As the General Manager of K.C. Electric Association, I have the unique privilege of seeing firsthand what it truly takes to keep the lights on for our members. This month, we take time to pause and recognize the brave men who make that possible every single day — our linemen.
When storms impact our service territory and outages occur, many people experience the inconvenience, but our linemen see a call to action. Our crews are always ready when it matters most. They leave family dinners, work through the night, and head into challenging conditions to restore power as safely and quickly as possible. That readiness is not accidental. It comes from rigorous training, deep experience, and a shared commitment to serving others.
What makes linemen especially remarkable is that they are not just restoring power to a system, they’re restoring power to their own communities. They live here. They raise their families here. They understand that electricity is more than a convenience; it is essential to daily life, to local businesses, to schools, farms, and emergency services. Powering the places we call home is personal to linemen.
Electric cooperatives like K.C. Electric were built on the principle of neighbors helping neighbors, and our lineworkers embody that spirit every day. They are the first to respond and the last to leave, often working long hours behind the scenes.
At times, serving our neighbors means going beyond our own service territory through a process known as mutual aid. During major outage events, K.C. crews stand ready to assist neighboring co ops — sometimes close to home, and sometimes across state lines — to help restore power. This spirit of mutual aid strengthens all cooperatives and ultimately benefits the members we serve.
We understand any time the lights go out can be frustrating, bringing everyday life to a halt. We are incredibly grateful to you, our members for your patience and encouragement during these times. Linework is demanding, physical, and it can be dangerous. Our crews approach each job with a focus on safety and teamwork. They take pride in their craft and in the trust our members place in them.
The official day for Lineman Appreciation in Colorado is on April 18, but one day is hardly enough. Every day, we thank K.C. linemen for their service and dedication, which are the backbone of our cooperative.
To our linemen: thank you for your hard work, your readiness, and your unwavering commitment to the communities we serve. We are proud to stand behind you and grateful for all that you do.
David Churchwell is the general manager of K.C. Electric Association, a rural electric distribution cooperative based in Hugo, Colorado.
