Today is 811 Day, an annual reminder to call 8-1-1 before starting any outdoor digging project. Pepco is joining Miss Utility, the one-call notification center for Maryland and the District of Columbia, to remind residents, businesses, and contractors that safe digging must remain a priority to prevent damage to critical underground energy services and most importantly, to prevent injuries or even worse.

Here’s what happens when 8-1-1 is called. Customers and contractors are connected to Miss Utility that takes the caller’s information and communicates it to local utility companies, like Pepco. Professional locators will then visit the dig site to mark the approximate location of underground utility lines with spray paint, flags or both. Once a site has been accurately marked, it is safe to begin digging around the marked areas. Here’s a breakdown of what each color indicates:

To avoid injury and disruptions, residents and businesses should remember these six tips before starting any project:

Pepco joins the Exelon family of companies, the other 1,700 Common Ground Alliance members, the U.S. Department of Transportation and governors across the country in marking 811 Day to bring extra attention to the issue of underground utility line safety and reduce the risk of unnecessary infrastructure damage. To learn more about safe digging practices visit pepco.com/safety or call 202-833-7500.