Call 811 Before You Dig
If you 'see red,' buried power lines are present
If you are digging and encounter a red caution tape, stop immediately! This tape is warning that power lines are buried below. Continuing to dig past red tape is not only extremely dangerous, but it is also illegal.
Under state law, you can be held liable for damages to the electric service or other buried utilities and required to cover repair costs.
Before starting a project, such as installing a new fence or planting trees, remember that underground power or other utility lines may be present. If you’re not absolutely sure where any underground lines are located on your property, call South Carolina 811 at 1-888-721-7877 or, just call 811, and you’ll be automatically connected. They’ll send someone to locate underground lines for you, free of charge.

Per our safety rules and regulations, we are required to have 10 feet of clearance in front of all underground electrical equipment and 4 feet on all other sides. Labels on the front of all underground equipment list these requirements on equipment buffering. An example is shown below.
Typically, obstructions to our underground equipment are plants and shrubbery. It is imperative that the front of all underground equipment stay clear so that we may obtain access for necessary maintenance and power restoration. Crews will begin this maintenance work soon in your area. Debris from necessary trimming and cutting will be removed and disposed of by our crews.
Thank you for your valued membership. We appreciate your cooperation as we work to provide you the best electrical service possible. If you have questions regarding this upcoming work, please contact us at (803) 684-4248.

We recommend that all excavators request their own locate notices.
The company or person who is doing the actual excavation work should always secure a locate notice.
Notify SC811 and the Facility Owner to inspect and repair, no matter how minimal the damage. If the damage poses a danger for employees or the public, call 911 and evacuate the area immediately. Then contact the facility owner and submit a damage report online.
We cannot advise on liability issues and recommend that excavators obtain legal advice from their own attorneys.
Excavation is an operation for the purpose of moving or removing earth, rock, or other materials in or on the ground by using mechanized equipment or discharging explosives, including augering, backfilling, digging, ditching, drilling, grading, plowing-in, pulling-in, ripping, scrapping, trenching, and tunneling.