Today is National Lineman Appreciation Day and Gulf Power Company is joining utility companies across the nation in recognizing the efforts of the men and women who work in all sorts of weather at all times of the day and night to keep Northwest Florida’s electricity flowing. 

“Whether it’s going on storm duty, restoring a customer’s power or just turning on someone’s power for the first time, the work Gulf Power crews do every day is to keep our customers at the center of everything we do,” said Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power Corporate Communications manager. “These men and women are truly heroes and this day is to honor them.”

Gulf Power has approximately 175 employees who work on the company’s transmission and distribution lines.

While the state Legislature has made Aug. 26 Lineworker Appreciation Day in Florida, a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives set aside March 31 as National Lineman Appreciation Day.

Part of Gulf Power’s mission is to help other companies when natural disasters knock power out to thousands of customers. In December, Gulf Power sent crews to Texas to assist in the Dallas area following an ice storm.

Gulf Power line personnel didn’t have to travel far in late January when an unusual ice storm in the Pensacola area disrupted power for two days. Then in February, Gulf Power crews spent a week in Georgia, assisting Georgia Power restore power following an ice storm there.

“Our line workers are committed to getting customers’ power back on, whether here in Northwest Florida or across the country,” Rogers said. “That’s what they do and we’re proud they are being recognized for their efforts.”

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves more than 436,000 customers in eight counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely deliver affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible electric service to our customers while working to improve the communities we serve. Visit online at GulfPower.com or on the company’s Facebook page, “Gulf Power Company.”