Planning an outdoor project that requires digging? From new home foundations to that new flower bed, don't take a chance by digging without calling to find out whether underground utilities may be in the way of your project.

Consolidated Electric Cooperative wants you to know that a new easy-to-remember phone number - 811 - will make this easier than ever.

811 is a federally mandated FCC designated N-11 number.

The number is a national "Call Before You Dig" phone number designated by the Federal Communications Commission to eliminate the confusion of multiple "Call Before You Dig" numbers and help save lives by minimizing damages to underground utilities. One easy phone call to 811 quickly begins the process of getting underground utility lines marked. Local One Call Center personnel will then notify affected utility companies, who will send someone to mark underground utilities free of charge.

The Missouri One Call System, Inc. serves as a notification center that is used by participating utilities to receive locate requests. MOCS provids a single-point of contact for notification to its members through a state wide toll-free telephone number operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Visit the Missouri One Call website to learn more about the process for underground utility locates.