(ALBUQUERQUE, NM) – National Lineman Appreciation Day is on April 18, 2021 and this national day of recognition is an opportunity for us to shine a spotlight on the work that PNM linemen do every day. Whether in extreme heat during the summer months or bitter cold and wind, electrical linemen build, maintain and repair the power grid to ensure communities have access to reliable electricity. PNM crews rush out into a storm and work in other dangerous conditions to keep the power flowing to families here in New Mexico and we are asking customers to help us thank them.
In honor of the hard work that PNM crews do every day to serve our community, we are offering customers a chance to say thank you by inviting their kids to create artwork of linemen at work, or art that shows how/why they appreciate linemen and the power they help provide to our homes and businesses. Once the artwork is completed, customers can snap a picture of the artwork on their phone and upload the picture on PNM.com/ThankALineman. We will share the art with our crews and post them on PNM social media pages.
“It takes a special level of diligence and resourcefulness to work through the challenges our linemen face every day. Their work is critical to ensuring the most important needs and functions of our communities stay intact,” said Jeff Nawman, director of Transmission and Distribution Operations with PNM. “While PNM appreciates our linemen year-round, the month of April is special to our teams and it will mean that much more to feel gratitude directly from our communities.”
Linemen have one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the U.S. according to a study done by AdvisorSmith, who researches the most dangerous jobs in the United States based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. They often work out in extreme weather events and other dangerous situations and climb poles that are 30-100 feet tall. The electricity that powers our lives is an essential part of the world we live in, and so are the employees who put their lives in potential danger every day to make sure we continue to have safe, reliable power in our homes and businesses.
The website will be live through April 30, 2021. Once artwork is submitted it appears in real time on the website so customers can view other artwork that has been submitted. We will be sharing this website and all submitted artwork our crews so they know how truly appreciated they are for the work they do in New Mexico.