Ten Digit Dialing Begins Next Friday, July 19

Starting July 19, Upstate residents, including those in Oconee and Pickens counties, will need to dial 10 digits for all calls due to the introduction of a new “821” area code. This code will supplement the existing “864” area code and will not replace any current numbers. Beginning August 19, new phone numbers may use the “821” area code. Existing “864” numbers will remain unchanged. Calls using the new area code will not incur long-distance charges. Residents are advised to reprogram safety devices for 10-digit dialing and update personal and business information accordingly. For more information, contact the Public Service Commission of South Carolina. Additionally, non-emergency phone lines for the Clemson Police Department and Pickens County Sheriff’s Office experienced outages early Tuesday, but 911 services remained operational and regular service was restored later that day.