Union Gas Reminds Ontarians That April is Dig Safe Month

Campaign Highlights ON1Call and ClickBeforeYouDig.com

CHATHAM, ON, April 4, 2016 /CNW/ - Union Gas reminds customers and contractors that one simple phone call or click can make digging safe.  The Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA), of which Union Gas is a founding member, has designated every April as Dig Safe Month.

The campaign reminds Ontarians that prior to any digging project, safety starts with a call to Ontario One Call (ON1Call) 1-800-400-2255 or on1call.com or ClickBeforeYouDig.com. It's the law and will ensure underground utilities such as pipelines, telephone, cable, hydro, water and sewer lines are located and marked so it is safe to dig before any project gets underway.

Projects like planting trees and shrubs or putting in a fence can easily damage the network of underground gas pipes, cables and wires that bring essential services to homes and businesses. In addition, utility damage can disrupt entire neighbourhoods, may result in liability costs associated with repairs and could put people at serious risk for personal injury or create a public emergency. In fact, third-party damage to underground utilities costs customers and municipalities tens of millions of dollars each year.

"In 2015, Union Gas responded to approximately 1000 incidents involving damage to gas pipelines by customers or contractors digging near our pipelines," said Mike Shannon, vice-president, distribution operations, Union Gas. "Dig Safe Month stresses the importance to call or click before digging, wait for locates, respect identifying marks and dig with care."

Union Gas will raise Dig Safe flags at all its main offices across the province to help draw attention to Dig Safe Month. For more information about safe digging practices, visit uniongas.com/safety.

About Union Gas

Union Gas Limited, a Spectra Energy (NYSE: SE) company, is a major Canadian natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario with over 100 years of experience and service to customers. The distribution business serves about 1.4 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in more than 400 communities across Ontario. Union Gas is one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2016, and has assets of $7.2 billion and approximately 2,300 employees. For more information, visit uniongas.com. For more information, visit uniongas.com or find us on Twitter: twitter.com/uniongas, Facebook: facebook.com/uniongas and YouTube: youtube.com/user/uniongas.

SOURCE Union Gas Limited

Union Gas: Andrea Stass, Manager, External Communications and Media Relations, Ph: 519 436-5490 or 1-800-571-8446 ext. 5005490, Cell: 519 365-1010, [email protected]