Any time you plan to dig, disturb, or break ground on your property, it’s essential to understand what’s below the surface. Yellowhead Gas Co-op maintains a network of underground natural gas lines throughout our franchise area and damaging those lines can be costly and dangerous.
That’s why there’s a process in place to protect both people and infrastructure. Whether you’re installing a fence, trenching for water lines, or doing major excavation, you need to know where the lines are and take steps to avoid them.
Even shallow digging can be risky if you don’t know what’s buried. If a line is hit, an Emergency Response charge of $2,000.00 will be added in addition to the costs and repairs for natural gas loss and line repair.
Ground disturbance refers to any work or activity that moves, removes, or disrupts the soil, especially in areas where underground natural gas infrastructure may be present. This includes much more than major excavation projects, it also applies to many common tasks on acreages, farms, and residential properties.
When in doubt, check first! It’s easier (and safer) to call than to risk damaging a line.
Taking a few simple steps before you disturb the ground can prevent costly damage, service disruptions, or even serious injury. Here’s what to do before starting any project that involves digging or excavation on your property:
Submit a locate request online at utilitysafety.ca or by calling 1-800-242-3447. This free provincial service will notify all local utility owners (including owners in Yellowhead County) to identify underground lines near your planned work area—it’s the law!
Within 5 business days (excluding weekends and holidays), you’ll receive physical markings and/or diagrams showing where it’s safe to dig. Do not begin any ground disturbance until you have received all locate confirmations.
Make sure you understand all locate markings and respect the required clearance zones. In most cases, you must use hand tools within 1 metre (3 feet) of a marked gas line to avoid damages.
Mechanical excavation too close to a gas line is not only dangerous, it can result in liability for repairs and penalties. These penalties include an Emergency Response charge of $2,000.00 will be added in addition to the costs and repairs for natural gas loss and line repair.
Have your locate confirmation, site plan, and any Yellowhead Gas Co-op communications accessible while work is in progress. If you’re working with a contractor, make sure they are informed and following all safety protocols, as members are liable/responsible for the actions of your contractor.
Need help interpreting your locate or deciding how close is too close? Call us! We’ll walk you through it.
At Yellowhead Gas Co-op, we’re not just a service provider, we’re your partner in making sure every ground disturbance project is completed safely. Whether you’re digging a single post hole or coordinating a major excavation, our team is here to help you do it right.
If your work is near one of our pipelines or critical infrastructure, we may visit the site to evaluate the conditions and offer recommendations before digging begins.
We’ll provide advice on how close you can safely dig, what precautions to take, and where additional clearance or hand-digging is required.
In more complex or high-risk projects, a Yellowhead Gas Co-op representative may be present during excavation or provide flags, markers, or documentation to ensure everything proceeds safely.
For projects that require digging directly over or across Yellowhead Gas Co-op’s infrastructure, we may issue formal permissions or documentation, especially for third-party contractors or larger-scale developments.
We’ll always take time to explain processes, review results, or help answer any questions that come up before, during, or after the project.
Our priority is simple: to help you move forward safely, while protecting the natural gas system that serves thousands of members across the region.
There’s more to Yellowhead Gas than just pipelines and meters. Our history, leadership, and long-standing commitment to the region are all part of what makes us different.
If you’re curious about where we came from, who’s guiding the co-op today, or how to connect with our team, we invite you to explore more!
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