WASHINGTON (Thursday, July 05, 2012) -
Edison Electric
Institute President Tom Kuhn today offered the following words on the tragic
loss of Gulf Power storm crew member Jackie Green:
Green Exemplified
Unrivaled Dedication Of Utility Mutual Assistance Community, As Crews Toiled
Throughout The July 4th Holiday To Bring Relief To Fellow
Americans
“We are deeply saddened by the death of Gulf
Power lineworker Jackie Green, who lost her life in a vehicle accident late
Tuesday while traveling in a convoy of utility trucks.
“Jackie was a
member of a Gulf Power mutual assistance crew that had traveled to Virginia to
help local utility workers restore power to customers following the violent
storms that swept across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic last weekend.
“Our
hearts and prayers go out to Jackie's loved ones and to her Gulf Power family,
with whom she served for more than two decades.
“Our thoughts and
tremendous appreciation also are with the entire utility lineworker community to
which Jackie belonged. These men and women are bound by a deep bond and ethic
based on selfless commitment and dedication to one of the most essential yet
dangerous of jobs: maintaining and repairing the millions of miles of electrical
lines that carry power to every customer.
“Jackie’s job did not require
her to leave her Florida home and service territory to assist with restoration
efforts hundreds of miles away. She, along with the entire Gulf Power team and
utility workers from across the country, volunteered for this work through the
industry’s mutual assistance network, through which companies can “borrow”
workers from other utilities to speed the restoration process.
“The
thousands of utility workers who dedicate themselves to power restoration and
storm recovery are as much the backbone of our electricity delivery system as
the nation’s electric grid itself. Jackie worked in this capacity with her Gulf
Power colleagues for 22 years. We are grateful for her service, and we extend
our deep condolences to all those touched by her loss.”
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