Area code overlay approved for the Ohio 614 area code Residents and businesses prepare for area code overlay COLUMBUS, OHIO (July 24, 2015) – Residential and business customers within the existing 614 area code should be prepared for the introduction of the new 380 area code. Beginning Jan. 30, 2016, customers in the 614 area code region requesting new service, an additional line, or in some cases, moving their service may be assigned a number in the new 380 area code. To ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers, the new 380 area code will be added to the 614 area code region which generally covers the central region of Ohio, the community of Columbus. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) ordered an area code overlay for the area served by 614. The new 380 area code will be “overlaid” or superimposed over the same geographical area as the 614 area code. Effective Jan. 30, 2016, 10 or 11-digit dialing – the appropriate area code plus the seven-digit telephone number or 1+ area code + telephone number – will be necessary for local and expanded local calls to be completed. Local calling areas and rates will not be affected by this change. Special services that use three-digit numbers, such as 911 and 411, as well as 1+ 10-digit long distance remain unchanged. If other three-digit numbers are currently available in your community or from your provider, such as 211, 311, 511, 611, 711 or 811, these will remain unchanged. Beginning Aug. 1, 2015, you may dial using 7, 10 or 11 digits to complete your calls. Start early using 10 or 11-digit dialing so it will be second nature by the time it is required on Jan. 30, 2016. The most important facts that consumers and businesses need to know about the upcoming 380 area code overlay are: Your telephone number, including current area code, will not change.

You will need to dial area code + telephone number for all local calls.

You will continue to dial 1+ area code + telephone number for all long distance calls.

What is a local call now will remain a local call.

The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.

You can still dial just three digits to reach 911.

If 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 or 811 are currently available in your community, you will still dial these codes with just three digits Customers should identify their telephone number as a ten digit number (area code + 7 digit telephone number), and include the area code when giving the number to their friends, family, business associates and customers, etc. Customers should ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment, applications, software or other types of equipment recognize the new 380 area code as a valid area code. Some examples are 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. Be sure to check your business stationery, advertising materials, personal checks and your personal or pet ID tags to ensure the area code is included in your telephone number. Remember that all local calls must be programmed using 10-digits and you need to add “1” for all long distance calls. For more information, please visit www.puco.ohio.gov or call the PUCO Call Center at (800) 686-PUCO (7826). Ohio area code map The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is the sole agency charged with regulating public utility service. The role of the PUCO is to assure all residential, business and industrial consumers have access to adequate, safe and reliable utility services at fair prices while facilitating an environment that provides competitive choices. Consumers with utility-related questions or concerns can call the PUCO Call Center at (800) 686-PUCO (7826) and speak with a representative. For additional information, contact: Matt Schilling | (614) 466-7750 Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

