Although excavation damage is the leading cause of serious pipeline incidents, it is easily preventable with one call!
Clarksburg, W.Va. — With construction season in full swing, Dominion Energy West Virginia reminds homeowners and excavating contractors to dig safely and comply with state law by calling WV811, toll free, at 8-1-1 or 1-800-245-4848 before excavating. You can also get information by going to www.WV811.com
To prevent potential injuries from accidental utility line dig-ins, state law requires customers and contractors to call WV811 at least two working days before digging. Third-party damage is the leading cause of accidents involving utility lines.
“The safety of our customers and the communities we serve is Dominion Energy West Virginia’s paramount concern,” noted Jonell Carver, director of gas operations. “We urge property owners and contractors to invest a few minutes in calling 8-1-1 at least 48 hours before digging. This will ensure a safe excavation.”
WV811 will alert Dominion Energy West Virginia and other participating utilities of customer and contractor plans to dig. WV811 will ask these utilities to mark the approximate location of their underground gas lines and utility cables so that customers won’t find them by accident. Also, for safety’s sake, customers and contractors should only dig around utility lines by hand.
If you do come in contact with a pipeline or smell natural gas (though natural gas is odorless in nature, mercaptan, a non-toxic chemical odorant that smells like rotten eggs, is often added to make it easier to identify), be alert and follow these steps:
· Stop work and evacuate to a safe distance
· Alert everyone on the premises
· DO NOT strike a match; use a telephone; operate engines and motors; or switch on/off appliances, lights, or even a flashlight in the area where you smell gas. These items can produce a spark that might ignite.
· Once safe, call 911 if there is blowing gas
· Call the emergency number provided by the natural gas operators in your area – DEWV customers call 800-934-3187
· DO NOT try to fix the pipe or slow the rate of leaking gas
· DO NOT try to extinguish a gas-burning fire unless there is a threat to life
· DO NOT operate any of the gas company’s valves For more natural gas safety information, visit www.dominionenergy.com/safety/call-before-you-dig or www.WV811.com
About Dominion Energy Nearly 7.5 million customers in 18 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va.
The company is committed to sustainable, reliable, affordable and safe energy and is one of the nation’s largest producers and transporters of energy with about $100 billion of assets providing electric generation, transmission and distribution, as well as natural gas storage, transmission, distribution and import/export services. As one of the nation’s leading solar operators, the company intends to reduce its carbon intensity 60 percent by 2030.
Through its Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, as well as EnergyShare and other programs, Dominion Energy contributed nearly $35 million in 2018 to community causes. Please visit www.dominionenergy.com to learn more.
