Honoring CEMC Linemen on Lineworker Appreciation Day
Lineworker Appreciation Day isn’t just another date we circle on the calendar at CEMC. It’s a chance to recognize the daily hard work and sacrifice that our line crews make to serve our members and keep our lights on through thick and thin.
Lineworkers are the ones who build and maintain the lines and equipment that keep power flowing across our service area. They’re also the ones who show up when something breaks (often in the midst of dangerous, severe weather) so our members can get back to normal.
If the past few months have taught us anything, it’s how quickly “behind-the-scenes” work becomes the most important work there is. When Winter Storm Fern moved through, ice piled up fast. Trees came down, lines and equipment took a beating, and over 30,000 members were left without power in a matter of hours. Conditions weren’t exactly forgiving either, with our crews facing slick roads, falling limbs, and temperatures near 0 during restoration.
While most of us were trying to stay warm and safe at home, our lineworkers were out there doing what they do: assessing damage, making plans, and getting power back on—all while taking the time and precautions to do it the right way. Many of our linemen were leaving behind their own families who were also without power to help get our system back online.
Restoration isn’t just flipping a single switch or a simple fix. It’s clearing debris so crews can even reach the problem. It’s replacing poles, repairing broken equipment, pulling wire, and rebuilding sections of the system one step at a time. And it’s making real-time decisions about what to tackle first, with safety always being the first priority.
That commitment didn’t stop at our own service area this year. After working through the challenges of Winter Storm Fern, CEMC lineworkers also answered the call to assist other communities through mutual aid, supporting restoration efforts across Tennessee and into Mississippi. And their impact reached even further through this year’s Project Highlight, where crews helped bring power to two rural communities in Guatemala. It’s a reflection of something bigger than any one system. When communities are in need, lineworkers show up, no matter where that call comes from.
Storm response gets the attention, but their dedication doesn’t come and go with the weather. It shows up every day by responding to outages, improving infrastructure, and preparing the system so it’s stronger tomorrow than it was yesterday.
We’re so proud of our lineworkers, and we’re grateful for them—not just for the job they do, but for the way they do it.
Today, please join us in recognizing our line crews for their hard work, their resilience, and the care they show our members and our communities. Thank you, linemen!
