For Milton Stokes, a Georgia Power lineman who works out of the Noah’s Ark operating headquarters in Jonesboro, coming to work and leaving safely is always his top priority.
As a husband and father to two girls, he knows the importance of getting home to his family every day. Early in his marriage and when his daughters were born, he worked as a firefighter in Macon.
“I made the transition from firefighting to line work to advance my family’s quality of life and because I knew Georgia Power is a safety-oriented company,” he said. “That is one of the big reasons I knew it would be a great fit for me.”
Stokes started his career at the utility in the apprentice program and learned the ins and outs of maintaining and restoring utility lines and infrastructure, and the importance of maintaining a safety culture day to day.
“To ensure that everyone goes home safely every day, you learn early on to never be afraid to ask questions,” he said. “It’s better to ask too many than for someone to get hurt.”
“At the fire department, we called ourselves a ‘brotherhood.’ At Georgia Power, we believe in being your brother’s keeper and to always be looking out for one another’s well-being. Everything we do is safety-oriented,” he went on to say.
He practices these standards as he helps train other line workers on the tools and machinery necessary for underground repairs and maintenance. He frequently works with other crews at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and across the south metro area in Clayton, Henry, Spalding, and Butts Counties to ensure customers have reliable service.
“Often times, we are the face of the company in the community when we pull up in our trucks to restore power after a storm. It feels nice when our customers show their appreciation for us and in return, we make sure to keep them informed,” he said. “No one wants to be left in the dark – literally or figuratively!”
During the month of April, Georgia Power and other electric utilities in Georgia focused on celebrating and thanking utility workers across the state. The daily work done by line workers in Georgia’s communities is always recognized, but their work
has been especially pronounced over the past year, as many families continue to work and learn at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Utility crews and personnel respond to outages and essential work in all conditions and following severe weather, including the recent spring thunderstorms and tornadoes across the state.
Throughout Georgia Power’s 2021 Thank a Lineman initiative, saying “thank you” is quick and easy by signing the digital card at www.GeorgiaPower.com/ThankALineman.
Additionally, Georgians can celebrate and engage through social media by using and following #ThankALineman and visiting Georgia Power’s Facebook (www.Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (@GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (@ga_power) pages.
