South Carolina 811 Announces First Quarter Winners of their Inaugural Preferred Partner Program

Three industry stakeholders were recognized for their strident efforts made to keep our communities safe when it comes to underground facilities.

Columbia, SC (May 22, 2019) – South Carolina 811 (SC811) has recognized three stakeholders in the Underground Utility Industry that have contributed to improved safe digging efforts. These efforts include commitments to compliance with the Underground Facility Damage Prevention Act, LLR licensure, SC 811 Academy training, providing damage data, participation in industry associations and Utility Coordination Committees, and being a good steward of the SC811 message through use of our marketing materials, among other qualifications. Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in serious injuries, service disruptions and costly repairs when gas, electric, communications, water and sewer lines are damaged. Preferred Partners make the commitment to reduce and eliminate these issues, and keep our community safe, which means helping everyone make it home safely to their families each night.   First Quarter 2019 Winners:
  • Excavator: Pinnacle Construction and Directional Boring
  • Member: Fort Hill Natural Gas Authority
  • Most Improved: City of Columbia (Water, Wastewater, Forestry & Beautification)
The full details of the Preferred Partner Program, as well as signup to participate can be found on the SC811.com website: https://sc811.com/resources/public-awareness/preferred-partner/ “We are so proud to have this program in South Carolina, and so very thankful that we have such committed companies that want to keep our communities safe. The Preferred Partner Program’s aim is to ensure that we all hold ourselves to a higher standard when it comes to underground facilities and damage prevention”, said Kaziah Howard, Director of Public Awareness for SC811. South Carolina 811 encourages everyone to take the following steps when planning a digging project:
  • Always call SC811 before digging, regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property.
  • Plan ahead. Call at least 3 working days prior for planned work, providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked.
  • Confirm that all lines have been marked.
  • Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings.
  • If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has called SC811. Don’t allow work to begin if the lines aren’t marked.
  • Visit www.SC811.com for complete info.
Everyone who calls SC811 before digging is connected to the call center that will take the caller’s information and communicate it to local utility companies. Professional locators will then visit the dig site to mark the approximate location of underground utility lines with spray paint, flags or both. Once a site has been accurately marked, it is safe to begin digging around the marked areas. About South Carolina 811 Formed by member facility operators in 1978, Palmetto Utility Protection Service (doing business as South Carolina 811) currently operates under the Underground Facility Damage Prevention Act  to protect buried facilities and keep excavators and the general public safe.   You can reach South Carolina 811 by dialing 811 within SC or calling our toll free number 888-721-7877 anywhere within the US. You can also submit a locate request online. We are available to take your locate requests Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 5:30pm, excluding holidays. We are open 24/7 for emergencies. About Pinnacle Pinnacle Construction and Directional Boring, Inc. is a Licensed and Bonded SC General Contractor specializing in underground utility construction and is based in Charleston SC. We have been in operation since 2001 with a focus on heavy utility focus since 2004. Erik Carlson, the president of the company and a US Navy veteran, is a licensed South Carolina General Contractor, with a Public Utility Electric Specialty. Erik has been in the utility service industry since 1998. The core management group of employees has been with Pinnacle since inception.   About Fort Hill Natural Gas Fort Hill Natural Gas Authority was established by an act of the South Carolina Legislature on March 31, 1952 (Act #799). Their namesake is the former home of statesman John C. Calhoun which is located on the campus of Clemson University in upstate South Carolina. Their mission is to provide natural gas service, whenever feasible, to the residences, commercial businesses and industries within the northwestern most counties of Upstate South Carolina. Fort Hill gives the highest priority to acquiring and delivering natural gas supplies at the lowest possible cost to their customers.   About City of Columbia Columbia Water is the drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utility owned and operated by the City of Columbia, South Carolina. Staff maintain the City’s drinking water supply, collect and treat the City’s wastewater, design and oversee construction of many City construction projects, and monitor stormwater drainage and water quality throughout the City of Columbia. The City of Columbia’s Forestry and Beautification Department maintains City trees, gateways and landscaped medians to ensure safety and to increase the quality of life for residents and visitors. #          #          #