Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) line electricians Mark Lardo and Andrew Peot weren’t invited to a recent Green Bay wedding, but nobody complained they showed up after they provided the bride and groom with a special gift — power.
Lardo and Peot were nearing the end of their work day July 3 when they received a report about a power outage at Green Bay’s Pamperin Park. A lawnmower had accidentally struck a ground-mounted transformer, knocking out power to the park’s dance hall where a wedding reception was scheduled to take place that evening.
Kim Gruendemann, mother of the bride, was starting to warm up food for the reception when the power went out. She feared the outage would ruin the reception, as they didn’t have a way to keep food warm, refreshments cold and play music.
“We called up the park ranger and I said, ‘Well, our lights went out,’ and she said, ‘Oh, that’s what happened,’” Grundemann said. “So when she said that, I’m like, ‘Oh no. That is not good.’”
Quick actions save couple’s celebration
When Lardo and Peot arrived, they were greeted by an anxious group of people hoping for a way to prevent the reception from being ruined. The lineworkers saw that the transformer had been knocked off its concrete base before finding a damaged cable inside of it.
Thinking quickly, Lardo and Peot determined they could isolate the damaged cable and re-route power to restore electricity to the dance hall. They completed their work before the wedding party and most of the guests arrived. With the lights back on, the newly married couple were able to host the reception and celebrate with family and friends.
Committed to exceptional service in every situation
Though the reception was less than an hour from starting, Gruendemann couldn’t help but take a minute to thank Lardo and Peot. She stopped and took a photo with the duo before rushing back inside to finish setting up. Their efforts seemed to be extraordinary, but Lardo knows it was another example of their commitment to the customers they serve.
“Once we determined that we could restore the outage fairly quickly, once we had it back on, they came out and they were excited,” Lardo said. “It makes you feel good, but at the end of the day, we’re just doing our job.”
The bride and groom didn’t know about the nervous moments before their reception until Gruendemann shared the story the next day. While she thanked Lardo and Peot in person, Gruendemann also shared her appreciation for their efforts in a message on social media.
“Our day looked a little different than expected, but thank goodness for WPS and the crew that restored the power just in time! Thank you, thank you!” Gruendeman said.