(CUMMING, GA) — On April 14th, Sawnee EMC plans to celebrate Lineman Appreciation Day and pay tribute to the lineman who call Sawnee EMC home. 
 
On a normal day, a lineman’s efforts may go unnoticed. However, in moments of crisis when power outages strike, linemen emerge as heroes and a sign of hope. 

“A lineman’s response to outages restores normalcy and provides reassurance to communities during times of uncertainty,” said Chet Blackstock, Vice President of Operations at Sawnee EMC.  “Regardless of the challenges posed by nature, all EMC employees – especially linemen –deploy at a moment’s notice to help our members and community, restoring a vital service that we all depend on.” 

The tasks given to linemen are important 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and recent storms in the southeast have provided these heroes the opportunity to shine. In particular, power restoration following Hurricane Helene brought together hundreds of lineworkers from EMCs in 12 states to restore power to 435,000 EMC members in south Georgia. Sawnee EMC sent multiple crews to assist in this effort and through teamwork and dedication to the tasks at hand, the majority of the work was completed within three weeks’ time. 

“Sawnee EMC linemen’s willingness to serve in other communities during times of need demonstrates their commitment to the greater good,” said Blackstock.
 
To recognize the tireless work of linemen and their dedication to the communities they serve, resolutions were introduced this year in both the Georgia House and Senate to mark the occasion on April 14:

• House Resolution 432 introduced by House Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications Chairman Don Parsons (R – Marietta)
• Senate Resolution 261 introduced by Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Chairman Bill Cowsert (R – Athens)

In addition to Lineman Appreciation Day on April 14th, Georgia’s lineworkers were also celebrated by Senate Pro Tempore John Kennedy (R-Bolingbroke) on Tuesday, March 11th. Senator Kennedy honored over a hundred lineworkers across Georgia by recognizing them on the steps of the Georgia State Capitol for their efforts and dedication during last year’s storm restoration efforts.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR LINEWORKERS:

• #ThankALineworker
  On April 14th, Sawnee EMC is calling upon co-op members and the community to express thanks and appreciation by sending a social-media message to its linemen using the hashtag #ThankALineworker. 
   
• Lineman license plate
  To honor linemen 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. 

About Sawnee EMC 

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation, a four-time J.D. Power recipient for best in customer satisfaction, is an electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Cumming, Georgia. Sawnee serves electricity to approximately 200,000 accounts in seven (7) counties of greater north Georgia. Sawnee’s total assets exceed $881 million, with energy sales of 3.7 billion kWh and annual revenue of approximately $441 million. With a team of approximately 390 dedicated professionals and over 12,006 miles of distribution line, Sawnee stands ready at all times 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.}