Safe Digging Reminder - Call 811 Before Projects

ICC CONTACT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cayli Baker April 1, 2026

Offi c e : (312) 793-8841 Cayli.Baker @illinois.gov

Planning a spring digging project? Call 811!

Chicago, IL – April is Safe Digging Month in Illinois. With temperatures starting to rise, the annual proclamation from Governor JB Pritzker is a reminder to all professional excavators and homeowners to call 811 to locate and mark utility lines for free before starting any digging project. “Before a shovel hits the dirt, call 811 to have utility lines marked. Hitting utility lines can cause service outages and even lead to injury or death. Stay safe and remember there’s no project too small for a call to 811,” said Doug Scott, Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission. Every few minutes, an underground utility line is unintentionally damaged by those who fail to request lines be located and marked before digging. Illinois law requires all homeowners and professional excavators to call Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators (JULIE) at 811 at least three business days prior to starting a dig. Projects must begin within 10 working days from the call, and locate requests have a 25-day life. The State One-Call Centers—managed by JULIE and DIGGER within the City of Chicago—are a 24-hour service network system established to prevent contractors, gardeners, and DIYers from hitting utility lines when digging. JULIE has been protecting Illinoisans for over 50 years. Excavators may face penalties for not making the call to 811, and utilities may be cited and fined for failing to mark the location in a timely manner. In 2025, ICC One-Call enforcement staff issued 236 warnings and 1,022 citations for safe digging violations, resulting in over $3.1 million in penalties. For more information on safe digging, visit the ICC’s website, Illinois One-Call (statewide) or 811 Chicago. ###

About the Illinois Commerce Commission

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is a quasi-judicial body made up of five Commissioners. Through its Public Utility Program, the Commission oversees the provision of adequate, reliable, efficient, and safe utility services at the least possible cost to Illinois citizens served by electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, and sewer public utility companies. Through its Transportation Regulatory Program, the Commission oversees public safety and consumer protection programs with regard to intrastate commercial motor carriers of general freight, household goods movers, relocation towers, safety towers, personal property warehouses, and repossession agencies. The Commission’s Rail Safety Program also inspects and regulates the general safety of railroad tracks, facilities, and equipment in the state. To learn more about the Commission, its offices, and bureaus, click here. If you are a consumer who needs help resolving a utility dispute call 800-524-0795 or file an online complaint here. For transportation complaints, call 847-294-4326.

Follow the Illinois Commerce Commission on social media @ILCommerceComm.