The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) reminds residential and business customers in the existing 740 area code to be prepared for the introduction of the new 220 area code.
The PUCO recommends that customers start using 10 or 11-digit dialing (area code + seven digit phone number or 1 + area code + seven digit phone number) so that it is second nature for when it becomes necessary on March 21, 2015 to dial all 10 or 11 digits to make local calls.
In December 2013, the PUCO approved a plan to overlay the 220 area code with the existing boundaries of the 740 area due to the projected exhaustion of the 740 area code in the second quarter of 2015. All current 740 area code subscribers will keep their 740 area code. Once the available phone numbers in the 740 area code are exhausted, telephone numbers in the new 220 area code will be utilized.
Important facts about the area code overlay:
- Current telephone numbers, including area codes will not change
- Beginning Sept. 20, 2014, customers are encouraged to begin practicing 10 or 11-digit dialing
- On March 21, 2015, customers in the 740/220 area code will be required to dial 10 or 11 digit phone numbers for all local calls
- Calls currently considered local calls will remain local calls
- Long distance calling will not change
- 911 and other three digit numbers (211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, 811), if available in the local community, can still be dialed as such
- Customers should begin or continue to identify their phone number including the area code
- It is encouraged to update any saved contacts, speed dials, business cards, personal checks, preprogrammed alarm devices, etc. to include the area code + telephone number format
For more information, and to view the area code overlay map, visit www.PUCO.ohio.gov.
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