April 17, 2020 – National Lineman Appreciation Day is April 18. On this powerful day, LCEC honors and thanks not just our dedicated linemen, but linemen and women around the world, for the hard work they do. These dedicated, highly skilled workers put their lives on the line daily to keep the lights on. They work in the most dangerous conditions faced with challenging elements and situations. National Lineman Appreciation Day is a day to #thankalineman for their work which goes largely unnoticed until you are without power.
At LCEC, we pride ourselves on the extremely talented, brave and passionate linemen we have on our team who keep the lights on for our more than 220,000 customers. The type of passion demonstrated by LCEC linemen was featured in 2015 when retired LCEC lineman Les Walton was inducted into the International Lineman Museum Hall of Fame!
Should you see a lineman on National Lineman Appreciation Day, or any day for that matter, please give them a wave (from six feet away). LCEC extends a huge thank you to all the brave line heroes across the nation! During the COVID-19 pandemic, linemen and women are working hard around the world to ensure that no one has to worry about having power. It is the goal of line workers to provide peace of mind during this unprecedented time.
Powerful facts about the lineman trade
The power lineman trade began: 1879
First lineman in the United States: Ezra Cornell (who built the Morse telegraph line and founded Cornell University)
Founder and first president of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers: Henry Miller
Number of line workers in the United States: More than 115,000
Number of wood poles in United Sates: 170+ million
Approximate weight of lineman tools and equipment: 30 pounds
Miles of wire service in United States: 9 million+
Number of transmission towers in service in United States: 2.7 million+
Number of wood poles in service in United States: 170 million+
Number of years of training to become lineman: 4 years
Source: linemanappreciationday.com