Weekdays, nights and weekends. Hot, sunny days at a crowded intersection or in a snake-infested swamp. Rainy night in the bitter cold.

Gulf Power Company lineworkers do their job in all kinds of conditions any time of the day or night, safely keeping the lights on.

The company is joining with the rest of the state of Florida in recognizing their work with the first Lineworker Appreciation Day on Sunday, Aug. 26.

"We deeply appreciate the work lineworkers throughout Florida do to keep the lights on," said State Rep. Seth McKeel (R-Lakeland), who sponsored the resolution. "These men and women are out there working in the harshest of conditions, working as safely as they can to make sure the citizens of Florida have a very reliable electric grid."

The Florida Legislature in March approved the resolution. It was an effort by Tracy Moore, whose husband, a lineman for Lakeland Electric, was killed on the job 10 years ago on Aug. 26.

From line techs to service techs to winch truck operators to substation techs to transmission techs — each day, these employees face the hazards of working around electricity.

And for those efforts, Gulf Power and the rest of the state offers their thanks and appreciation.

“Our lineworkers are on the frontline every day as we safely provide reliable electric service to our customers,” said Bernard Jacob, Vice President-Customer Service & Operations. “We appreciate the work they do, in all kinds of weather, to keep the lights on.”

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 430,000 customers in eight counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely provide exceptional customer value by delivering reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible electricity while strengthening our communities. Visit online at GulfPower.com or on the company’s Facebook page, “Gulf Power Company.”

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