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Virginia Natural Gas and Southern Company Gas develops new, digital arcade for kids to stay engaged from home during National Safe Digging Month

New website provides parents, teachers a fun new way to educate kids about safety from the comfort of home

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – April 15, 2020 School may be out for most, but the learning doesn’t have to stop — especially for Virginia Natural Gas (VNG) customers. Thanks to a digital arcade developed by VNG and its parent company, Southern Company Gas, millions of customers now have a new digital learning tool to educate children on natural gas safety — and to keep them occupied.

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19) and stay-at-home orders, parents are getting creative to keep their kids entertained. The online Safe Digging Arcade, developed in honor of National Safe Digging Month, utilizes science, engineering, technology and math (STEM) games to teach future excavators to become safe digging champions.

“We are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to educate our communities about the importance of natural gas safety – and that starts with our kids,” said Jim Kibler, VNG president. “We have been providing safety and educational programs to school children for generations, but it is clear that now we needed a digital solution.”

Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in damage to gas, electric, communications, water and sewer lines, ultimately leading to service disruptions, serious injuries and costly repairs. The Safe Digging Arcade offers eight games, including puzzles and problem-solving activities that educate children about how their families can stay avoid these types of accidents when digging around their homes.

National Safe Digging Month reminds homeowners to call 811, a communication system established to provide a place of contact for excavating professionals and the public, before starting any project involving digging, tunneling, grading, boring, blasting, demolition or similar work. After registering a project with VA811 utilities mark underground services like gas, power, phone and cable lines with paint or flags so excavators and homeowners know where they are located and can dig safely.

For more information about natural gas safety and to play the Safe Digging Arcade, visit: https://southerncompanygas.com/safetyarcade/?sc=&cl=&pr=vng.


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About Virginia Natural Gas
Virginia Natural Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Virginia Natural Gas provides natural gas service to nearly 300,000 customers in southeast Virginia and has been recognized as one of the safest, most reliable and customer-focused natural gas service providers. Consistently ranked in the top quartile for customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates, the company has also been recognized by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and the Virginia Oil and Gas Association for its safety, community outreach and educational programs, and was named Local Distribution Company for three consecutive years. Virginia Natural Gas has been ranked by its business customers as being one of the most Trusted Business Partners in the utility industry according to Cogent Reports, and as one of the Top Workplaces in Hampton Roads by Inside Business. For more information, visit virginianaturalgas.com and connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states with approximately 700,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines, asset management for natural gas wholesale customers and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.

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Media Contact:
Rick DelaHaya
o: 757.616.7510 | c: 757.323.7366 | rdelahay@southernco.com