CEO’s Message – April 2025
Thank a Lineworker
April is Lineworker Appreciation Month. This is a good reminder for us to appreciate the hard workers we all depend on to keep the lights on and our economy powered up. Why is this profession so deserving of recognition? The answer lies in the unique combination of intelligence and grit required to do the job.
Becoming a lineworker is no small feat. Lineworkers must spend a lot of time and effort becoming both technically and mechanically competent. Strong competence is needed to do the complex work of building, operating, and maintaining an electric distribution system. In fact, Union Rural Electric Cooperative’s (URE) apprenticeship program for lineworkers takes at least 4 years of both classroom and on-the-job training to complete, and that’s only after we’ve vetted a candidate as a ground worker for several months. It’s not for the faint of heart.
Line work is also physically demanding and can be extremely hazardous. So, it’s important that our lineworkers not only can hoist a transformer, weighing several hundred pounds, to the top of a pole, or jack a new line up to tension, but that they have the intelligence and knowledge to deal with complex equipment and unusual situations, and above all to do it all safely.
Lineworkers are experts at a very difficult and sometimes demanding job. For them, the job doesn’t end when the workday does. They may need to rise to the occasion in the middle of the night, even during nasty weather. Tracking down a problem while the neighborhood is out of power can be very stressful, so it pays to know exactly what they’re doing, and how to relate to our members.
Though you may not think of lineworkers as fi rst responders, they are sometimes among the fi rst to the scene of an accident and must make the area safe and clear of any high-voltage risks. Their primary responsibility is to keep themselves and the public safe from harm whenever there is an accident involving power lines.
To maintain their high level of skill and preparedness, URE’s lineworkers receive top-tier training in collaboration with our sister cooperatives around the state, through the Central Ohio Lineworker Training program. This training has been an important part of our apprenticeship approach for many years. At COLT, both apprentices and seasoned lineworkers receive technical training and experience real-world scenarios, which build on their existing practical knowledge.
Their dedication extends far beyond their immediate service areas. Cooperative lineworkers in Ohio are often sent to other communities to help when disastrous weather strikes other co-op service territories. They’re always happy to jump in and help when they’re needed, whether it’s in Ohio or out of state. And, because they share the COLT training experience, they are able to work together effectively.
At URE, I’ve seen our lineworkers volunteer to speak with young students about electricity, perform safety demonstrations, travel overseas on humanitarian projects, provide skilled labor for non-profits, and generally contribute to the community in any way they can. Like all of our employees, they’re an important part of the community.
Join me this month in thanking our lineworkers for the work they do to make life a little brighter for the rest of us. Without them, our mission of providing safe, reliable, and affordable energy for our community would be impossible.