CPUC Reminds Customers of New Dialing Procedure for 805 Area Code in Preparation for 820 Area Code Overlay

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved an area code overlay in the 805 Area Code Region in May 2017. Why? Because we're running out of 805 phone numbers!

The new overlay area code to be added beginning June 30, 2018 is 820.  

The 805 region serves most of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties and small portions of Monterey and Kern Counties.

The 805 area code was created in 1957, splitting from the 213 area code and covering the coastal and inland areas north of Los Angeles. The 805 area code was reduced to its current configuration along the coast when the 661 was split off of it in 1999.

But wait...aside from an additional area code, there's another slight inconvenience involved that we all need to be aware of. For those that actually dial the phone (yes, that includes you, Millennials), you will be required to dial, on land lines, 1 + area code + telephone number for ALL calls in the region - even 805 to 805 calls - beginning June 2, 2018. Yes, MANDATORY.

Slightly different for cell phones - you can dial the area code + phone number or the 1 + area code + phone number.  Yes, you save a digit on cell phones!

This new dialing procedure is encouraged to be used beginning December 1, 2017, which gives us 6 months to get used to it. The CPUC calls this the "permissive dialing period." 

The CPUC also reminds the public to reprogram any equipment that currently relies on just the 7-digit phone number to dial the 1 + area code + phone number, as you will be impacted starting June 2, 2018.