During the month of May, the damage prevention and operations teams from Black Hills Energy in Nebraska partnered with Nebraska 811 to take safe digging education to several schools across the state.

Students learned why it’s important to dig safely and how the process of locating works. They also learned to detect the perfect location to plant a new tree.

April was National Safe Digging Month, a good time to think about safe digging as the warmer weather ushers in the season of construction and home projects.

Black Hills Energy reminds people of all ages to follow these simple steps before digging.

• Call before you dig. It doesn’t matter if you’re planting a new tree in your yard or a contractor is digging with a backhoe in your yard, it’s critical that you call before digging. Plus, it’s simple. Dial 811 at least two business days before any digging to have utility lines marked.
• Mark your planned excavation site. Spray paint a white line or place white flags around your planned excavation site before you call.
• Respect the marks. Always dig by hand near any utility facilities and use extreme caution around all utility lines. Just a nick can create a weak spot that may develop into a gas leak, cause an electrical or internet outage or result in injury. 
• Never rely on old line locate marks. If you don’t dig within 14 business days of having lines marked, contact Nebraska 811 again. At no charge, line locators will gladly return to re-mark the lines. Underground conditions can change, so never rely on outdated information.   

We partner with our communities and customers, providing the kind of energy that fuels those areas and the lives of those we serve. Feel free to share the stories and photos. Make sure to tag us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.