— from Suzanne Olson for OPALCO —
OPALCO’s team of line workers keep the lights on for more than 11,300 co-op members on 20 islands in San Juan County. That is no small task! Governor Jay Inslee has proclaimed July 10, 2018 as Lineworker Appreciation Day and OPALCO invites its members to give their local line workers a proud salute.
In addition to a high-five, fist bump or plate of home-baked cookies, there are a couple of things everyone can do to make the tough job our line workers do a little bit easier.
- Call Before You Dig on every single project – whether it’s a shovel or a backhoe. You can call 811 from a land line, or 800-424-5555 from a mobile line. Mark the locate area with white paint before you call.
- Keep vegetation at least 10’ away from OPALCO’s transformer boxes and power lines. If you’re concerned about trees growing into your lines, please call 360-376-3532.
The line crew will be giving safety demonstrations at the County Fair in August – stop by and say hello. Kids will be invited to join our “Play it Safe” campaign with fun activities and prizes.
Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) is our member-owned cooperative electric utility, serving more than 11,000 members on 20 islands in San Juan County. OPALCO provides electricity that is 95% greenhouse-gas free and is generated predominantly by hydroelectric plants. OPALCO was founded in 1937. Follow OPALCO @OrcasPower on Facebook and Twitter.
Thanks, Team OPALCO, and today especially, the Line Workers! In summer it might be easy to forget how much we rely on you and your efforts. But come the next winter storm, we’ll all remember how important you are to all our lives. Congratulations on your honor. Thanks from your community.