Lineworkers serve on the frontlines of our nation’s energy needs, and every April, K.C. Electric Association takes the time to thank our extraordinary linemen who dedicate their lives to keeping the lights on in our local communities.
Most of us have never had to live without electricity for an extended period of time and we have come to take it for granted. The electrons that make it possible for us to have electricity begin at a generation plant, sometimes travel hundreds of miles across high voltage transmission lines to our substations, and then travel more miles over our distribution lines ultimately ending up at your home or business. There is a lot of infrastructure in place that makes it possible for us to have reliable electricity. We design our electrical grid to withstand the worst weather conditions possible, but sometimes Mother Nature wins, and when this happens, we dispatch our linemen to repair the damage.
Our linecrews work around the clock, many times in difficult and dangerous conditions, to keep power flowing to your home or business. Whether they’re restoring power after a major storm or maintaining critical infrastructure to our electric system, linemen are at the heart of our cooperative.
Perhaps you have seen them climbing a pole or raising their bucket trucks in howling winds and torrential rains, or in freezing, icy conditions. When a storm hits, linecrews set aside their personal priorities because Mother Nature doesn’t work around holidays, vacations, school events, and birthdays. A service-oriented mentality is one of the many admirable characteristics of an electric lineworker.
Without their hard work and commitment to the job, our cooperative and communities would not thrive. No matter the time — day or night, weekday, or weekend — if the lights go out, so do they.
Our linemen are brave, committed, and critical to our success. We hope you will join us in thanking the many lineworkers — both locally and around the world — that light our lives. Remember, your power works because they do!
David Churchwell is the General Manager of K.C. Electric Association. KC Electric’s mission is to provide our members with safe, reliable service at the lowest cost, while maintaining an environmentally responsible, accountable, and sustainable operation now and in the future.
