National 811 Day highlights digging safety

ATLANTA, Aug. 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- As Tuesday, August 11, is observed across the country as National 811 Day, Georgia Power reminds customers of the importance of calling 811 before they dig. The company works every day with Georgia 811 to ensure that projects are safe and comply with the "Georgia Dig Law." The law requires that workers contact Georgia 811 before digging to have all underground utility lines (such as power, communications, gas and water lines) clearly marked.

Having the location of underground infrastructure marked with flags, spray paint or both, helps prevent unintended service disruptions, injuries to workers, possible repair costs and fines. A notice must be made within two business days, but no more than ten business days, in advance of starting any digging project.

Through June of this year, Georgia Power has responded to nearly 400,000 requests for locating and marking of underground lines. More than half of these requests have been made in the Metro Atlanta area, where Georgia Power's record for accurately locating lines is more than 5 times better than the national average.

Georgia residents can call the free service at 8-1-1 or (800)-282-7411, or submit an electronic request at www.Georgia811.com. Once the request is received, Georgia 811 will notify affected member utility companies, which will send a professional technician to identify and mark the location of underground lines.

About Georgia PowerGeorgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of the nation's largest generators of electricity.  Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind.  Consistently recognized as a leader in customer service, Georgia Power was recently ranked highest in overall business customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).

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SOURCE Georgia Power