010 Electric Perspectives: Celebrating National Lineworker Appreciation Day

This Saturday is National Lineworker Appreciation Day, and EEI, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Utility Workers Union of America, and the National Electrical Contractors Association will join together to salute the nation’s nearly 75,000 electrical lineworkers. Lineworkers work around the clock, often in dangerous conditions, to keep the lights on for the customers and communities they serve. They also build and maintain the energy grid and stand ready to make emergency repairs to ensure that customers have access to the safe and reliable energy they need to stay connected and to power their lives.

 

In this episode, Donnie Colston, director of the IBEW’s utility department, explains why we celebrate National Lineworker Appreciation Day on July 10 and how America's lineworkers kept the lights on during a historic storm season and the pandemic. We also talk to Savoya Taylor, Commonwealth Edison’s first female overhead electrician specialist, and Cyril Ontai III, a Hawaiian Electric lineworker trainer, about what lineworkers do every day to keep the lights on and the importance of safety in their line of work. To learn more about National Lineworker Appreciation Day, visit EEI's website.