WASHINGTON (April 26, 2018) – Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the stakeholder-driven organization dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them, and their communities, is thrilled to announce that Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has once again demonstrated its commitment to public safety by renewing its Platinum Sponsorship of the safety association for the third consecutive year.
A longtime member of CGA, PG&E has gone beyond mere membership by supporting the organization for nearly two decades through sustaining annual sponsorships, service on the board of directors and significant additional financial and promotional support for key public awareness and industry initiatives that have national impacts extending well beyond PG&E’s service area.
CGA worked with industry stakeholders like PG&E to promote the federally designated call-before-you-dig phone number 811, which has now been in operation for more than a decade. Since 811’s inception, the rate of damage to buried utilities has decreased by more than 50 percent. While significant progress has been made in reducing damages, a buried utility line is still struck once every nine minutes in the U.S. because of a failure to call 811 beforehand, making this a critical public safety issue.
In addition to national public awareness campaigns dedicated to reminding homeowners and professionals to always call 811 to have buried utilities located before breaking ground, CGA and its members also produce an annual Best Practices Guide (now in its 15th edition) regarded as the preeminent trusted resource for underground damage prevention and the annual DIRT (Damage Information and Reporting Tool) Report detailing the state of damage prevention in the U.S. CGA members, including PG&E, also meet regularly in committees to tackle damage prevention topics and initiatives in technology, education and marketing, one call systems, regional partnerships and stakeholder outreach.
For PG&E, the safety of its customers, employees and the communities it serves remains a non-negotiable top priority. The utility operator is proud to support CGA's important mission to enhance safety and reduce damage to underground utility infrastructure by sharing the responsibility of promoting safe and effective damage prevention practices.
“With safety as our top priority, we are proud to support the Common Ground Alliance as we work together toward our shared goal of keeping communities and customers safe and zero damages to our underground facilities,” said Jesus Soto Jr., senior vice president of PG&E Gas Operations and vice chair of CGA’s board of directors.
“Pacific Gas and Electric Company has been a critical supporter of CGA’s safety mission for many years. As a utility in one of the country’s largest state economies, PG&E is uniquely positioned to demonstrate industry leadership through its actions,” said Sarah K. Magruder Lyle, president and CEO of CGA. “We’re very grateful that the company has not only helped our organization grow through its continued sponsorship at the highest level, but also uses our resources and tools locally to promote underground damage prevention. PG&E also plays a pivotal role in ensuring the 811 message is visible at some of the largest venues in California.”
About CGA
CGA is a member-driven association of nearly 1,700 individuals, organizations and sponsors in every facet of the underground utility industry. Established in 2000, CGA is committed to saving lives and preventing damage to North American underground infrastructure by promoting effective damage prevention practices. CGA has established itself as the leading organization in an effort to reduce damages to underground facilities in North America through shared responsibility among all stakeholders. For more information, visit CGA on the web at http://www.commongroundalliance.com.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.
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