Edison Electric Institute, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Honor National Lineworkers
April 18, 2013
WASHINGTON — The Edison ElectricInstitute (EEI) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) today salute the nation’s men and women who risk their lives daily to keep electricity flowing to the nation’s homes and businesses.
Electrical lineworkers construct and maintain electric transmission and distribution facilities that deliver electricity to our homes, factories, and commercial and retail businesses. Lineworkers also are essential public service providers, getting the lights back on quickly and safely following outages. This dedication to duty was never more on display than during last fall, following Superstorm Sandy.
“More homes and businesses lost power as a result of Sandy than from any other storm in U.S. history—estimates are that 10 million customers were impacted,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “Restoring power lost in Sandy’s wake was one of the biggest tasks the electric power industry has ever undertaken.
“The industry assembled a virtual army of 67,000 utility lineworkers and tree cutters, representing 80 companies—from as far away as Canada, California, and Hawaii. They risked their lives working around the clock to complete the restoration process, which was extremely technical, time-consuming, and dangerous. The nation’s lineworkers deserve this recognition every day of the year.”
IBEW President Ed Hill said, “Hurricanes, ice storms, and other devastating natural disasters certainly put the spotlight on the nation’s power lineworkers. We’re grateful to these courageous, hardworking folks who deal with the dangers of electricity during these critical periods, as well as every working day. Their dedication to their work and their commitment to excellence are things that the IBEW is proud to recognize.”
To honor the nation’s lineworkers, Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-GA), along with Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) have submitted resolutions (H. Res. 25 and S. Res. 95, respectively) in support of designating April 18, 2013, as National Linemen Appreciation Day. The Senate unanimously approved its resolution on April 10.
The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies. Our members serve 95 percent of the ultimate customers in the shareholder-owned segment of the industry, and represent approximately 70 percent of the U.S. electric power industry. We also have more than 65 International electric companies as Affiliate members, and more than 170 industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate members.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) represents approximately 750,000 active members and retirees who work in a wide variety of fields, including utilities, construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, manufacturing, railroads and government. The IBEW has members in both the United States and Canada and stands out among the American unions in the AFL-CIO because it is among the largest and has members in so many skilled occupations.