Press Releases
04/01/2025
Governor Lamont Declares April 2025 Call Before You Dig Month
(New Britain, CT – April 1, 2025) – The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA or the Authority) today announces Governor Ned Lamont has issued a proclamation declaring April 2025 as “Call Before You Dig Month” in Connecticut to remind residents and contractors about the importance of calling 811 or visiting www.CBYD.com before starting any digging project.
By law, any individual, contractor, utility, or public agency planning to excavate using power or mechanized equipment must notify Call Before you Dig, Inc. (CBYD) at least two full business days prior to digging. CBYD then notifies all owners and operators of buried utilities of an intent to dig to ensure lines, cables, pipes and conduits can be properly located and marked by the standardized color-coding system.
The free program helps protect water, natural gas, sewer, and telecommunications infrastructure and prevent serious injuries, fires and explosions, utility outages and costly repairs.
“Contacting CBYD is an easy step that can save lives and prevent damages to buried utilities and surrounding facilities,” said Governor Ned Lamont. “This notification service will be critical as warmer weather and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act increases construction activity across the state.”
PURA's Gas Pipeline Safety Unit oversees all CBYD activity across Connecticut and may open an investigation and impose fines for any party who violates the statutes and regulations. In 2024, PURA reviewed 494 damages which resulted in 107 enforcement cases amounting to $232,700 in civil penalties.
"Using 811 and excavating carefully around all underground utilities is essential to keep workers and the nearby public safe from dangers that can come from utility strikes," said Karl Baker, head of PURA’s Gas Pipeline Safety Unit. "Connecticut consistently has among the lowest damages rates in the country because excavators follow these two simple steps."
By law, any individual, contractor, utility, or public agency planning to excavate using power or mechanized equipment must notify Call Before you Dig, Inc. (CBYD) at least two full business days prior to digging. CBYD then notifies all owners and operators of buried utilities of an intent to dig to ensure lines, cables, pipes and conduits can be properly located and marked by the standardized color-coding system.
The free program helps protect water, natural gas, sewer, and telecommunications infrastructure and prevent serious injuries, fires and explosions, utility outages and costly repairs.
“Contacting CBYD is an easy step that can save lives and prevent damages to buried utilities and surrounding facilities,” said Governor Ned Lamont. “This notification service will be critical as warmer weather and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act increases construction activity across the state.”
PURA's Gas Pipeline Safety Unit oversees all CBYD activity across Connecticut and may open an investigation and impose fines for any party who violates the statutes and regulations. In 2024, PURA reviewed 494 damages which resulted in 107 enforcement cases amounting to $232,700 in civil penalties.
"Using 811 and excavating carefully around all underground utilities is essential to keep workers and the nearby public safe from dangers that can come from utility strikes," said Karl Baker, head of PURA’s Gas Pipeline Safety Unit. "Connecticut consistently has among the lowest damages rates in the country because excavators follow these two simple steps."
In recent years, failure to notify the 811-call center remained the largest individual root cause of damages to underground infrastructure in the U.S. and Canada, according to a report by North American trade association Common Ground Alliance. In 2023, the most recent year on record, there were more than 211,000 reported damages in the U.S. Natural gas and telecommunications facilities.
View the Governor’s declaration here.
Contact
Taren O'Connor
Director of Legislation, Regulation and Communication
860-827-2689
Taren.Oconnor@ct.gov