvenient outages and fines. Whether installing a  mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree or laying a patio, every digging project--no matter how large or  small--warrants contacting 811. This year alone, NIPSCO has already experienced more than 140 damages to its gas lines due to people failing to contact 811. Unfortunately, this accounts for 30 percent of all gas line damages for 2023, with the number one cause of homeowner damages being due to fence  installation. 

Visit Indiana811.org. or NIPSCO.com/811 for more information about 811 and safe digging practices. 

Digger Dog is Making His Debut 

In conjunction with the 8/11 date this year, NIPSCO is adopting a smart, fun safety mascot named Digger  Dog. Digger is ready to help everyone in the community learn why contacting 811 before digging is the  smart thing to do. 

Throughout the year, he will also share other safety messages including how to identify natural gas and  how to report a possible natural gas leak. When people see Digger, they should know safety is the topic  – no bones about it. Fittingly, 8/11 Day is Digger’s birthday, and NIPSCO will celebrate 8/11 Day with  Digger and everyone in the community annually starting this year. In addition to Digger’s debut, NIPSCO  will be hosting several events to celebrate and bring awareness to 8/11 Day; including partnering with  Indiana 811 for fun family days at the Fort Wayne Tin Caps and the South Bend Cubs.  

NIPSCO would like to remind anyone who thinks they may have damaged an underground pipeline or  suspects a natural gas leak, even if they are not a NIPSCO customer, leave the area immediately and call  911 and NIPSCO 1-800-464-7726. A natural gas leak can be detected by a distinct sulfur-like odor, similar  to rotten eggs, even if it's faint or momentary; an unusual hissing or roaring sound coming from the  ground or appliance; or, bubbling water and discolored plants or grass surrounding a pipeline.  

About NIPSCO: 

Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), with headquarters in Merrillville, Indiana, has proudly  served the energy needs of northern Indiana for more than 100 years. As Indiana’s largest natural gas distribution  company and the second-largest electric distribution company, NIPSCO serves approximately 850,000 natural gas  and 483,000 electric customers across 32 counties. NIPSCO is part of NiSource’s (NYSE: NI) six regulated utility  companies. NiSource is one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States, serving  approximately 3.7 million natural gas and electric customers through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands.  More information about NIPSCO and NiSource is available at NIPSCO.com and NiSource.com.