Dig Safety

Dig With Care

Did you know that 76 percent of CoServ’s power lines are underground?

In fact, CoServ has more than 9,000 miles of buried electrical infrastructure. That probably includes the lines that serve your house. Then consider that CoServ Gas has more than 2,000 miles of underground natural gas lines. Add in buried lines for telecommunications, water, sewer and sprinklers and you’ve got a web of lines crossing through your neighborhood and along major roadways.

That’s why it’s so important that Texans call 811 before starting any projects that require them to dig 16 inches or deeper. That includes everything from planting a tree to installing a fence.

How It Works

• Homeowners or contractors must call 811 at least two business days before a digging project begins. It's the law.
  • The call is free but not calling could cause an interruption of service or, worse, a safety hazard.
• Texas 811 uses a GIS map to identify all the utilities in the area and notifies them of the pending excavation.
• CoServ hires a third-party contractor, USIC, to locate its electric and gas lines.
  • CoServ Gas lines are buried with a tracer wire. USIC runs a low-voltage current through the wire so the lines can be detected with a hand-held wand.
• The various lines are marked with flags of different colors to indicate the type of utility.

Damaged Natural Gas Pipelines

Statewide, failure to call 811 is the leading cause of pipeline damage, according to the Texas Railroad Commission. If a gas line is nicked, scraped, dented, or punctured, leave the area immediately and call 911 and then call CoServ's Gas Emergency number at (844) 330-0763. CoServ will respond to the call by dispatching crews to inspect the pipeline and make any necessary repairs.