Special to the Leader & Times

With National Call Before You Dig Day here, Black Hills Energy is reminding customers to contact 811 to have utility lines marked before starting any project that requires digging.

Whether planting a tree, installing a fence, building a deck or completing a larger home improvement project, contacting 811 before digging helps protect underground utility lines and keeps communities safe.

Black Hills Energy encourages customers to follow these safe digging steps before beginning any project:

• Contact 811 before digging to request utility locates.

• Plan ahead and submit requests early, especially for weekend projects.

• Wait for utility lines to be marked and confirm all utilities have responded before beginning work.

• Respect the utility markings and dig carefully around them.

• Ensure your contractor has contacted 811 before excavation begins.

Submitting a utility locate request is free and can be completed online or by phone.

To learn more about safe digging or submit a request, visit blackhillsenergy.com/811.

About Black Hills Energy

Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer-focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves 1.37 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com and www.blackhillsenergy.com.