As for Janie, the answer is simple, "They keep the lights on and someone has to do that." Then she paused and added one comment. "On the nights when the linemen are out, I hope that everyone remembers he left us to help them. Some people complain when the power is not instantly restored, and I understand because they don't know what it takes to get everything working again. But I hope they always remember somebody had to leave their family, their wife, their children, so they could get the power back on." That's living on the lines.
If viewing our digital edition, click on the right to view the music video "You Know the Kind" showcasing the hard work of linemen. Access our digital edition at www.ok-living.coop or fi nd our FREE app at the Apple Newsstand, Google Play or Amazon.
Editor's Note: This video, produced by Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, includes footage taken in the Oklahoma Panhandle and the following linemen from Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TCEC): Josh Hussey, Rob- bie Paden, Adam Garrison, Bill Paden and Caleb Stover.
Oklahoma's electric cooperatives employ approximately 1,100 linemen who work on nearly 115,045 miles of distribution lines. These linemen bring power to 550,000 consumer-members in the state's 77 counties.