By Brad McCrea, CEO
As CEO of Noble REMC, I have the unique privilege of seeing firsthand what it truly takes to keep the lights on for our members. In April, we take time to pause and recognize the brave employees who make that possible every single day — our lineworkers.
When storms impact our communities and outages occur, many people experience the inconvenience, but our lineworkers see a call to action. Our crews are ready when it matters most — leaving family dinners, working through the night, and heading into challenging conditions to restore power as safely and quickly as possible. That readiness is not accidental. It comes from rigorous training, deep experience, and a shared commitment to serving others — a priority since the REMC was established in 1936.
What makes lineworkers especially remarkable is that they are not just restoring power to a system — they are restoring power to their own communities. They live here. They raise their families here. They understand that electricity is more than a convenience; it is essential to daily life, to local businesses and industry, to schools, farms, and emergency services. Powering the places we call home is personal to lineworkers.
Electric cooperatives like Noble REMC were built on the principle of neighbors helping neighbors, and our lineworkers embody that spirit every day. They are the first to respond and the last to leave, often working long hours behind the scenes.
At times, serving our neighbors means going beyond our own service territory through a process known as mutual aid. During major outage events, Noble REMC crews stand ready to assist neighboring co-ops –– sometimes close to home, and sometimes across state lines –– to help restore power. This spirit of mutual aid strengthens all cooperatives and ultimately benefits the members we serve.
We understand the frustration when the lights go out, bringing everyday life to a halt. We are incredibly grateful to our members for your patience and encouragement during these times. Linework is demanding, physical, and at times, it can be dangerous. Our crews approach each job with a focus on safety and teamwork. They take pride in their craft and in the trust our members place in them. In 2025, our average member’s power was on 99.97% of the time, day and night.
On April 13, we will celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day, but one day is hardly enough. Every day, we thank lineworkers for their service and dedication, which are the backbone of our cooperative.