TVA's linemen and women work day and night in sunshine and shadow bring power to nearly 10 million people in the Valley. We commit to thanking them -- today and every day.

April 18 is National Lineman Appreciation Day. With more than 16,000 miles of electrical grid zigzagging across the Tennessee Valley, linemen are the men and women who build and maintain the system that keeps our nation running. If the power is on where you are reading this article, then you have a lineman to thank.

And there’s never been a better time to do so.

“Our linemen and women have faced some extraordinary challenges these past several weeks,” said TVA president and CEO Jeff Lyash. “From the tornados that devastated Middle Tennessee to the storms that hit Mississippi, North Georgia, and Chattanooga earlier this week, to the pandemic conditions that are requiring even higher levels of safety precaution, these individuals are demonstrating the best of TVA and our mission of service.”

Due to the dangerous conditions power poses, safety is always of utmost importance for both the lineman and the consumer. Even when there is no crisis being managed, potentially dangerous conditions are faced daily—whether in trenches, near water, or on high towers.

“There is an incredible tenacity and commitment demonstrated by this team,” said Bob Dalrymple, senior vice president of Transmission Power Supply & Support. “They truly do deserve our heartfelt appreciation.”

You can communicate your thanks on National Lineman Appreciation Day via social media: #NationalLinemanAppreciationDay and #thankalineman. Or, if you know a lineman, consider a personal note or call. For more information on National Lineman Appreciation Day, visit linemanappreciationday.com.