DAYTON – AES Ohio, a subsidiary of The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), each year, Aug. 11 is a reminder to dig safely. Whether you are a “doit-yourself” homeowner or a contracted professional, before beginning late summer landscaping or home improvement project, call 811 at least two full business days ahead of your scheduled start.

To ensure safety, you need to know where electrical, gas and other utility lines are located on your property. Not only will doing so avoid headaches and make your job easier, but you will steer clear of potential utility outages, repair costs and serious or even fatal injuries.

Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS), a free statewide service coordinates with local utilities to have underground lines marked. Customers can also enter requests online with the OHIO811 e-dig ticket system. Submitting a ticket is easy, enter the location and a valid email address. If you do not complete your digging or construction project within 10 business days after the initial marking, you will need to call back to have the utility lines remarked for verification.

To learn more and get tips to plant smart with the utilities in mind, visit aes-ohio.com and download the Right Tree Right Place brochure.