Atmos Energy Presents Gold Cup of Safe Digging
In observance of National 811 Day, the award recognizes leaders in damage prevention and raises awareness for Call 811
FLOWOOD, Miss. – Aug. 11, 2025 – Each and every year, Atmos Energy celebrates National 811 Day on Aug. 11 (8/11) to raise awareness for the importance of safe digging practices and procedures. In 2024, Atmos Energy amplified those efforts and introduced a new award to recognize damage prevention leaders with an outstanding safety record. That trophy, The Gold Cup of Safe Digging, is back for 2025 and is again being presented to valued partners who exemplify the gold standard of safe digging in the communities we serve. This year’s winners include the cities of Southaven and Clarksdale as well as the following companies – R&L Unlimited, Carmack, ITG Communications, and S&H Underground. These communities and companies share Atmos Energy’s commitment to safety and reminds everyone to help protect underground utility-owned lines by calling 8-1-1 a few days before any excavation project, no matter how large or small.
“Third-party excavation damage is the greatest threat to natural gas distribution systems, accounting for more than 85 percent of all damage to Atmos Energy pipelines in Mississippi over the past 12 months,” said Bobby Morgan, Atmos Energy. “This is why we created The Gold Cup of Safe Digging – to celebrate excavators who consistently and effectively protect underground utility lines. We greatly appreciate all the winners for their ongoing partnership in natural gas safety and congratulate their entire team for continued excellence in preventing damage to underground pipelines.”
Effective damage prevention helps to minimize harm to people, property, and the environment by proactively identifying potential risks and implementing solutions to avoid incidents before they occur. Calling 811 is a critical component of damage prevention efforts, helping to confirm that digging projects are conducted safely and without disrupting essential utility services. Striking even a single line can lead to injury, repair costs, inconvenient service outages, and fines.
Mississippi law requires homeowners, excavation companies, and contractors to call 811 three business days before digging. When using this free service, the caller is connected to a local call center that notifies area utility companies of the location where digging will occur. Professional locators then arrive at the digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags, spray paint, or both.
For more information about 811 and safe digging practices, visit Mississippi 811 or the Atmos Energy website for safety tips – and don’t forget to become a safety ambassador by signing the Call 811 Pledge.
About Atmos Energy
Atmos Energy Corporation, a natural gas-only distributor, is an S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas. We safely deliver reliable, affordable, efficient and abundant natural gas to more than 3 million distribution customers in over 1,400 communities across eight states located primarily in the South. As part of our vision to be the safest provider of natural gas services, we are modernizing our business and infrastructure while continuing to invest in safety, innovation, environmental sustainability and our communities. Atmos Energy manages proprietary pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas. Find us online at http://www.atmosenergy.com, Facebook, X, and Instagram.
Very respectfully,
Bobby
