When we think about an electric utility, our minds often go to the lineworkers who brave the elements to restore power during an outage. Lineworkers are crucial in maintaining and building the infrastructure that brings electricity to our homes, farms, and businesses. Many organizations have designated a day to celebrate the electrical lineworkers dedicated to keeping the lights on.
Electric cooperatives are preparing to celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day on April 11. In 2015, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) designated the second Monday of April as a day to recognize lineworkers for their vital work serving the members of their cooperatives. This designation followed the United States Senate's passage of a resolution that singled out April 18, 2013, as Lineworker Appreciation Day.
The resolution passed by the U.S. Senate recognized lineworkers as ‘first responders during storms and other catastrophic events,’ working ‘to make the scene safe for other public safety heroes.’ After the passage of that resolution, cooperatives realized that celebrating lineworkers on April 18 every year would conflict with holidays and other events. That's why the NRECA board designated the second Monday of April as a day to pause and thank lineworkers.
However, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) celebrate lineworkers on July 10. These groups chose this day to honor lineworkers because IBEW’s first president was a lineworker, and July 10 is the anniversary of the day he was killed on the job. July 10 serves as a sobering reminder of the dangerous work lineworkers face every day.
Over the next few months, you may see organizations celebrating Lineworker Appreciation Day on April 11, April 18, or July 10. Each organization has its reasons for celebrating lineworkers on those days. The most important thing, however, is that we take a moment to thank lineworkers for their work.
Lineworkers work with heavy equipment around high-voltage power lines daily to ensure that members and consumers at the end of the line have a safe and reliable source of electricity. When storms roll through the area, the job becomes even more challenging as lineworkers must venture into harsh conditions to work with high-voltage electricity and restore power. So, if you see a lineworker working out in the field or they restore your power following an outage, a quick thank you or a note mailed to the office is all it takes to show your appreciation. And it doesn’t matter what day you do it.