Atlantic City Electric customers can request a free tree to plant at their home as part of the company’s partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation’s Energy-Saving Trees program. Residential customers can reserve a complimentary tree on a first-come, first-served basis and enjoy the energy-saving benefits that trees provide over time.
Atlantic City Electric will provide 730 free trees to customers across its service area. Customers can choose their tree from several types of species native to the northeast region, such as Baldcypress, River Birch, Eastern Redbud, Red Maple and Flowering Dogwood. Visit arborday.org/ace to reserve a tree while supplies last.
When planted correctly, trees provided through the program can reduce energy bills by 15 to 30 percent as they mature. These trees play a vital role in shielding homes from the summer sun and mitigating the chill of winter winds, resulting in improved energy efficiency. Additionally, they improve the quality of the air residents breathe. Customers can access interactive online tools from the Arbor Day Foundation to help them determine the best locations for planting trees to maximize energy savings.
April is also National Safe Digging Month. This awareness month serves as a reminder for residents, businesses and contractors that safe digging must remain a priority to prevent damage to critical underground energy services and prevent injuries.
Atlantic City Electric, alongside New Jersey One Call, emphasizes the need to call 811 before beginning any digging project, no matter the size. By dialing 811, customers and contractors are connected to New Jersey One Call, which coordinates with local utility companies to mark the approximate locations of underground lines. Professional locators utilize spray paint, flags or other markers to indicate where it’s safe to dig.
With more than 3,000 miles of underground electric lines in South Jersey, the potential for accidental damage is significant. Beyond Atlantic City Electric’s infrastructure, there are numerous other utilities buried underground, including water and sewer lines, communication cables and more.
Once the area is marked, understanding the color codes used for marking is essential:
To avoid injury and disruptions, residents and businesses should remember these six tips before starting any project:
- Call 811 at least three days before digging, regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property.
- Have a plan. Call on Monday or Tuesday for work planned for an upcoming weekend, 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 811. Don’t allow work to begin if the lines aren’t marked.
- Visit call811.com for more information.
To learn more about safe digging practices visit atlanticcityelectric.com/SafetyCommunity or call 1-800-642-3780.
