Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas are reminding the public to call 811 before starting any outdoor digging or excavation projects. The announcement comes as Aug. 11 marks National Safe Digging Day, also known as 811 Day, which is intended to raise awareness about the importance of having underground utility lines marked before digging.
The annual initiative is led by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and encourages contractors, homeowners, business owners, and anyone planning an excavation project to contact 811 at least three business days prior to beginning work. When a call is made, local utilities will dispatch crews to mark underground lines such as electric, natural gas, water, sewer, phone, and cable TV with stakes, flags or paint.
From January to June 2025, Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas reported more than 5,000 incidents of damage to underground electric and natural gas lines across their service areas in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. Of these incidents, approximately 1,450 involved damages to underground natural gas facilities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. Additionally, Duke Energy reported about 3,600 cases of damage to its underground electric network throughout all its territories. In total for 2024 alone, more than 8,870 instances of damage were reported by both companies.
“Whether you’re finishing a summer yard project or starting something new this fall, call 811 before you dig,” said Brian Weisker, senior vice president and president of Duke Energy’s natural gas business. “Damaging a utility line can be dangerous and costly, but it’s easily prevented by this simple step. Safety and reliability start with contacting 811.”
For further information on how the process works or how to reach your state’s center directly by dialing 811 or visiting https://call811.com/, customers can find additional resources at https://www.duke-energy.com/safety-and-preparedness/call-before-you-dig.
Duke Energy serves approximately 8.6 million electric customers across six states including Florida through its various subsidiaries. Its natural gas services reach about 1.7 million customers in five states including North Carolina and Tennessee. The company continues investments in grid upgrades and cleaner energy sources such as renewables and energy storage.
Piedmont Natural Gas operates as a subsidiary of Duke Energy providing service to over 1.2 million customers in three states. According to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study it ranked highest among large utilities in the South for residential customer satisfaction.
More information about both companies can be found at https://www.duke-energy.com/ and https://www.piedmontng.com/.