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Con Edison Co. of NY, Inc.: Con Edison to Contractors: Call 811 Before You Dig

^{Published on 2009-04-02 12:39:25, Last Modified on 2009-04-02 12:39:57 - Market Wire}
 

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - April 2, 2009) - April is national "Dig Safely" Month and Con Edison is encouraging all contractors, and anyone who excavates, to call 811 before they start digging in New York City or Westchester County.

The national 811 "Call Before You Dig" toll-free number was established to make it easier for excavators to contact one call center before digging. The easy-to-remember 811 call initiates a quick, cost-free service. Local 811 call-center personnel will notify participating affected utility companies, which will dispatch crews to mark the location of their underground facilities.

Excavation damage to underground equipment is the number one safety issue affecting gas pipelines.

Even simple digging jobs by homeowners or landscapers can damage utility lines and create a hazardous condition, disrupt vital services to entire neighborhoods, injure those who dig, and result in expensive fines and repairs. There are nearly 260,000 underground utility damages annually nationwide -- that's approximately one unintentional hit every two minutes. Calling 811 before digging will reduce the likelihood of damage to underground lines.

To learn more about the "Call Before You Dig" hotline go to [ www.call811.com ]. For more information about Dig Safely programs in New York, go to: [ www.digsafelynewyork.com ].

Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE: [ ED ]), one of the nation's largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $33 billion in assets. The utility provides electric, gas and steam service to more than 3 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York. For additional financial, operations and customer service information, visit Con Edison's Web site at [ www.conEd.com ].