Last week, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed the Lineman Appreciation Day act in Raleigh, designating Saturday to recognize linemen from the state’s 26 electric cooperatives, including Wake Electric, which serves Durham, Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Nash, Vance and Wake counties.
“I respect the work and sacrifice of linemen and their families,” McCrory said at Thursday’s signing ceremony. “It takes talent and skill to do the job they do in sometimes dangerous conditions, and
In future years, the act designates the second Monday in April as Lineman Appreciation Day. The bill’s sponsors were Rep. Kelly Hastings (R-Gaston), Rep. John Bradford (R-Mecklenburg), Rep. Gary Pendleton (R-Wake), Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield (D-Wilson)
“We’re so thrilled that our state’s legislators and Gov. McCrory saw fit to honor linemen,” said Angela Perez, director of communications for Wake Electric, based in Wake Forest. “It really means something to those who work day in and day out in freezing cold, sleet, snow, heat – whatever the weather – to keep our members’ power on.”
North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives collectively employ more than 1,400 linemen who maintain more than 95,000 miles of power lines in 93 of the state’s 100 counties.