Sawnee EMC, along with several other electric membership corporations in Georgia, is asking the public to join them in showing appreciation to lineworkers across the state during Lineman Appreciation Day on April 10th.
In a press release, Sawnee EMC noted that the work of linemen is essential to everyday life, especially during natural disasters such as the tornado outbreak and super storms Georgia saw in January.
“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,” Chet Blackstock, Vice President of Operations with Sawnee EMC, said.
The April 10th celebration marks the 8th annual Lineman Appreciation Day 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)
The company said there are three ways to thank a line worker this year:
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 hashtag #ThankALineman.
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 can visit the Department of Revenue website when renewing their annual motor vehicle registration.
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. 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, contact Sawnee’s Customer Service Department at (770) 887-2363, send an email to [email protected] or chat online at sawnee.com.
