On August 11, National Dig Alert Day, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) invited local media to visit “Skills City” training facility, which is a full mock-up of a city neighborhood used to simulate emergency situations and teach employees how to safely and expertly detect and repair damage to natural gas lines.
SDG&E hosted the event to highlight the importance of safe digging in the community. Two days before construction starts customers and contractors should call the free service 8-1-1 to receive visual markings for all the utility lines, cables and pipes in the area, thus avoiding possible damage or injury. In 2015, SDG&E marked 120,000 underground utility facilities for customers.
In addition, SDG&E provided a tour of Skills City, which is one of the most advanced gas training facilities in the nation. At Skills City, field employees learn how to master a wide variety of skills that are used to operate and maintain SDG&E’s natural gas delivery system. This includes detecting the release of natural gas around homes and under streets, fixing damaged natural gas lines and using advanced sensors to inspect inside gas lines for any problems.
The event attracted many local media outlets, including 10 News, Fox 5, KFMB Channel 8, KUSI, KPBS, Univision and Times of San Diego.
The training at Skills City is one way SDG&E makes sure that the community is kept safe. The training center ensures crews are exceptionally well prepared for any emergency situation they may encounter in the field. Calling 8-1-1 is another vital safety resource available for customers. These combined efforts promote public safety, protect customers and can literally save lives in the community.