When you turn the lights on as you enter a room or make your morning coffee, you are likely using power. How that power gets from generation to your home or business is a complex process but behind that operation is a robust team of Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) power plant employees “keeping the lights on.”

Over half of the employees that make up the I&M team work in power plants. Power Plant Worker Appreciation Day serves as a time to recognize the critical work our team does to power the lives of our customers. Celebrated Friday, September 5, this annual observance aligns with the nation’s historic activation of the first ever power plant in New York in September 1882. 

“As we highlight this observance today, it is also important that we recognize these employees for their dedication to service throughout the year,” said Steve Baker, I&M president and chief operating officer. “We are grateful for their continued focus on safety in their daily work as well as their overall efforts to ensure the delivery of reliable power to our customers.”

I&M serves over 617,000 customers throughout its Indiana and Michigan territories – and their energy needs are evolving. To support this growing demand, we rely on a diverse mix of resources, including hydroelectric plants; wind generation, five solar plants; the Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, Mich. and the Rockport Coal Plant in Spencer County, Ind., to provide reliable power to customers. This includes an emphasis on renewable generation, which in 2024 made up over 86% of energy I&M generated. 

Also see: Diverse Energy Mix Powering Our Communities

“Our team is proud of the work we do each day, knowing the benefit it has on our customers to live their daily lives comfortably at home or be able to fulfill operations at work,” said Rob Beller, Rockport Plant Manager. “To serve our customers through the work we do has great meaning, and we are honored to show up each day to safely accomplish that.”

I&M honors its power plant teams not only for their work to serve our customers with reliable service, but also for their tireless dedication every single day.