Spire urges customers to make free call to 811 during National Safe Digging Month in April

The free call helps to prevent digging accidents involving utility infrastructure

ST. LOUIS (March 28, 2025) — During National Safe Digging Month in April, Spire and utilities across the country are encouraging residents to call 811 before starting projects that involve digging. Calling 811 before putting a shovel in the ground to build a deck, plant a tree or install a mailbox protects homeowners from accidentally hitting underground utility pipelines.

“We know many homeowners will soon start Spring projects that involve digging,” said Alan Meyer, Spire’s manager of damage prevention. “We want customers to be safe, and by taking the simple step to call 811, a homeowner is protecting themselves and their neighbors, so they don’t hit underground utilities.”

After you make the free call, a locator will mark the utilities within the requested area saving you time and money. It’s a step that could even save a life. It’s important to call 811 a few business days before you plan to start a digging project. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, if someone calls 811 before they dig, they have a 99% chance of avoiding contact with a utility pipeline, which can lead to injury, death or harm to the environment. Whether a bush is being planted or a foundation is being laid, calling 811 at the beginning of a project can help keep an entire neighborhood stay safe.

Meyer said that even when individuals follow rules and regulations closely, accidents can still happen. If a pipeline is ever damaged:

• Never try to stop or slow down the flow of natural gas
• Move to a safe distance upwind of the damage
• Keep others away from the area
• Never try to move equipment from the area
• Call 911, Spire and 811 to report the damage

For more information about safe digging and excavation, visit spireenergy.com/call-you-dig or contact Spire’s Damage Prevention Department at Alan.Meyer@spireenergy.com.