Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas are encouraging the public to call 811 before starting any outdoor project that involves digging, as part of National Safe Digging Day on August 11. The initiative, also known as 811 Day, is supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to promote safe excavation practices.
Anyone planning to dig—whether contractors, homeowners, or business owners—is advised to contact 811 at least three business days prior to beginning their project. Local utilities will then send crews to mark underground lines such as electric, natural gas, water, sewer, phone, and cable TV using stakes, flags or paint.
Between January and June 2025, Duke Energy and Piedmont reported more than 5,000 incidents where underground electric and natural gas lines were damaged in their service territories across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. Of these incidents, about 1,450 involved damage to underground natural gas facilities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. Duke Energy also reported approximately 3,600 damages to its underground electric network in all its service areas. In total for 2024 alone there were over 8,870 reported damages involving both companies’ natural gas and electric lines.
“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.”
Additional information about the process is available at Call 811 Before You Dig (https://call811.com/) or through state-specific centers reached by dialing 811.
Duke Energy serves approximately 8.6 million electric customers across six states—including Florida—and owns around 55 gigawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas services reach about 1.7 million customers in five states including North Carolina and Tennessee as it continues investing in grid upgrades and cleaner generation sources such as renewables.
Piedmont Natural Gas distributes fuel to more than one million customers throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The company was recognized for customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South according to the J.D. Power 2024 study.
More details on both companies can be found at duke-energy.com (https://www.duke-energy.com/) or piedmontng.com (https://www.piedmontng.com/).
