Repairing storm-damaged power lines is difficult, dangerous work

I wonder if those who criticize BGE for the way it responded to the storm-related power outages, particularly politicians like Gov.Martin O'Malley, have ever done the job themselves ("PSC pressed over outages," July 11)? I've been there, done that, and until you have tried it yourself, how about cutting the linemen a little slack?

Rolling up on a huge, downed maple tree with 2,400-volt wires tangled in the branches is not something you want to jump right into. Doing it in the middle of a rain storm doesn't make it any easier. What these folks have to do is very difficult, and they absolutely have to follow safety procedures if they have any plans about going home at the end of a very long shift.

If the politicians are so concerned, how about them passing some legislation requiring home owners to keep their trees trimmed so they don't grow over and around the power lines? The same people who complain about how BGE trims trees around lines are the one complaining the loudest when lines are downed by tree limbs falling on them.

Personally I went out to see if I could offer the crews in my neighborhood some cold drinks and to thank them. The group I met were from Pennsylvania and had worked some very long hours to restore power as soon as possible.

Patrick M. Lynch, Glen Burnie