RAPID CITY, S.D. (Aug. 11, 2025) — Black Hills Energy is urging South Dakotans to “Call Before You Dig” as part of 811 Day, a nationwide safety reminder to prevent damage to underground utility lines.
With summer being a peak time for home improvement and outdoor projects, officials say hitting buried gas, electric or communication lines can lead to costly repairs, outages, injuries or worse.
“Our most important responsibility is the safety of our customers, employees and the communities we serve,” said Lynn Kendall, Black Hills Energy public affairs manager for South Dakota. “Calling 811 or visiting sdonecall.com is the only way to know what’s buried in your area so you can dig safely.”
The free 811 service connects homeowners and contractors with professional utility locators, who will mark underground lines with paint or flags within two business days. Black Hills Energy recommends:
- Call or Click Before You Dig — Contact 811 or schedule online at sdonecall.com at least two working days before starting.
- Mark Your Site — Use white paint, stakes or flags to show your planned excavation area.
- Respect the Marks — Dig carefully within 18 to 24 inches of marked lines using a shovel instead of heavy machinery.
- Don’t Rely on Old Marks — If work is delayed more than 10 days, request a fresh locate.
Common projects requiring a call to 811 include installing mailboxes, building decks and planting trees. Each year, utility lines are damaged every few minutes in the U.S. due to digging without proper locates.
Black Hills Energy serves customers across Rapid City, the Black Hills and western South Dakota. More information on safe digging practices is available at sdonecall.com or blackhillsenergy.com/safety.
