Planning a home improvement job? Planting a tree? Installing a fence or deck? Whether you are planning to do it yourself or hire a professional, smart digging means calling 811 before each job.

One easy phone call to 811 begins the process to have your underground utility lines located. Local One Call Center operators will ask for the location of your job and route the call to your local utility companies, including Pioneer Electric Cooperative. Representatives from each utility will visit your home or property to mark your lines with color-coded spray paint or flags. Once the lines have been marked, you will know what areas to avoid in your digging project. There is no charge for this line location service, and it could save you time and money. For more information, visit the Alabama 811 website. 

CALL 48 HOURS BEFORE YOU DIG: Dial 811 or 800-292-8525
Locate requests accepted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Be prepared to provide the following information:

  • Your name, phone number, company name (if applicable), and mailing address.

  • The name and phone number of an alternate contact person, in case the utilities have questions and cannot reach you.

  • If the work is taking place within 10 feet of any overhead power lines.

  • Type of work to be done.

  • Person for whom the work is being done.

  • Location of worksite, including street address, nearest cross street, city, county, township, range, section, etc.

  • The distance and direction of the worksite from the intersection.

  • Marking instructions (specific instructions as to where the work is taking place).

These questions are asked so that the customer service representative can determine which utility companies should be notified and which should not. This process makes sure that all the utilities at your worksite are located, and the underground facility owners who do not have lines in your general area are not needlessly notified.

Calling before you dig ensures that any publicly owned underground facilities will be marked according to the APWA color code so that you can dig safely.