NIPSCO April Safe Digging Month

NIPSCO urges homeowners and professionals to contact
811 before any digging project to avoid damaging buried utility lines

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – As warmer weather brings Hoosiers outdoors for spring home improvement and landscaping projects, NIPSCO is recognizing April as National Safe Digging Month and urging everyone to contact 811 before putting a shovel in the ground.

 

From planting trees and installing mailboxes to building decks and fences, even small digging projects can pose serious risks if underground natural gas, electric, or other utility lines are accidentally damaged. Contacting 811 at least two full business days before digging allows utilities to mark underground lines at no cost to the homeowner.

 

“Our natural gas and electric infrastructure is safely delivering energy beneath neighborhoods across Indiana every day,” said NIPSCO President and Chief Operating Officer Vince Parisi. “A simple call to 811 helps protect people, property and the essential services our customers rely on.”

 

After an 811 request is made by phone or online at Indiana811.org, utility crews mark buried lines using color-coded paint or flags. Because erosion, landscaping and prior construction can change ground conditions, pipelines and other underground utilities may be much closer to the surface than expected.

 

If a natural gas line is damaged or a gas odor is detected, individuals should STOP work immediately, LEAVE the area and CALL 911 and NIPSCO at 1-800-634-3524 from a safe location.

 

For more information about safe digging practices, visit Indiana811.org or NIPSCO.com/811.

 

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 900,000 natural gas and 500,000 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 3.8 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.
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