State officials honor Alabama’s linemen — ‘They’re dedicated to their jobs and the people of Alabama’

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June 7, 2021

The men and women who brave tough conditions and work long hours to keep Alabama’s lights on were recognized by several of the state’s elected officials on Monday.

“This past year with the devastating tornadoes and hurricanes throughout our state, we were reminded all too often of the incredible commitment and service from Alabama’s linemen,” said Governor Kay Ivey in a statement. “We honor those individuals today and remember those who were injured on the job or tragically lost their lives.”

As president of the Alabama Public Service Commission, Twinkle Cavanaugh has seen first-hand the challenging conditions linemen are confronted with as part of storm recovery.

“A storm strong enough to knock out power is almost always going to create incredibly difficult conditions for linemen,” Cavanaugh told Yellowhammer News. “Our linemen get out there first and take on back-breaking work to get power restored. They’re dedicated to their jobs and the people of Alabama.”

To assist the families of linemen who have lost their lives or been injured on the job, the Energy Institute of Alabama (EIA) created a foundation to benefit those families. Funding occurs through the sale of specialty license plates and donations.

EIA Chairman Seth Hammett expressed his gratitude to the more than 2,000 linemen represented by EIA member companies.

“These men and women are the backbone of our dependable energy infrastructure and, importantly, are some of the first responders immediately following catastrophic events who work tirelessly to quickly and safely restore the power,” stated Hammett.

Alabama Linemen Appreciation Day was formally established by the Alabama Legislature in 2014 by a resolution sponsored by State Sen. April Weaver, then a member of the House of Representatives.

EIA has created a video to honor the occasion: