Dennis Weiss

Spring time brings showers that help produce spring flowers, but it can also bring the potential for stormy weather. While Kankakee Valley REMC strives to provide reliable electricity to our members, Mother Nature sometimes has other plans resulting in power outages. Many of us watch storms roll in from the comfort of our home, but there is a group of individuals that takes-action when the weather begins to turn. These individuals are the cooperative line workers.

Braving stormy weather and other conditions, lineworkers must perform detailed tasks next to high voltage power lines. Before the use of bucket trucks, line workers would have to climb 40 ft. or higher poles, carrying heavy equipment to restore power. Today, there are still situations where bucket trucks can’t reach a pole and lineworkers must put on their hooks and belt to climb the pole.

While the tools that lineworkers use have changed over the years, the dedication that they have to their job and the membership has not. Kankakee Valley REMC’s nineteen lineworkers are responsible for keeping 2,105 miles of lines across 7 counties working, in-order-to bring power to your home and local community 24/7 regardless of the weather, holiday or personal considerations. In addition, our lineworkers believe in the cooperative principle of ‘Cooperation among Cooperatives’ and show this dedication when they aid neighboring communities, counties or states following a major storm or disaster. Your cooperative lineworkers have not only helped throughout the Hoosier state, but also assisted following Hurricanes Ivan in 2004, Katrina in 2005 and Irma in 2017. Our lineworkers were also instrumental in Project Indiana where they helped bring power to villages in Guatemala.

While April is known for spring showers and growing flowers, we set aside April 10 as “thank a lineworker” day. Please join me in thanking the many lineworkers both locally and around the world for their challenging work in keeping the lights on for us.

Dennis Weiss
CEO