This month, public power utilities across the country celebrated Lineman Appreciation Day, the annual holiday that recognizes the tireless dedication of lineworkers. Whether in sunshine or the pouring rain, lineworkers ensure that we can turn on the lights whenever we want. While most don’t think of all the difficult work that goes into providing excellent electric service, Lineman Appreciation Day reminds us to acknowledge these teams that power our world.
According to Lineman Central, there are approximately 120,000 lineworkers across the country working safely through daily risks to ensure that our homes, businesses, and communities receive power. These lineworkers work on 5.5 million miles of wire, 180 million utility poles, and 2.7 million transmission towers in service across the United States. On a daily basis, these lineworkers carry up to 40 pounds of protective equipment and tools while working dozens of feet in the air. Not only do they work to maintain and upgrade the nation’s infrastructure, but they respond to emergency outages when the weather is at its worst and everyone else shelters safely in their homes. Many linemen find these challenges and accomplishments the most fulfilling part of their job.
“The most rewarding part of being a lineman is helping when people need it the most,” said Mike Aubrey. Aubrey has been a lineman for over 25 years and works with IMPA Service Corp as the General Foreman to provide power distribution and maintenance services to a growing number of the Agency’s member communities. “When a storm passes and all you see is destruction, people depend on you to get power restored so they can start getting their life back together. It’s pretty humbling to pull up and see that everything a person has worked for in their life is gone. And as a lineman, restoring power is how they will begin to heal and rebuild their life.”
To be on the front lines of disaster takes a special kind of person – one that all lineworkers are glad to be. These workers often leave their own families in the middle of the night to respond in the wake of a storm. It’s a unique role that demands technical skill and personal sacrifice.
“Being a lineman is not just a job, it’s a lifestyle,” said Scott Yost, Electric Utility Manager and Journeyman Lineman of IMPA community Greenfield, Indiana. “It takes a lot of dedication to do what we do, and it takes a certain skill level and drive that not everyone has. It’s both mentally and physically challenging, and you’re often taken away from your family during special events and holidays. But it’s a very rewarding trade. It makes me proud, and I hope it makes all linemen proud. Linemen have a brotherhood like no other that I’ve ever seen, and we make sure to support one another and build incredible relationships.”
This brotherhood helps lineworkers stay resilient through long hours and never-ending maintenance and upgrade work. We should all be thankful for their contributions, as power is truly the backbone of our daily lives.
“Without electricity, people wouldn’t be able to stay comfortable in their homes, cook dinner for their family, or preserve their food,” said Willie Daniels, the Electric Superintendent of the IMPA community of Scottsburg, Indiana. “That’s how we linemen help our communities, and it’s something we should be proud of. Not only do we get to help our loved ones have access to electricity, but the brotherhood of linemen is always willing to help communities outside of their own. Our mutual aid work on the state and national level has helped so many people and families across the country. It’s all about helping lift people up and getting folks what they need, and that’s the joy of being a lineman.”
“I do wish people knew the real sacrifices we make,” said Aubrey. “As a lineman, you are always on-call, and you can get called at anytime, anyplace, in any kind of weather. You miss your kids’ birthdays, anniversaries, vacations, little league games, dance recitals – but, at the end of the day, it is rewarding to be the one at the end of an extendo stick and restoring power to a town or neighborhood that needs it.”
While Lineman Appreciation Day recognizes these workers for a short period, IMPA encourages everyone to consider the year-round efforts of linemen to keep the lights on. Their work is often invisible, but its impact is essential. Many thanks to all lineworkers here in our member communities and around the United States!