April 18 has been designated as National Lineman Appreciation Day. If the power is on where you are reading this article, you likely have a lineman to thank. From the power plant, the grid crisscrossing the country both above and underground and right up to the meters on our homes, these men and women build and maintain the system that keeps our nation running. Regardless of the source, the electricity has to be transported by employing transformers and other equipment. Due to the dangerous conditions power poses, safety is of utmost importance for both the lineman and the consumer. When mother nature destroys what our linemen have built up, they are on call to build it back up again as quickly as possible. These men and women work tirelessly to get emergency systems back in working order and urgently return service to remaining areas. Even when there is no crisis, they work under dangerous conditions on a daily basis. Whether they are working in trenches, near water or on high towers, the risks are extreme. Today, be sure to thank a lineman. You can post it on social media or go to your power companies FB page and post a thank you there. You can also mail a thank you card to a power company. This day was first recognized on April 10, 2013.
