Lineworkers operate under dangerous conditions even on the best of days, so when Mother Nature issues a challenge, they’re more than prepared to answer the call.
This season’s winter storms have done a number on numerous electric cooperatives’ systems — both in Ohio and beyond — that have called Ohio crews into action.
Lineworkers operate under dangerous conditions even on the best of days.
More than 40 Ohio lineworkers spent a good chunk of January in Virginia, helping to restore power to more than 80,000 co-op members after a storm there. Then in early February, 63 lineworkers from 20 cooperatives around the state jumped into action to help restore power to more than 30,000 Ohio co-op members when winter storm Landon put a coating of ice over some of the most difficult-to-reach areas of the southern part of the state.
Line work is not a glamorous or easy profession. It takes years of specialized training, ongoing education, dedication, and — equally important — a sense of service and commitment. How else could someone explain their willingness to leave their families to tackle a challenging job in difficult conditions, when most others are sheltering comfortably at home? This dedication and sense of service to the community are truly what sets them apart. That’s why we set aside the second Monday in April to celebrate and recognize the men and women who work around the clock to keep the lights on.
