FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 

CONTACT: Dana Whyte, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, [email protected]

Great Lakes Energy, Presque Isle Electric & Gas recognize upcoming National Lineman Appreciation Day

Co-ops restore power to vast majority of members, continue to make progress to bring all members back online

BOYNE CITY and ONAWAY, Mich. – As National Lineman Appreciation Day approaches on Friday, April 18, Great Lakes Energy (GLE) and Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-Op (PIE&G) are recognizing the hard work and dedication of linemen and crew members across Northern Michigan who have been working day and night to restore power and internet following the recent catastrophic ice storm.

“Linemen and crew members are the backbone of this unprecedented effort to restore power to Northern Michigan, and our success throughout this catastrophic event would not be possible without them,” said Shaun Lamp, president & CEO of GLE. “Crew members have been working day and night and have answered the call to keep working until all members are restored. We are deeply appreciative of their hard work and grit and thank them for their dedication to helping people in need.”

As of Wednesday, GLE reported that 99.6% of its members now have power and PIE&G reported that 94% of its members are now back online. So far, it’s estimated the storm caused more than $175 million in damage, according to estimates by the co-ops as they now move into the recovery and investigation phase.

GLE restoration progress as of Wednesday, April 16: 

  • 99.6% of GLE members now have power (625 members restored on Tuesday) 
  • 86% of all Truestreamers have internet service 
  • replaced more than 3,115 total poles since March 31 
  • restored 4,278 line miles impacted   
  • more than 700 vehicles and equipment still in use 
  • coordinated more than 1,000 personnel in the field to restore power and internet on Monday

“We are truly thankful for the difficult, dangerous and important work done by linemen in Northern Michigan and across the country who have stepped up, made sacrifices and helped restore power to our members,” said Allan Berg, PIE&G CEO. “We will continue working until all members are back online then we will shift to further recovery efforts. I urge everyone to take the time to thank our amazing linemen for their determination and dedication.”

PIE&G restoration progress as of Wednesday, April 16: 

  • 94% of PIE&G members now have power (32,958 members restored so far) 
  • This is significant because PIE&G’s entire network was down at the beginning of the storm, the first time in history this has happened 
  • 67% of PIE&G members now have internet service restored 
  • replaced 1,520 broken poles  
  • coordinated 788 vehicles and equipment 
  • coordinated 379 crews and 1,359 personnel in the field to restore power 

Additionally, the co-ops urge residents to leave debris from the storm where it is, as they will work to clean it up. 

Visit gtlakes.com/power-outages and pieg.com/spring-2025-storm-updates for updates. 

 

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