(CUMMING, GA) Electric membership corporations in Georgia, including Sawnee EMC, are asking the public to join them in paying tribute April 10th to lineworkers across the state in observance of Lineman Appreciation Day.
The work of line crews is important 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and the tornado outbreak and super storms that shrieked across Alabama and Georgia in January causing thousands of outages are recent reminders of the critical need for these highly skilled professionals.
“No matter what Mother Nature throws our way, Sawnee EMC linemen deploy at a moment’s notice to help our members and community and restore what has become a vital service that we all depend on,” said Chet Blackstock, Vice President of Operations, with Sawnee EMC.
For these and other extraordinary efforts, the April 10th celebration is the eighth annual Lineman Appreciation observance in Georgia. Resolutions introduced this year in both the Georgia House and Senate mark the occasion:
- House Resolution 295 introduced by Representative Don Parsons (R-Marietta)
- Senate Resolution 238 introduced by Senator Bill Cowsert (R- Athens)
There are three simple ways Georgians can show their appreciation for the men and women who keep the lights on.
#ThankALineman
Tell the world you value line crews. On April 10th, Sawnee EMC is calling upon co-op members and the community to express thanks and appreciation by sending a social-media message to line workers using the hash tag #ThankALineman.
Lineman license plate
To honor line workers’ service the state created a specialty license plate that any driver can request for their vehicle.
Proceeds from the sale of “Thank a Lineman” license plates benefit the Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America which provides assistance to burn patients and their families at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta. To purchase, Georgians should visit the Department of Revenue website when renewing their annual motor vehicle registration.
Protecting a precious asset
While the specialty license plate and hash tag are optional, providing extra room for utility workers on the road is not.
Georgia added utility workers to the “pull over law” which requires drivers to leave an empty lane for law enforcement vehicles, ambulances and fire trucks attending an incident on or beside a road. Now, any motorist approaching utility linemen at an active work site – as indicated by traffic cones or flashing yellow, amber, white or red lights – must change lanes or reduce speed to below the speed limit.
Motorists who fail to do that can be fined up to $250 per incident. The law applies to all types of utility workers, including electric, natural gas, cable and telecommunications workers, right-of-way crews or utility contractors.
For additional information about Lineman Appreciation Day, please contact Sawnee’s Customer Service Department at (770) 887-2363, send an email to customerservice@sawnee.com or chat online at sawnee.com.
About Sawnee EMC
Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation, a three-time J.D. Power recipient for best in customer satisfaction, is an electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Cumming, Georgia. Sawnee serves electricity to approximately 195,000 accounts in seven (7) counties of greater north Georgia. Sawnee’s assets exceed $881 million, with energy sales of 3.7 billion kWh and annual revenue of $441 million. With a team of approximately 360 dedicated professionals and over 12,006 miles of distribution line, Sawnee stands ready to meet the needs of its members/owners. SEMC strives daily to live up to their motto…
“At Sawnee EMC, We’re More Than Electricity, We’re Service”.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.