A friendly reminder, over the transom, from the Public Utilities Commission...

CPUC Reminds Consumers of 657 & 714 Area Code Overlay Dialing Procedures

SAN FRANCISCO, August 20, 2008 - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today reminded consumers that beginning Saturday, August 23, 2008, dialing eleven digits will be necessary to complete a telephone call in the 714 area code.

The CPUC approved an area code overlay of 657 for the 714 region last September and mandatory dialing of the new area code will begin this Saturday.  Customers will not be able to complete any calls unless they dial 1 + the area code + telephone number. The new 657 area code will serve customers in the same geographic region as the current 714 area code, which includes most of Orange County.  Customers have been able to dial 1 + area code + seven-digit number to complete calls since February 23, 2008.

In addition to changing dialing procedures, customers should change automatic dialing equipment such as life safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, gates, speed dialers, mobile phone contact lists, call forwarding settings, voicemail services, and similar functions.  Business stationery, advertising materials, personal checks, and pet tags might also need revision.

New telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers with the 657 area code beginning September 23, 2008.

A customer's local calling area or the cost of long distance calls will not change. Also, customers can still dial just three digits to reach 911, as well as 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, and 711.