With August 11th (“811 Day”) here, Call Before You Dig, Inc. (“CBYD”) in Cheshire, Connecticut hopes this date, 8/11, will serve as a natural reminder for residents and contractors to contact 811 or go to www.CBYD.com for an E-ticket prior to any digging projects to have underground public utility lines marked to avoid hitting them. Call Before You Dig (CBYD) is a non-profit organization comprised of all public utility companies and municipalities within Connecticut. CBYD is a free service that provides homeowners and professional excavators with a toll-free call using 8-1-1 for locating and marking underground facilities by its members. Contacting CBYD before you dig is the law in Connecticut.

Many DIY home and commercial construction projects are underway this Summer, which can bring the danger of exposure to hits on vital public utility lines with them. Digging without knowing what is below the ground risks causing property damage, injury, and even death, according to representatives of Call Before You Dig. Even a small project can cause a big problem.

CBYD's President, Christopher J. Tralli, said: “811 Day is our reminder that safety isn’t just a regulation, it’s a responsibility we carry every single day. Our crews work in every kind of condition to protect the communities we serve, and we’re proud to support them with the training, tools, and resources that keep them safe. As we honor and celebrate their hard work on 8/11 (August 11th), we also remind contractors and homeowners across Connecticut to visit www.CBYD.com or make the call to “811” for an e-ticket before they dig. Contacting CBYD at least two full working days before excavation is a simple, important step that protects infrastructure, prevents injuries, and keeps our neighborhoods running smoothly. It’s easy, it’s free, and it keeps everyone safe.”

When calling 811, the federally-mandated national "Call Before You Dig" number, or executing an E-ticket from the CBYD website, homeowners are connected to Call Before You Dig, the local one-call center, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of their intent to dig. Professional locators are sent to the requested digging site to mark the locations of underground lines with flags or spray paint. Call Before You Dig requires a call or click for a ticket at least 2 full working days before the planned project start date.

CBYD's mission statement is to "Provide communication and education to improve safety when excavating”. Examples of projects requiring an E-ticket or a call to 8-1-1 would be digging for a deck or mailbox, fence posts, a new pool, landscaping or planting trees. Digging only a few inches can pose risks. Striking a single line can cause injury, repair costs, fines, and inconvenient outages or worse. Every digging project, no matter how big or small, warrants a call to 811.

www.CBYD.com has a user guide and user-friendly tools on their website, available in both English and Spanish. “811 Day” is an ideal time to enroll in CBYD’s free online education program, Education Access, which modernizes the traditional classroom course with a self-paced online format. The course covers the CBYD process, excavation planning, best practices, and Connecticut regulations. Participants receive a digital certificate upon completion. Registration and additional tools — including Damage Access and the Design & Survey Tool — are available at: https://www.cbyd.com/resources


The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) oversees and enforces CBYD regulations. Violations may result in investigations, hearings, and fines. $949,300 in civil penalty fines were issued for violations in 2025. PURA’s CBYD information and enforcement stats are found here:
https://portal.ct.gov/PURA/Gas-Pipeline-Safety/Call-Before-You-Dig/CBYD
https://portal.ct.gov/PURA/Gas-Pipeline-Safety/Call-Before-You-Dig/CBYD-Monitoring-and-Enforcement


We all share responsibility for our safety. It’s free and it’s the law. Please visit www.CBYD.com or call 8-1-1 for more information about the call-before-you-dig process. Safety is in your hands. Every dig. Every time.