Staying Safe Around Utilities

Natural Gas 

If you think you smell natural gas, immediately leave the location and call 911 or your local gas utility, from a safe distance outside the building. Do not use any electrical equipment that may cause a spark around the suspected leaking natural gas.

Electricity

Do not touch downed wires; call your electric utility immediately. If your electricity is not working, check your main breaker panel first. If the breaker is still on, call your electric utility and report the outage. Watch for overhead electric lines when working at a home, business, or rural property. Ladders, poles, and tall machinery that come in contact with electric lines could cause serious injuries.

Digging and Excavating (Iowa One Call)

The Iowa One Call law addresses underground locate services, damage prevention, and complaints. Violations are enforced by the Attorney General's Office.

Many kinds of utility services could be buried in the ground at your home, business, or on rural property. For your safety, Iowa law requires that you always call Iowa One Call at 811 or 800-292-8989 a minimum of two days (excluding Saturday, Sunday and legal holidays) before starting to dig or excavate to schedule utility locates and markings of underground utility services.  

Visit the Iowa One Call website for more information about damage prevention and always Call 811 prior to digging.

The Office of the Attorney General enforces the One Call Law. See more information about One Call Complaints and enforcement through the Attorney General's Office.