(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Spring is a popular time for home improvement and landscaping projects, and Xcel Energy and Colorado Springs Utilities (Springs Utilities) want to remind people to always call 8-1-1 before digging.

Xcel Energy said digging without locating utility lines causes injuries, loss of life and property damage each year, and can lead to power outages and fines. In 2023, Xcel Energy had 335 incidents in Colorado when customers failed to call 8-1-1 and then caused damage to buried power or gas lines.

Here are some safe digging tips from Xcel Energy to consider before starting your project:

• Always call 811 before digging. Is the law.
• Depth can be deceptive. The depth of utility lines can change over time due to erosion, storms, flooding, soil conditions, winter frost, and landscaping changes.
• What you don’t know can hurt you. Even if you’ve lived in your house for 30 years, things can and do change in your yard.
• Does it smell like rotten eggs? If you damage a natural gas line and notice a sulfur or rotten egg smell, quickly move away from the area. Once you are safe, call 911 first and then your gas utility company to investigate and repair.
• Manual excavation. Before you can work near an underground utility line, you must first dig by hand to expose the line and verify its location and depth.

“Businesses and homeowners who dig without locations present the industry’s biggest risk to public and customer safety,” said Lauren Gilliland, vice president of Xcel Energy. “Historically, nearly 25% of damage that occurs to gas pipelines is due to businesses and homeowners not requesting locations. Only you can avoid the next contact with a pipe or power line.”

According to the Springs Utilities website, the city of Colorado Springs requires excavators to pre-mark specific digging areas using white paint, flags or stakes. Or, excavators can provide an electronic delineation of the specific excavation area by requesting a ticket through Colorado 811. If you have questions about this process, you can contact Todd Griffeth with Colorado 811 at (720) 705-7983.

From the Springs Utilities website, here’s what to do if you accidentally damage a line:

1. Stop working immediately. Do not attempt to shut off service or repair, secure, or bury damaged line.
2. Warn others around you and leave the area immediately. if you know you have hit a natural gas line or think you may have hit one. Natural gas is extremely dangerous and flammable when it leaks and a line is exposed.
3. If an injury has occurred, call 911.
4. If you damage a natural gas line and the gas flares, You MUST call 911.
5. Call Spring Utilities at (719) 448-4800 to inform them of the damage and we will send the appropriate team to make the repairs.
6. Call 811 to inform the Colorado One Call center about the damage: have your original location request ticket number ready.
7. Wait for the proper crews to make repairs. They will let you know when it is safe to continue with your project.