By Ken Schlimgen

Many of you know your electric cooperative employees. It is very likely that you see them at community events, attending church or shopping in local stores. Your cooperative has 43 employees that cover a variety of skill sets.

We have employees that manage our inventory, complete accounting tasks, provide communications, manage IT, and employees who service your electrical wiring, HVAC equipment and appliances.

My guess is that the most well-known position at your cooperative is that of a lineworker. Lineworkers are so well-known that we celebrate them during Lineworker Appreciation Day, which is April 11.

There is no doubt that a lineworker’s job can be tough. It’s an essential job that must be done, at times, in challenging conditions. The work can be physically challenging. Lineworkers must be committed to their career, because it’s not just a job, it’s a lifestyle. The long hours and ever-present danger can truly take a toll. Lineworkers are always on call, they often work non-traditional hours and they work outdoors in all kinds of weather. While the job does not require a four-year college degree, it does require dedication, advanced technical skills and years of hands-on
training in the field.

Did you know that becoming a journeyman lineworker takes more than 7,000 hours of training, or about four years? That’s because working with high-voltage equipment requires specialized skills, experience and an ongoing mental toughness. Shortcuts are not an option, and there is no room for error in this line of work.

Despite the many challenges, lineworkers are committed to powering our cooperative. During severe weather events that bring major power outages, lineworkers are among the first ones called. They must be ready to leave the comfort of their home and families unexpectedly. That’s why the lineworker’s family is also an important part of our cooperative family. They understand the importance of the job to the community.

Nationwide, there are approximately 120,000 electric lineworkers. Central Electric has 19 lineworkers and a great support staff that are responsible for keeping power flowing 24/7, 365 days a year. To do this, they maintain 4,476 miles of power lines across 4,500 square miles in eight counties. In addition to the highly visible tasks lineworkers perform, their job today goes far beyond climbing utility poles to repair a wire.

Today’s lineworkers are information experts who can pinpoint power outages from miles away. Line crews now use laptops, tablets and other technologies to map outages, survey damage, track inventory, keep records and troubleshoot problems. Being a lineworker may not seem like a glamorous job, but it is absolutely essential to the life of our community. Without the exceptional dedication and commitment of these hardworking men and women, and the employees who support them, we simply would not have the reliable electricity that we need for everyday life.

So, the next time you see one of your cooperative employees, please thank them for the work they do to keep power flowing, regardless of the time of day or weather conditions. After all, they are the power behind your power.

Until next month, be safe!