KISSIMMEE, Fla., April 15, 2020 – Kissimmee Utility Authority joins the U.S. Congress in recognizing Saturday as National Lineman Appreciation Day to honor the skilled brave men and women who work one of the most dangerous professions in America.
By unanimous consent, the U.S. Senate in 2013 and U.S. House in 2017 approved separate resolutions recognizing linemen, the profession of linemen and the contributions of these brave men and women who protect public safety. The resolutions designated April 18 as National Lineman Appreciation Day.
Numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics put electrical lineworkers among the top ten most dangerous jobs in the U.S., according to the agency’s most recent census.
The resolutions honor the more than 114,000 highly-skilled lineworkers, who not only maintain the country’s five million miles of transmission and distribution lines, but also pitch in to help their fellow utility workers in the wake of natural disasters, wherever they occur.
The resolutions resolve that these workers…
- are steeped in personal, family and professional tradition;
- are often first responders during storms and other catastrophic events, working to make the scene safe for other public safety heroes;
- work with thousands of volts of electricity high atop power lines 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to keep electricity flowing;
- play a vital role in the nation’s economy by maintaining and growing the energy infrastructure of the United States;
- often work under dangerous conditions separated from their families to keep schools and businesses open;
- put their lives on the line every day with little recognition from the community regarding the danger of their work.
“We salute the linemen here at KUA who are ready to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to ensure electricity is safely delivered in Kissimmee,” said Brian Horton, KUA president and general manager. “We are thankful for their continued commitment to our community.”
Those who wish to honor lineworkers and their families are encouraged to use the hashtag #ThankALineman in social media.
Founded in 1901, KUA (http://kua.com) is Florida’s sixth largest community-owned utility powering 80,000 customers in Osceola County, Fla.