Bangor Hydro is a member of the Dig Safe ® system. Dig Safe ® is a system, required by law, that enables excavators to notify the appropriate utilities of their excavation plans with one telephone call.
Before digging, trenching, blasting, demolishing, boring, backfilling, grading, or landscaping, calling Dig Safe ® is required. There is a $5,000 dollar fine and restitution for damages if a person does not call.
This system was created to promote public safety, avoid costly damage to underground facilities, and reduce cost and time of notifications to individual utilities.
When the Dig Safe Center receives a call, the information will be entered into a computer system which then notifies the member companies maintaining underground equipment in the area of the excavation and provides a ticket number for that specific location. The excavation area will be required to be marked with white paint or white markers. Bangor Hydro uses maps to make a determination if there are underground electric facilities in the area of the excavation. If there are underground electric facilities in the area, a representative of Bangor Hydro will make a sight visit to verify company owned underground facilities and mark these locations with red or orange paint markers. If there are no underground electric facilities in the area, there will be no marking done by Bangor Hydro at the excavation site.
If there are privately owned underground facilities at the excavation site, Bangor Hydro will attempt to contact the excavating party and inform them of the existence of private facilities. Bangor Hydro will locate and mark private facilities at a labor rate of $50 per hour with a two hour minimum charge.
Note: Beware that not all operators of underground facilities are required to be members of Dig Safe ®. Please remember to contact water and sewer operators in the area as well.
The telephone number for Dig Safe ® is 1-888-Dig-Safe (or 1-888-344-7233). You must call 72 hours (three days) prior to start of excavation. If filing a Dig Safe ® request using the form on the Dig Safe ® web site, please note that these requests have an additional day added to them. Please visit www.digsafe.com.
