Today, 8/11, PECO reminds customers and contractors to call 811 before digging to have underground utility lines marked. Nationwide, every eight minutes an underground utility line is contacted because digging occurs without first calling 811.

Striking an underground electric or natural gas line can cause serious injury and also damage equipment, leading to service interruptions. Whether you are planting a tree, installing a pool or laying a foundation, every digging project requires a call to 811 at least three days in advance.

PECO operates thousands of miles of underground electric and natural gas lines throughout the region. Even if you do not have natural gas service in your home, there may be underground lines on your property. When calling 811, homeowners and contractors are connected to PA One Call to provide information about their project. PA One Call will notify local utilities to mark the underground facilities.

To learn more visit peco.com and click on the Call Before You Dig link under the Customer Service / Service Request tab on the home page.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: PECO will display “TODAY IS NATIONAL 811 DAY – KNOW WHAT’S BELOW & CALL 811 BEFORE YOU DIG!” on its Crown Lights message system, atop the company’s Market Street headquarters, approximately every four minutes Monday morning and evening.

Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). PECO serves 1.6 million electric and more than 500,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania and employs about 2,400 people in the region. PECO delivered 85.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 37.8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2013. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations. For more information visit PECO.com, and connect with the company on Facebook and Twitter.

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