Celebrating the Workers Who Power Our Communities
Five storms hammered REC’s service territory in a 13-day stretch of February that won’t soon be forgotten.
While many of us hunkered down, lineworkers rolled out.
From Winter Storm Freya, which dropped several inches of heavy wet snow, to Wind Storm Jett, which brought hours-long 50-plus-mph winds, the storms battered REC’s service territory and caused more than 52,000 power outages. The storms downed dozens of trees, breaking poles and electric wires.
In between those major storms, REC linemen spent Valentine’s Day weekend at Central Virginia, Mecklenburg and Southside electric cooperatives, which were hit with an ice storm that missed REC’s service territory.
“One of the Cooperative Principles is Cooperation Among Cooperatives,” said Jason Satterwhite, Chief Grid Operations Officer. “That’s one of the biggest lifelines in the co-op world. If we can help our sister co-ops in their time of need, we’re going to help them any time because the shoe could be on the other foot at any moment.”
With this winter’s storms, REC’s lineworkers learned that firsthand.
Through it all, the lineworkers focused on the members without power, the and families and businesses that depended on them to push through long hours in difficult situations to make repairs and restore service.
It’s what they do. And it’s why this month, we celebrate them and the difficult, dangerous and critical work that they do every day to power our homes and communities.
“I’ve been at REC for almost 27 years,” said Satterwhite. “And I can safely say storms of this size coming back-to-back really felt unprecedented. But, like they always do, our lineworkers stepped up to serve our members.”
Satterwhite noted that the families of the lineworkers are unsung heroes.
“Without their support in taking care of the homefront, our lineworkers wouldn’t be able to do what they do to take care of members.”
Gary Garrett, a General Foreman, said the work is both exhausting and rewarding.
“It can be very taxing on you physically and mentally,” he said. He noted that lineworkers stay prepared and ready to respond at all times, even under trying circumstances.
Aside from dedication and, he joked, caffeine, he said there’s something else that propels him and other lineworkers.
“Even when we’re tired, we know when we’re out there, people are counting on us,” Garrett said. “That’s a big motivator as a lineman. That’s something that runs deep in your heart, and you want to be able to get the lights back on for everybody.”
