On Aug. 11, Here's a Reminder to Call 811 Before Digging

- Avoid injury, property damage caused by hitting underground utilities

- Miss Utility provides no-cost service to mark underground lines

- Allow time for lines to be marked before starting to dig

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Aug 09, 2011, 09:00 ET

RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With Aug. 11 (8/11) on the calendar, Dominion Virginia Power reminds Virginians to call Miss Utility at 811 before digging on their property to avoid injuries and service disruptions from damage to underground utility lines.

"Underground lines may go unnoticed for years and pose a hidden safety risk," said Rodney Blevins, vice president for distribution operations. "Even if you don't think there are underground lines in the work area, be safe and call 811 before you dig on your property."

Here is a reminder to dig with "CARE:" Call Miss Utility at 811 before you dig. Allow time for marking. Respect and protect the marks. Excavate carefully.

Popular do-it-yourself projects that involve outdoor digging include planting shrubs, trees and gardens; building patios; installing fencing; and removing tree stumps and old structures. In Virginia, calling 811 will reach Miss Utility of Virginia, the state's one-call notification center. A representative will be sent to the caller's property at no charge to mark the underground utility lines by means of paint, stakes, flags or a combination of the three.

Miss Utility's hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday excluding legal state and national holidays. Emergency notification service is also available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Dominion (NYSE: D) is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 28,200 megawatts of generation. Dominion operates the nation's largest natural gas storage system and serves retail energy customers in 15 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.

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SOURCE Dominion Virginia Power