Atmos Energy, Kelly Natural Gas Pipeline promote 8-1-1
Customer appreciation event encourages folks to ‘Call Before You Dig’
JANS – Although safety is always in season, Atmos Energy’s Mississippi operations teamed up with its partner Kelly Natural Gas Pipeline to observe National Safe Digging Month in April. A total of four events were held throughout the state to promote Mississippi’s “Call Before You Dig” 8-1-1 service to educate the public on safe digging practices as well as further demonstrate Atmos Energy’s ongoing efforts to keep communities safe.
Northern Mississippi
• April 8: Lunch at Busy Lad in Tupelo
• April 17: United Rentals in Columbus
Central Mississippi
• April 19: Home Depot in Jackson
• April 25: EquipmentShare in Jackson
Additionally, Atmos Energy supported 8-1-1 with Deviney Equipment in Madison, helping to spread the message of safe digging and awareness to attendees throughout the week.
“Spring is a busy time of year for Mississippians looking to do work in the yard and spruce up their property,” said Davis Gates, Manager of Public Affairs for Atmos Energy’s Mississippi Division. “Equipment rental stores are full of people planning landscaping projects this time of year. Kelly and Atmos Energy are reminding people to make calling 8-1-1 three business days before digging part of the plan!”
“This was definitely a great event, and safety is a top priority for us,” said Jesse Locke, General Manager for EquipmentShare. “Whether a customer is renting a shovel or a backhoe from us, they need to know how to use equipment safely. And one of the safest things that anyone can do is call 8-1-1 before they dig.’”
8-1-1 is a free, statewide service to ensure that underground facilities, such as natural gas, electric and water lines, are marked in a given area before digging. The utilities pay for their lines to be marked – there is no cost to the customer. Mississippi 8-1-1 just requests that customers call three (3) business days before the digging activity is set to begin so that the area can be marked.
“Atmos Energy’s gas lines get hit almost every day,” says Gates. “Many times, it is because people have not called to have underground lines marked. If people will just remember to call 8-1-1 three business days before they dig, we can avoid a lot of potentially dangerous situations.
“Atmos Energy has been and will continue to be a champion for damage prevention. Together, we can promote natural gas safety!”
About Atmos Energy
Atmos Energy Corporation, an S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas, is the country’s largest natural gas-only distributor. The energy company delivers reliable, affordable, efficient, and abundant natural gas to more than 3 million distribution customers in over 1,400 communities across eight states located primarily in the South. As part of its vision to be the safest provider of natural gas services, Atmos Energy is modernizing its business and infrastructure while continuing to invest in safety, innovation, environmental sustainability in the communities it serves. Atmos Energy manages proprietary pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas. Find Atmos Energy online at http://www.atmosenergy.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
