From lifesaving medical equipment to the modern conveniences we take for granted, the electricity we use every day is brought to us by America’s lineworkers. As the backbone of the electric industry, these essential workers are devoted to keeping the power flowing. MidSouth Electric Cooperative lineworkers are no different, often working long hours to install, maintain and repair all necessary equipment on the grid.
These dedicated employees are responsible for the upkeep of more than 3,200 miles of high-voltage wire and 38,000-plus meters. There isn’t a moment these professionals sit idly by, as they complete an average of 43 installations weekly and respond to more than 20 callouts in the same amount of time.
Work performed by these brave experts stretches from 6 feet beneath the ground to 45 feet overhead, with many obstacles in between. Operating underground requires precise knowledge of preexisting utilities and attention to detail. High-risk tasks regularly performed by MidSouth EC lineworkers, while suspended midair include handling live power lines, flying debris and even snakes! Combining knowledge and physical ability, these highly trained individuals are required to maintain laser focus to avoid electrocution.
Lineworkers wiring an electric pole.
Lineworkers help establish electric infrastructure in Haiti.
No situation halts the response of our lineworkers when disaster strikes. MidSouth EC line crews have courageously responded to outages during the most extreme weather countless times, leaving their own families and risking their lives to ensure the rest of our homes and businesses have power. This answer to the call of duty is not limited to MidSouth EC’s service territory, but spreads beyond our borders to other co-ops around the world. Clayten Owens, electric operations supervisor, recalls trips to Haiti after the country’s 2010 earthquake, to the jungles of Bolivia to build electric infrastructure and recently, to help our North Texas neighbors following the February ice storm.
“Everybody looks forward to helping other co-ops,” Owens says. “We get to experience other cultures, as well as learn new techniques of the trade from what our fellow co-ops are doing.”
Licensed journeyman lineworkers begin their education as groundmen, participating in a four-and-a-half-year apprenticeship program requiring two weeks of additional classroom training each year. Upon completion of all educational requirements, apprentices are tested by exam through the U.S. Department of Labor. Lineworker education never ends, however, with frequent safety trainings conducted each year.
April 10 marks Lineworker Appreciation Day, a time for us to celebrate these hardworking individuals. If you see any MidSouth EC lineworkers in your area, be sure to thank them for their dedication and service to our community. Without their expertise, we would all be in the dark!
