Essential Energy is reminding those renovating or excavating to check for underground utilities before beginning work to minimise the risk of damage to assets or disruption to vital services. Acting Regional Manager, North Coast, Ross Berry said workers were legally obliged to contact the free national referral service Dial Before You Dig to confirm the location of underground networks before excavating. “Knowing the location of underground cabling such as electricity, gas, telecommunications and water prior to work reduces the risk of death or serious injury to workers or the general public,” Ross said. “It’s a statutory requirement under the Electricity Supply Act yet Essential Energy continues to receive regular reports of incidents involving machinery that has damaged underground cables.” In the past two months, Essential Energy has received eight reports of contractors or customers contacting underground electrical or streetlight cabling when digging or excavating. These incidents occurred in August and September in Batemans Bay, Dry Plain, Forbes, Forster, Narromine, Orange, Tumut and Wentworth. Always treat powerlines and anything in contact with them as live. If you suspect someone may have received an electrical shock, do not attempt to touch them and call for emergency assistance. For more information on electrical safety, visit essentialenergy.com.au/safety. “Heavy financial penalties also apply to those found responsible for negligent behaviour when excavating,” Ross said. “These types of incidents often result in damage to underground assets which require costly repairs and can impact services for local communities.” To contact Dial Before You Dig for underground utilities information, call 1100 or visit: www.1100.com.au. For more information on working near Essential Energy’s underground electricity network, visit: essentialenergy.com.au/dbyd