Electric membership corporations in Georgia will come together on April 14 to celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day, honoring electric lineworkers throughout the state. While their work often goes unnoticed, lineworkers are vital during power outages and emergencies, acting as heroes in restoring power.

Dennis Chastain, president of Georgia EMC, highlighted that electric lineworkers bring light and hope back to communities after disasters. Their work is crucial every day of the year, and recent storms have showcased their importance. After Hurricane Helene, hundreds of lineworkers from various EMCs collaborated to restore power to 435,000 members in Georgia, even as some EMCs had to nearly rebuild their entire distribution systems, which took over 80 years to develop. Remarkably, most of this work was completed within three weeks.

To acknowledge the dedication of lineworkers, resolutions were introduced in the Georgia House and Senate for April 14. House Resolution 432 was put forth by House Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications Chairman Don Parsons, while Senate Resolution 261 was introduced by Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Chairman Bill Cowsert.

Additionally, lineworkers were recognized by Senate Pro Tempore John Kennedy on March 11 at the Georgia State Capitol for their efforts in storm recovery.

People can show support by using the hashtag ThankALineworker on social media to express appreciation. Georgia also offers a specialty “Thank a Lineman” license plate, with proceeds benefiting burn patients and their families. Georgians can request this plate when renewing their motor vehicle registration on the Department of Revenue website.