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Utility Business:
Trump Administration Unveils $70-90 Billion AI and Energy Initiative Tech giants like Microsoft and Google are investing in nuclear and renewable energy to support data center expansion, while private equity firms like Blackstone are redeveloping steel mills into data centers. https://tdworld.com/55303652
GE Vernova Adds to Pennsylvania Switchgear Plant Plans
The company is preparing to hire 250 workers in addition to the 180 announced early this year. https://tdworld.com/55303615
Electric Utility Operations:
U.S. Electric Companies Projected to Invest More Than $1.1 Trillion Over the Next Five Years
EEI’s member electric companies invested a record $178.2 billion in 2024 alone to power America’s economic and energy security. https://tdworld. com/55305620
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Turning the Heat into Hope: Utilities Rebuild Smarter After a Year of Wildfire Challenges
As we gear up for T&D World Live 2025, I’ve been reflecting on this past year and how much has unfolded across our industry during the winter, spring, and summer. Back in January, I was sitting in the opening session of IEEE PES Grid Edge in San Diego, listening to San Diego Gas & Electric CEO Caroline Winn discuss California’s wildfire challenges and utility response — even as the Eaton and Palisades fires were burning. LADWP and SCE were directly affected, while SDG&E and PG&E initiated public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) to prevent high winds from damaging equipment and sparking additional fires in the dry conditions.
The Eaton Fire alone caused major outages for SCE — about 414,000 customers were without power on Jan. 7, and another 454,000 were under a PSPS watch at the time. LADWP had more than 28,000 customers impacted. PG&E provided mutual assistance, with its Safety and Infrastructure Protection Teams clearing brush and applying fire retardant to poles.
As I’ve said before, disasters like this tend to put utilities in the spotlight — sometimes with plenty of criticism to go around. But T&D World isn’t about finger-pointing. We know utilities adapt, learn, and rebuild. Remember the “Build Back Better” phrase? It gained prominence after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and was later used by President Biden as a theme for his campaign and administration. Over the years, we’ve seen many chances for utilities to “Build Back Better,” and this month we’re featuring one of those stories.
Rebuilding Stronger
Our Field Editor, Amy Fischbach, reports on SCE’s massive rebuild after the Eaton Fire. In communities like Altadena and Malibu, that work has meant replacing damaged circuits, restoring substations, and accelerating plans to underground more than 150 miles of power lines in high fire risk areas.
SCE is also expanding covered conductor installations, creating Community Resiliency Zones, and adding automation to detect and repair outages faster. Backed by a $6.2 billion three-year Wildfire Mitigation Plan, the utility is blending technology, community partnerships, and streamlined permitting to speed progress — sometimes cutting timelines from years to months. While the full rebuild will take time, SCE is committed to making the grid not just operational again, but stronger and more resilient.
Tech-Driven Safety
Speaking of wildfire mitigation, we’re also featuring a story from Public Service Co. of New Mexico (PNM), thanks to Technical Editor Gene Wolf’s connections — Gene retired from PNM a few years ago. Gathen Garcia and Chris Carpenter explain how PNM is using advanced GIS-based dashboards with machine learning to give real-time insight into weather threats, grid conditions, and customer impacts during PSPS events. This technology enables faster coordination, prioritizes vulnerable customers, and replaces slow, manual processes with instant situational awareness. It’s already cutting restoration times, reducing redundant fieldwork, and improving safety.
With plans to integrate AI and push alerts to crews in the field, PNM is transforming PSPS from a last-resort disruption into a proactive, data-driven safety tool — a great example of technology in action for the utility sector.
Which brings us back to T&D World Live 2025. This year’s conference will be held Sept. 23–25 at the Renaissance PhoenixGlendale, and the timing couldn’t be better. We need more than ever to come together, cut through the noise in consumer media, and have honest, informed discussions — not just on wildfire mitigation, but on the other big challenges and opportunities facing our industry. That’s why we launched T&D World Live four years ago: to provide a live forum that reflects what T&D World magazine has done for 75 years — give utilities a place to share stories, lessons, and best practices with each other.
This year’s program is one of the most utility-led I’ve seen in a long time. I’m especially looking forward to sessions on delivering affordability in a changing energy landscape, grid investment insights from Georgia Power, utility communications on pLTE and the Utility Network, and a panel on how current energy policy is affecting customers. With utility leaders from across the country, it’s an opportunity to tackle our toughest issues, highlight positive trends, and strengthen our professional community. The venue makes it easy to connect, with networking over breakfasts, lunches, and Q&A sessions after each presentation.
If you’re attending, please stop by the T&D World booth to say hello and meet our editors.
UTILITY ANALYTICS
Blackouts are Complicated
Have you been following the Iberian Peninsula blackout that impacted the power grid in Spain and Portugal? The blackout took place on April 28, 2025, when a large portion of the peninsula’s power delivery system went offline for 10-plus hours. In the days that followed, there was a lot of speculation concerning its cause. Baseless reports surfaced listing everything from sabotage to cyber-attacks. There were also assertions of too much renewable generation on the grid. Typically, blackouts are rarely caused by a single issue, but that has never stopped the rumor mill.
It’s not usual for power grid problems to start out a minor hiccup that escalates into more complicated predicaments. I remember taking a power system analysis class in graduate school. The prof provided us with blocks of subroutines that we had to combine to produce a computer model for a virtual power system. Once it was operational, he supplied scenarios that required adjustments to our power system’s parameters while the grid operated. It was astonishing how easy it was to unintentionally destabilize the model by tweaking a seemingly minor variable.
Who Knew
Normally that simple adjustment that should not have affected anything suddenly produced an unbalanced power system. When accepted countermeasures were applied, they had the opposite effect. They took us further down the rabbit hole. Amazingly, the professor was always there when this happened. He asked questions that no one could answer. He set us up! Our assignment: answer those questions. Determine what will prevent future occurrences. It was an amazing learning experience and provided firsthand experience, seeing how sensitive a dynamic power system can be, without harming anything.
Getting back to the Iberian Peninsula blackout, the preliminary findings were published in mid-June. One came from the Spanish government, and another came from the grid operator,
Red Eléctrica de España. These reports provided a great deal of information and are available online for anyone wishing more details. But for our discussion let’s keep it simple. First, both reports said there had been no attacks. Both also agreed that the amount of renewable generation was not a factor either.
Stress Counts
The report said that the power grid had been stressed for several days prior to the outage. There had been unusual voltage surges and frequency oscillations on the grid. The operators followed normal procedures to stabilize those conditions, but that led to other problems. Some of the fossilfueled power plants failed to provide the reactive power they contracted to supply. Other fossil-fuel plant’s had problems with malfunctioning automatic voltage control systems. That led them to prematurely trip offline, which led to cascading loss of other units.
The lost generation capacity reached enough gigawatts that the frequency reached the critical point of 48 Hertz, resulting in the interconnections between the Iberian Peninsula’s power grid and the French power grid opening to protect the EU’s grid. This sequence of events will continue to be studied for years. It’s going to be extremely interesting when final reports become available, and it’s a good bet this event is going to provide operational insights.
What’s Next
These preliminary findings included many points to ponder for those of us operating and maintaining the power delivery systems. They discussed the need for grid modernization, more energy storage, and additional power electronics to name a few improvements. If you remember back a few months ago, “Charging Ahead” discussed ASCE’s (American Society of Civil Engineers) 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. The energy sector dropped to a D+ for its overall rating, which is going in the wrong direction for a society so dependent on a reliable source of electricity.
Since the ASCE report card came out, the task of modernizing our power grid’s infrastructure suffered some major setbacks in the form of government funding cancellations the industry had expected. Interestingly, there’s a push by DOE to extend the operational period for our aging coal-fired plants beyond their retirement dates due to growing power demands.
Google’s “AI Overviews” places the average lifespan of a thermal power plant at 30 years. It found that average age of the coal-fired power plants to be retired at about 54 years of age. It couldn’t determine the average age of coal-fired plants on the Iberian Peninsula, but said data suggests they are likely nearing or exceeding 40 years of operation. Perhaps there’s one lesson to be learned from the Iberian Peninsula blackout. Aging coal plants need to be retired for a good reason – obsolescence!
Next-gen technologies are providing real-time understanding to high-risk situations.
Vegetation management is at a crossroads. Recent podcasts and webinars have been covering the evolution taking place with utility vegetation management (UVM). Technological developments are making UVM relevant for today’s power delivery system. Climate change is impacting the vegetation that the power grid’s rightsof-way (ROWs) cut through and around. It’s a dynamic environment that changes constantly, making a nimble footed UVM platform a must-have for utilities.
All things considered, the vegetation managers, their staffs, and contractors have been accomplishing vegetation control methods beyond anything that can be expected. They have been getting the maximum performance levels from the tools available, but it’s time to shift the approach. Keeping up with the growing list of vegetation-related risks to the power grid requires an interactive UVM. Traditionally vegetation management was a labor-intensive process that relied on clipboards, paper maps, and physical
surveys of the ROWs, and still does for so many utilities.
These conventional tactics fall short in the areas of cost-effectiveness and efficiency, but that’s why technologies progress. Those old-school systems were too dependent on human interactions. Twenty-first century UVM platforms, however, are proactive and they’re more adaptable, taking advantage of satellite imagery, GPS, ultrasensitive LiDAR, etc. features. There has been some pushback because it uses artificial intelligence (AI), but that makes it flexible and userfriendly, and AI does the heavy lifting with data-driven analytics.
Navigating Risks
In simpler terms, AI’s data analytics have the ability to process the massive amounts of big-data, converting it into usable information and doing it autonomously. Another critical feature that AI brings to UVM systems is its ability to recognize patterns in that big-data and make predictions. That improves UVM’s risk-based
assessment of encroaching vegetation at or near the ROWs. AI can differentiate between harmless vegetation and vegetation that is a probable hazard. It also addresses factors like growing budget constraints, increased state and federal regulatory oversight, and a shortage of skilled contractors.
That is why these AI-driven UVM systems are turning around the pushback into growing support in our conservative industry. There’s no simple solutions for managing vegetation in our ever changing environment and there never has been, but AI-driven UVM packages offer the best answers available. They improve risk assessments, increase safety, and maximize efficiencies, but their ability to quickly react to developing situations in real-time is invaluable to utilities. AI-driven UVM functions are the most flexible tool available to assure the meter keeps spinning and the power stays on. After all, controlling vegetation is one of the most significant O&M expenses for utilities and grid operators.
Experts place the annual cost of vegetation management between US$6 billion to US$8 billion for U.S. electric utilities. One publication indicated that utilities in California are spending collectively over US$1billion annually in an effort to control vegetation. These figures prove no one is ignoring a problem, but there is pressure to maximize results and not exceed those budgets, which implies improving risk-based UVM strategies.
It’s a powerful approach to the critical task of managing vegetation. AI, when integrated into UVM, moves it from being a reactive catchup process to a proactive activity. Moreover, cutting-edge platforms can assess a utility’s entire transmission system and distribution network constantly. AI-driven UVM systems supply real-time precision that identifies specific areas needing immediate action, so re -
Restoring power after a storm. Courtesy of Gene Wolf
source allocation is focused on critical locations first rather than the calendar.
Accelerating Innovation
Humans need assistance with the influx of big-data that floods today’s vegetation management team. That’s where AI-driven UVM makes sense. This technology makes everyday operation simpler than any of the older versions. Additionally, they access multifaceted databases seamlessly. By utilizing intuitive dashboards AI can take advantage of data visualization tools, making it easier for the users to adapt to real-time updates of the environment around them. This would be an excellent time to talk with an expert and get some firsthand knowledge about these advanced UVMs. “Charging Ahead” called on Hitachi Energy’s Director, Product Management, Work and Management Solutions, Jeff Pauska.
“When an outage happens, a lot of effort is spent identifying what tree was the cause of the outage and why was it missed by the utility’s vegetation management process. It’s an impossible task given the impact of climate change on the severity of extreme weather events,” Pauska said. “Healthy trees, not sick or damaged trees, are breaking in sustained winds above 70 miles per hour. They become missiles hitting the infrastructure like darts hitting a dartboard. Trying to determine which tree is the trouble tree is wasting time and resources because they’re undetectable with today’s technology.”
Pauska continued, “So what about using advanced technologies like AI to identify that trouble tree? They can’t do it either. AI doesn’t have the data input yet to be smart enough to get to that exact tree before the event. How do we get the intelligence to respond faster to reduce the storm’s impact by preventing outages? Maybe we’re looking at the wrong solution. The emphasis has been on reducing SAIDI (system average interruption duration index), which is critical, but in an environment where outages from storms and wildfires continue to increase, we need to shift our focus somewhat.”
He clarified, “It’s time for a more holistic view of the vegetation environment, which includes methods to improve CAIDI (customer average interruption
duration index) too. It’s a well-known fact that the most common cause of power outages is vegetation-related impacts. They account for 20% of all incidents in the U.S. and present substantial operational challenges for all power line operators. Consider the customer who has lifethreatening health issues or the business with perishable assets, or other critical needs. The only thing these customers are interested in is having electricity ser-
vice restored as quickly as possible and Hitachi’s Vegetation Manager improves both SAIDI and CAIDI metrics.”
Continuing, Pauska said, “Hitachi Energy’s application is a closed-loop digital vegetation management system. It uses a combination of AI, advanced satellite imagery, real-time weather forecasts, and other features to deliver predictive insights continuously. The system monitors large geospatial datasets nonstop,
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which allows for the identification and mitigation of vegetation interferences and risks uninterruptedly. In addition, last year two AI models from two different suppliers accurately predicted the exact path that a hurricane took. This AI technology development represents a breakthrough that’s momentous. It will give utilities the time they need to prepare and have personnel at staging points that gives fast access to impacted areas when it’s deployed. This feature will reduce downtimes along with improving service reliability and it addresses both SAIDI and CAIDI concerns.”
Pauska explained, “In addition, Hitachi Energy’s UVM system accurately predicts potential threats before they cause issues or outages, but what about the public safety power shutoffs (PSPS)? The vegetation management system also combines advanced imagery features with AI-driven risk assessment. This enables the identification and prioritizes areas with the highest risk of vegetationrelated incidents from weather events and wildfires. It takes PSPS actions to a
new level where the PSPS be tailored to specific locations rather than the wide areas commonly used today. PSPS areas can be monitored for revisions and cancellations when conditions warrant such action. Utilities have to reduce risks and at the same time be cost-effective with what they are doing. Being able to use the latest technological innovations like predictive analysis are only a few of the techniques available through AI-driven vegetation management systems.”
Enhancing Resiliency
This holistic approach to AI-driven UVM systems presents a tremendous advantage with its autonomous features. It’s a total departure from previous vegetation management platforms because this next generation doesn’t rely on a single method approach to the multi-challenges of managing vegetation. It is a preemptive scheme that takes advantage of being able to incorporate its data-driven awareness into decision making. AI-driven UVM tools were made for today’s fast changing environment like identifying vegeta-
tion types and predicting growth patterns that indicate possible hazards before they become dangerous.
In addition, AI-driven UVM automates many of those tasks that traditionally required somebody monitoring and making decisions with limited data. Those resources can now be allocated to duties better suited to their skillsets. AI reduces risk, which in turn expands resiliency by combining enhanced awareness for predictive maintenance. By investing in technologies, utilities are shifting to more comprehensive management practices, which offers more protection for the grid’s critical infrastructure.
Utilities spend a great deal of money on managing vegetation, but despite this, vegetation is still one of the leading causes of power outages, and why not? Worldwide, growing seasons have increased significantly. Today, 100-year storms have become commonplace. Vegetation has the upper hand, but technologies like AI-driven UVM can shift the balance. It’s going to be electrifying watching that happen!
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DOE Cancels $4.9 Billion Loan Guarantee for HVDC Transmission Line
The Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Loan Programs Office (LPO) has terminated its conditional commitment for the Grain Belt Express Phase 1 project, a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line intended to connect wind and solar capacity across Kansas and Missouri. The conditional commitment would have provided a loan guarantee of up to $4.9 billion dollars.
After a thorough review of the project’s financials, DOE stated that it found that the conditions necessary to issue the guarantee are unlikely to be met and it is not critical for the federal government to have a role in supporting this project.
“To ensure more responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources, DOE has terminated its conditional commitment,” the DOE release said.
DOE is conducting a review of every applicant and borrower – including the nearly $100 billion in closed loans and conditional commitments LPO made between Election Day 2024 to Inauguration Day 2025.
The Grain Belt Express transmission line, meant to provide 5,000 MW of additional energy delivery capacity, was to go through Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. The line secured the last of its approvals in October 2023, when the Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved its request to amend its existing Certificate of Convenience and Necessity.
“The Grain Belt Transmission Line was proposed in 2010. It took 14 years to get landowners to agree to a path and secure the contracts to build the line,” wrote industry veteran Doug Houseman, a regular contributor to T&D World, on Linkedin. “Fourteen years that were spent stitching the rights-of-way together, getting state commission approval, which were needed get zoning changes.”
There has been a flurry of activity over the past couple of weeks as the DOE reviewed the project. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley tweeted on July 10 that he had a “great conversation” with Donald Trump and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “Wright said he will be putting a stop to the Grain Belt Express green scam. It’s costing taxpayers billions.”
Grain Belt Express then issued a
statement in reponse: “This is bizarre. Senator Hawley is attempting to kill the largest transmission infrastructure project in U.S. history which is already approved by four states and is aligned with the President’s energy dominance agenda. Senator Hawley is trying to deprive Americans billions of dollars in energy cost savings, thousands of jobs, grid reliability and national security, all in an era of exponentially growing demand.”
The Grain Belt Express also sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris
Wright on July 11, urging President Trump to support the transmission project, emphasizing its vital role in strengthening U.S. energy security, grid reliability, and affordability for millions of Americans.
The 800-mile project, backed by a diverse coalition and extensive regulatory approval, would connect four major grid regions, deliver power equivalent to four nuclear plants, and generate significant economic benefits, including cost savings for Missouri municipalities and major U.S. manufacturing jobs. The letter criticized “politically motivated opposition” from Senator Josh Hawley and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, calling their efforts to derail the project through legal and media attacks unfounded and harmful to national interests.
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MPSC Approves Construction for Two Electric Transmission Lines
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) has approved the application for construction of two electric transmission lines in southern Michigan, granting Michigan Electric Transmission Co. (METC) the certificates of public convenience and necessity for the projects meant to strengthen Michigan’s power grid, reduce grid congestion and allow for more integration of renewable energy into the grid (Case No. U-21471).
METC required approval of two certificates of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for new electric transmission lines in the central and southern Lower Peninsula. While one is the Nelson Road to Oneida project, a 39-mile, 345 kV double circuit line between substations in Gratiot and Eaton counties, the other is the Helix to Hiple project, a 55-mile, 345 kV double circuit line between substations in Calhoun and Branch counties.
METC also needed approval for the construction of a new Helix Substation as part of the project. The projects were proposed as part of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s (MISO) Long-Range Transmission Planning initiative, with the MISO Board of Directors approving the portfolio of projects including these projects in July 2022.
Under Public Act 30 of 1995, the MPSC has authority for siting of transmission lines in Michigan that are more than 5 miles long
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and that transfer 345 kV or more electricity. In Act 30 cases, which are contested, the Commission is required to issue an order within a year of an application.
METC submitted one proposed route and one alternate route for each line, as required by statute. The MPSC has approved the Nelson to Oneida line to be built on METC’s alternate route and the Helix to Hiple line to be built on METC’s proposed route.
The Commission found that the alternate route was preferable as compared to the proposed route for the Nelson to Oneida line. For the Helix to Hiple line, the Commission found the proposed route reasonable.
The Commission found that both lines are required to ensure increased energy reliability, capacity, and renewable energy integration, and that the project will not present an unreasonable threat to public health and safety. The Commission found that, while the projects will include some environmental impairment, approval is permissible under the Michigan Environmental Protection Act, because there is no feasible and prudent alternative.
The Commission directed MPSC Staff to work with interested organizations and persons to develop voluntary filing guidelines for use by applicants pursuant to Act 30.
FERC Approves New Standards to Bolster Grid Reliability
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved a new set of reliability standards designed to ensure the stability of the U.S. electric grid as more wind and solar resources come online.
The standards, developed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), specifically target “inverter-based resources” (IBRs)—generation technologies such as solar and wind that rely on power electronics rather than traditional spinning machinery. These resources are playing an increasingly significant role in power generation but have raised concerns about their ability to respond to voltage and frequency disturbances on the grid.
“This is an important step toward ensuring that inverterbased resources support, rather than threaten, the reliability of the Bulk Power System,” said FERC Chairman Mark Christie. “I am appreciative of NERC’s hard work and application of their technical expertise in developing these necessary reliability standards.”
The new rules require IBRs to remain connected to the grid during such disturbances—a capability known as “ridethrough”—to prevent sudden losses of power that could destabilize the bulk electric system. Recent grid incidents have shown that without consistent ride-through performance, IBRs can unexpectedly drop offline, exacerbating reliability challenges.
FERC’s action follows its October 2023 Order No. 901, which directed NERC to create a comprehensive suite of IBR-focused standards over a three-year timeline. Thursday’s final rule adopts many of the provisions outlined in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued in December 2024. Historically, reliability standards were tailored to traditional synchronous generators—coal, gas, hydro, and nuclear facilities that operate with large spinning machines. In contrast, IBRs use inverters to convert direct current to alternating current and require different technical considerations to maintain reliability. The new rule will take effect 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register.
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National Grid Launches £8 Billion Transmission Partnership
National Grid has announced a new initiative aimed at streamlining the delivery of critical substation infrastructure across England and Wales. The Electricity Transmission Partnership (ETP), valued at approximately £8 billion, is intended to support the UK’s broader clean energy and grid modernization goals through a more
collaborative, long-term approach with the supply chain.
The ETP will cover construction and upgrades of around 130 substations over the course of National Grid’s current investment cycle, known as RIIO-T3, which spans through March 2031. The initiative aligns with National Grid’s proposal to invest up to
£35 billion into the electricity transmission system over this period.
Under the new model, selected suppliers are designated as regional delivery partners and awarded exclusive access to substation projects within their regions, based on ongoing performance and capacity to scale. National partners have also been selected to support projects that fall outside the defined regional scopes.
According to National Grid, the approach is designed to encourage greater certainty for suppliers, support workforce development, and strengthen domestic supply chain capabilities.
The following suppliers have been named as regional delivery partners:
• Balfour Beatty – North East region
• Morgan Sindall Infrastructure – North West region
• Murphy – South West (region one) and London & South East region
• M Group Energy – South West (region two)
• OTW – Central West region
In addition, Linxon and Burns & McDonnell have been appointed as national delivery partners to provide support beyond the regional scopes.
In July, an initial £1.3 billion worth of substation work was earmarked for future contract awards to these partners, with more to follow based on performance and evolving system needs.
The ETP complements existing supply chain initiatives led by National Grid, including the Great Grid Partnership and a new high-voltage direct current (HVDC) framework, all part of a broader strategy to improve delivery capacity and resilience across the energy infrastructure landscape. Looking ahead, National Grid stated that the ETP model may eventually be expanded to include other aspects of transmission network development, such as overhead lines and cable infrastructure.
For U.S. National Security, It’s Data Centers or Bust
The winner of the artificial intelligence (AI) race will depend on how quickly the U.S. can power up data centers, said utility executives, energy analysts and AI experts throughout the 2025 summer conference season.
“We’ve just scratched the surface of who is going to use AI,” said Maria Korsnick, president and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute. “Are we going to win the AI race? You have to because it’s a national security concern.”
Korsnick was one of four general session speakers discussing ways public power can prepare during June’s American Public Power Association (APPA) National Conference in New Orleans.
The conversation included: Scott Corwin, president and CEO of APPA; Travas Deal, CEO of Colorado Springs Utilities; Thomas Kent, president and CEO of Nebraska Public Power District; and Joanie Teofilo, president and CEO of The Energy Authority.
Their discussion supported a similar conversation in May during CLEANPOWER in Phoenix.
“AI for the military is going to be a game changer,” said retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Charles “Chuck” F. Wald.
The former deputy commander of U.S. European Command is an expert in counterterrorism, technology innovation and international energy security policy. Wald shared a stage with Chris
Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Co.; and Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association.
In war, Wald said, information superiority wins.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) agrees. President Trump’s fiscal year 2026 DOD budget request is the first in which the department has dedicated a separate budget line for autonomy and AI systems. The $13.4 billion line item includes the development, acquisition and integration of AI into the department’s defense systems and warfighting plans.
To win the AI race, experts said, the U.S. will need the right combination of new infrastructure and power generation that can support the massive load growth new data centers are expected to bring.
Grumet began his CLEANPOWER opening address with the problem statement of the summer: By 2040, electricity demand is expected to increase 50%.
Paul Saferstein, managing partner and senior advisor at Ascend Analytics, explained how hyperscalers — Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon and Oracle — are driving load growth. Data centers used to be 5 to 10 MW, but now 100 MW is the new standard, he said. By 2035, data center demand will redefine the grid. — Kristen Wright
Flexible Copper-Clad Steel (CCS) Grounding
Empowering Utilities,
By NIKKI CHANDLER, Editorial Director
This year, T&D World Live 2025 comes to the Phoenix area for a high-energy meeting of minds on the future of the electric grid. As one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States, the Southwest U.S. faces increasing demand for reliable, efficient, and sustainable power. Arizona utilities are tackling these challenges head-on, from integrating large-scale solar and battery storage to implementing advanced grid management systems.
Electric utilities are facing several pressing challenges that are reshaping the industry, and this year’s technical program is utility-led and vetted by T&D World Live’s advisory board. We launched T&D World Live four years ago to provide a live forum that mirrored what T&D World magazine has been doing for 75 years — offering a place where utilities could share their stories, concerns, lessons and best practices with one another.
As we have mentioned many times before, utilities — unlike nearly all other industries — don’t compete with one another, swinging open the door of opportunity for knowledge sharing and collaboration. From Sept. 23–25, 2025, at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa, utility professionals can share experiences and learn from each other at the T&D World Live Conference and Exposition.
Host Utility
Host utilities, as well as the advisory board, play a pivotal role in the event by sharing their expertise, showcasing innovative solutions, and facilitating crucial conversations on grid transformation. Their involvement underscores the importance of collaboration in navigating the complexities of the evolving energy landscape.
SPONSORS
Safegrid USA
South Carolina Department of Commerce, SC NEXUS
Transforming Tomorrow.
This year, Arizona Public Service (APS) will serve as the official Host Utility for the event. As Arizona’s largest electric utility, APS delivers safe, reliable, and clean energy to over 1.3 million customers — while leading the way in grid modernization, renewable integration, and wildfire mitigation.
With APS as the host utility, attendees can expect:
• Local leadership and insights from a utility at the forefront of the energy transition.
• Deep industry knowledge brought directly into the conference program.
• Regional relevance with sessions, case studies, and networking rooted in the Southwest’s energy challenges and solutions.
Large-scale solar projects: APS is building the Ironwood Solar Plant (nearly 170 MW) and has contracted for another 2,480 MW of solar resources through power purchase agreements. Integrating battery storage: APS is adding 150 MW of battery energy storage to the Agave Solar Plant to provide power after sunset and has secured more energy storage through power purchase agreements capable of capturing 3,460 MW of energy. Transmission line upgrades: This includes upgrading a critical underground transmission line in central Phoenix, and constructing new lines like the Cotton Transmission Corridor (53
APS is engaged in several significant projects to expand energy infrastructure, transitioning to cleaner energy sources, and modernizing the grid to enhance reliability and meet increasing demand. Some of their biggest projects and ongoing initiatives include:
miles of 230kV and 500kV) and the Westwing 230kV Interconnection project.
Tony Tewelis, APS’s Vice President of Transmission and Distribution Operations, will keynote the second day of the conference; Charting the Course Through Change at Arizona Public Service. Tewelis is responsible for safe, reliable and efficient operation of the company’s energy delivery function, which includes planning, engineering, construction, operations and maintenance, of the transmission and distribution systems, as well as the customer-to-grid
SPEAKERS LIST
ANDREW ADLDOOST Director - Power Grid Operations Duke Energy
CHRISTOPHER ARNIERI Manager, Substation Design Engineering Eversource Energy
MIKE BEEHLER National Spokesperson Power Delivery Intelligence Initiative
LARRY BEKKEDAHL Senior Vice President, Strategy & Advanced Energy Delivery Portland General Electric
WAYNE BISHOP Vice President Quanta Technology
RICK BOLTON CEO Compass Energy Platform
LESLIE CARTER Strategic Advisor - Grid Resiliency Dominion Energy
BRIAN CHEN Vice President, Project & Field Engineering Southern California Edison
BILL CHIU Vice President - Engineering | Technology | Asset Strategy DTE Energy
JAMES CONLIN Director of Product Sharper Shape
JAIME DE LA REE Supervisor, Engineering Analytics & Modeling Dominion Energy
ANNA DILLÉ Director, US Field Operations
solutions team. He has considerable experience in advanced grid technologies, advanced operational platforms, and integration of renewables and distributed energy resources.
Conversations and Learning
By attending T&D World Live, utility professionals can learn from utility leaders as well as ask questions and discuss problems and solutions to the most pressing issues. The conference includes pre-conference workshops, general sessions, breakout sessions,
JOSH DILUCIANO Vice President of Energy Delivery Avista Corp
ROGER ELY Senior Engineer Southern Company-Georgia Power
JASON ERVIN Sr. VP - Telecommunications Lower Colorado River Authority
JUSTIN ETHEREDGE Partner Simple Thread
DON FINN Department Chair/Instructor Electric Utility Technology/Powerline Program Des Moines Area Community College
THOMAS FLANAGAN Principal Program Manager ComEd
MIKE FOLEY Administrator Cuyahoga County, CGE
JOSH FRANKLIN Head - AMER Central Power Water and CFE AWS
HOWARD GUGEL Senior Vice President, Regulatory Oversight NERC
MARK HARBAUGH VP of Project Mgmt and Construction National Grid
BOBBI HARRIS Executive Director Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA)
PowerUp lunches, and networking receptions.
The opening General Session on Tuesday will cover energy policy impacts on customers. In this panel, leaders from APS, PacifiCorp, and PGE compare the realities of evolving policy mandates and market signals. From offshore wind bans to fracking, EV incentives, and carbon commitments, panelists will discuss what matters most to customers.
On Thursday, a panel including Eversource, National Grid, Dominion and PG&E will share design practices, cost strategies,
community engagement, and system reliability outcomes from major undergrounding projects. This panel will highlight the technological innovations and policy justifications driving underground work from coast to coast.
Other topics that will be discussed in breakout sessions include substation monitoring, resilience plans, AI, workforce development, cybersecurity, communications, wildfire mitigation, data center impacts, dynamic line rating, and affordability.
The sessions include panel discussions, use cases, and formal
YEKATERINA MIJATOVIC Principal Data Society Data Society
TRENT MILLER Lead Engineer Duke Energy
JOHN MORRIS Sr. Vice President of Grid Operations The Mosaic Company
PAM O’NEAL Director, Control Center Xcel Energy
NICK RANCIS Senior Manager of Transformational Innovation National Grid Partners
NATHAN RICE Supervisor - ET Strategic Initiatives Dominion Energy
BOBBY SADDLER Sr Dir, Telecom Infrastructure & Growth Lower Colorado River Authority
JAYSON SHIAU Sr Engineer ComEd
STEPHEN SIMMONS Director, Trades and Crafts MidAmerican Energy Company
DAVID SMITH Business Development Manager Burns Engineering, Inc.
CORY STEWART Mgr, Field Engineering and Technical Services Ubicquia
CHRISTOPHER STROOP Senior Enterprise Technical Analyst SMUD
JACOB TETLOW EVP & COO Arizona Public Service Company
RACHEL WILLIAMS VP, Transmission Field Ops Georgia Power
FREDDIE WRIGHT Director, Grid Investment Program Georgia Power Co
presentations about the latest trends and cutting-edge technology. The schedule also includes ample networking opportunities for casual conversation with colleagues and peers, including the Power Up Lunch on Tuesday, which offers an opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss best practices and learn from your peers in a small group setting. You pick the topic and sit at a table with others who are interested in the same topic.
The conference content is extensive and can’t be adequately covered here, but session and speaker details about the general and breakout sessions are available on the event website at: https://events.tdworld. com/2025/conferenceprogram.
Technologies
In addition to all the great content, it’s important to note that T&D World Live also includes an exhibit hall that will showcase some of the latest and greatest new technologies and solutions from more than 30 exhibiting and sponsoring companies. The exhibition hall is designed to provide an ideal environment and plenty of time for attendees to network with other attendees, as well as these solution providers.
8/11/25 10:45 AM
EXHIBITOR’S LIST
All event activities will take place at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa. Details about the venue and hotels are available here: https://events.tdworld.com/2025/venue.
For full details and registration for T&D Live Conference and Exhibition 2025 visit: https://events.tdworld.com/2025/ registration.
Note: All event details are current as of press time and are subject to change. For a T&D World 20% reader discount, register at https://events.tdworld.com/2025/registration and enter code TDWREADER.
Southern California Edison is strengthening the grid in the areas impacted by the January wildfires.
By AMY FISCHBACH, Field Editor
The Southern California wildfires destroyed many homes and structures, damaged both electrical and public safety infrastructure and resulted in fatalities in January 2025.
Following the wildfires, Southern California Edison (SCE) is helping the impacted communities in its service territory to recover and build back a stronger grid.
“What happened during those wildfires was heartbreaking, and we remain with the communities that were impacted to help them to rebuild,” said Raj Roy, vice president of transmission, substations and operations for SCE. “The utility deeply appreciates the dedication and resilience of first responders, community partners and its crews, who have worked tirelessly to restore power and provide critical resources to those in need.”
For example, the wildfires inflicted severe damage to multiple distribution circuits and a substation in Altadena, California, and several distribution circuits in Malibu, California. Rebuilding the infrastructure in these impacted communities is similar to new construction and will require significant continued coordination to efficiently rebuild and restore service to customers, Roy said.
“While re-designing and constructing the grid is complex, and the timeline is dynamic, SCE is committed to working safely and expeditiously to restore electrical service, strengthen the grid and be a dedicated partner in rebuilding communities,” he said.
Steve Powell, the president and CEO of SCE, said SCE developed its three-year Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) with a layered defense strategy to help safeguard its communities against wildfire threats. He said the recent wildfires underscored the importance and urgency in advancing mitigations and using new tools to increase infrastructure resiliency and safety. Case in point: SCE plans to invest $6.2 billion over the next three years to achieve the goals set forth by the WMP.
“While wildfire risk can never be fully eliminated, we continue to harden the grid and invest in innovative approaches to get as close to zero as possible,” he said following SCE’s filing of its 2026-2028 WMP to California’s Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety.
Here’s a look at the progress made so far to rebuild infrastructure following the wildfires.
SCE is working to underground distribution power lines in the Altadena burn scar area.
Images courtesy of Southern California Edison.
Focusing on Safety and Community
When restoring power following the wildfires, SCE’s top concern was the safety of its customers, communities and team members. As such, the utility worked quickly during and after the storms to restore power to all those who could receive service safely within affected portions of SCE’s service area. The restoration process included assessing damage, reviewing the equipment and noting and resolving safety hazards.
Before re-energizing any lines, the crews inspected them completely to make sure they were safe and identified any damage and debris. In the areas impacted by the fires, SCE also has been working closely with federal, state and local officials to stay coordinated on the more immediate restoration efforts and longer-term planning for building back stronger.
SCE is also collaborating with community members, government and nonprofit and technology partners as part of the rebuild. The utility is part of LA County’s Recovery Organization, which coordinates parties involved in the rebuilding process and is opening a Community Support Center in Altadena to address customers’ needs and provide in-person support directly in the community it serves.
In addition, SCE has organized more than 50 listening sessions, including focus groups, community meetings and town halls. In the near future, the utility will continue to engage with community members to gather additional input and keep customers informed as it further refines and implements its plan.
Due to the potential for urban fire spread in Southern California coupled with the threat of extreme weather events, Public Power Safety Shutoffs (PSPS) remain a critical tool in SCE’s fight against wildfires. Over time, PSPS have shown that they can save lives, said Jill C. Anderson, executive vice president and chief operating officer for SCE.
“During the windstorm this past January, we identified nearly 90 potential ignition sources in the storm’s aftermath that were prevented because the lines were de-energized due to PSPS,” she said. “We continue to make investments in critical safety measures, such as covered conductor and fast-acting fuses that prevent potential ignitions across the service territory.”
Underground power lines can help reduce the risk of wildfires, reduce PSPS in certain cases and make the electrical system more reliable during extreme weather conditions by protecting it from high winds, vegetation and other hazards that could cause fires or power outages.
To minimize the hardship of PSPS events, improve safety and provide more customer support, the utility is setting up Resiliency Zones and Community Resource Centers. The Community Resiliency Zones are designated public spaces, like schools, grocery stores and other public spaces, which can be used as emergency shelters with more than 24 hours of backup power for critical needs, along with microgrid capabilities. These facilities will help customers to maintain essential services during outages. SCE plans to designate about three to five Community Resiliency Zones in the Eaton and Palisades fire burn areas. In addition, the utility has eight Resiliency Zones to support customers impacted by PSPS largely in rural areas.
BY THE NUMBERS
As of June 16, 2025, the rebuild project is currently underway. The following is an update on what has been done so far.
• About 10 miles of civil work is completed.
• 175 underground structures have been installed.
• 5 miles of cable has been installed.
• 65 miles are in permitting and construction.
• 58 miles are in the design phase.
Underground power lines can help reduce the risk of wildfires, reduce PSPS in certain cases and make the electrical system more reliable during extreme weather conditions by protecting it from high winds, vegetation and other hazards that could cause fires or power outages.
Undergrounding Power Lines
Within the communities impacted by the fires, SCE is pursuing plans to underground its distribution lines where it’s feasible and to coincide with the significant restoration efforts underway. The utility is assessing the long-term strengthening and rebuilding of the grid. It is also accelerating its existing targeted undergrounding plans, which it started evaluating very seriously immediately following the historic fire events.
“Underground systems and overhead covered conductors can help to reduce the risk of wildfires and increase reliability during high winds and storms by reducing the exposures of electrical infrastructure to extreme weather conditions,” Roy said. “We will continue to identify the highest risk power lines to underground.”
The extent of damage in the Altadena and Malibu areas makes rebuilding akin to that for new developments. New construction can make undergrounding more efficient compared to system upgrades in built environments.
Much of the undergrounding work in the Palisades Fire burn area is an acceleration of what was already planned. The utility’s current rebuilding plans reflect undergrounding about 153 circuit miles, which includes nearly all distribution power lines
are close to completing over a mile of undergrounding through an Altadena neighborhood.
in High Fire Risk Areas (HFRA) within the burn scars of the affected communities.
For example, in Altadena, SCE has identified approximately 63 circuit miles of undergrounding, including all 40 miles of distribution circuits in HFRA and 23 miles in non-HFRA. The utility may continue to evaluate additional circuit miles for underground construction in the future. SCE has already began undergrounding two circuit miles, which are expected to be complete in the coming months.
In Malibu, California, SCE is undergrounding about 90 miles in impacted areas in Palisades, and most of it is the acceleration of planned work before the fire. Crews have already began undergrounding about 20 circuit miles.
As the utility focuses on underground work, it continues to assess the situation and what hurdles need to be overcome, including customer-dependent items such as service drops, meter locations and meter panel configurations.
SCE is undergrounding power lines in HFRA beyond the Palisades and Eaton rebuild areas, targeting the HFRA especially where lines have not been replaced by covered conductor. The utility also considers whether the area has limited exit and entry points to communities, high burn frequency, high winds exceeding covered conductor PSPS thresholds, exceptionally high potential consequence with a chance of burning 10,000 acres within eight hours and operational feasibility.
Planning and Executing Undergrounding
The process of undergrounding consists of three main steps — design, permitting and easements and construction. First, engineers and planners determine if putting equipment underground is feasible. Aside from terrain challenges, the planners must work with other utilities and government agencies to outline existing underground obstacles such as storm drain, water and sewer and gas lines. This allows planners to create a design for where the equipment might fit.
Southern California Edison crews
Concrete vaults will house the underground power lines and serve as access points for maintenance.
TIPS FOR UNDERGROUNDING LINES IN HIGH FIRE RISK AREAS
In the electric utility industry, companies all share best practices, and when it came to rebuilding its system after the wildfires, SCE learned a lot from other electric companies. Here are some of the strategies from Raj Roy, vice president of transmission, substation and operations for SCE.
1. Conduct a detailed review of project plans at the very start of the process with cross-functional representation from engineering, design, permitting, environmental, operations and other key groups to minimize changes during the project execution life cycle.
2. Have proactive customer communications and early and regular coordination with agencies, particularly to understand things like potential work requirements, restrictions as well as opportunities to coordinate work, like utility undergrounding with agency repaving efforts.
In addition, the utility must obtain permits from county, state and environmental agencies before construction can start. Obtaining the necessary property rights, like easements, can be another hurdle. In some cases, without property owner permission, SCE may be unable to underground stretches of equipment servicing entire neighborhoods.
In Altadena and Malibu, SCE has fast-tracked undergrounding projects to meet expedited timelines.
Construction begins after the plans are complete and permits are granted. This includes potholing, vault setting, trenching, conduit installation and paving. The line crews then energize the system once all this work is complete.
While undergrounding the power lines, SCE is reassessing its current standards to discover more ways to be more efficient with its designs. The utility is also expanding its use of directional boring, a trenchless method of installing underground, and exploring alternatives to traditional undergrounding such as at-grade duct banks at ground-level distribution systems. By installing protected lines at ground level instead of traditional undergrounding practices, such as trenching into the ground, SCE’s crews can perform grid hardening work more quickly and cost effectively.
Stringing and Pulling
The Tools for Installation Success
Sometimes it’s easy to overlook the small stuff! But pulling grips, grounding devices, wire clamps and swivel joints, are essential components of any stringing project.
Don’t sweat it! Condux Tesmec offers a wide range of productivity-enhancing tools and accessories that can help make your next installation project a success!
A LOOK INSIDE SCE’S WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN
SCE submitted its 2026-2028 WMP in May 2025 to outline plans to invest in new and expanded tools and methodologies and to build on ongoing efforts. Here are some of the highlights of the new WMP:
• Install an additional 440 circuit miles of covered conductor and at least 260 circuit miles of underground distribution lines.
• Seek continued support for aerial firefighting assets throughout the service area, including the world’s largest helitankers with night-time firefighting capabilities.
• Use the Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter to immediately detect ground faults and reduce voltage when a line contacts the ground while maintaining service through remaining lines for customers.
• Leverage advanced AI and machine learning models to improve grid inspections and identify maintenance needs.
• Monitor and managing vegetation with LiDAR and satellite imagery.
Leveraging New Technologies
SCE is planning to further mitigate wildfire risk by embracing breakthrough technologies and exploring undergrounding, automation and fault detection technologies to improve reliability.
“SCE’s wildfire mitigation strategy continues to evolve as we balance cost, reliability and safety while pioneering innovative technologies to protect communities from wildfire risks,” Powell said.
In March 2025, the utility held a forum to engage with the tech community and gather invaluable insights into its rebuilding plan. SCE is reviewing these ideas and scheduling further deep dive sessions with technology providers to vet solutions, prove benefits and use cases and discuss implementation where viable.
Hardening Lines
Power lines not underground will be hardened with covered conductor, which is considered the cornerstone of SCE’s portfolio of wildfire mitigations. This technology significantly reduces the threat of wildfires while improving reliability.
In the rebuild areas, some sections of the grid are set to be completed in just a few months, however, the full rebuild will take several years and is dependent upon when customers decide to rebuild their homes.
• Increase undergrounding efforts and exploring alternative undergrounding approaches.
• Expand the Early Fault Detection grid health monitoring system to 200 new locations to help SCE to detect equipment failures early.
• Enhance transmission resiliency through more structure brushing, proactive splice shunting and
Covered conductor significantly reduces the possibility of the power line arcing or sparking if there’s contact with a flying object like a palm frond or a metallic balloon. As a comparison, covered conductor installation costs are significantly lower than undergrounding. Covered conductor has an average approximate cost of $900,000 per mile, while undergrounding has an average approximate cost of $4 million per mile.
Lineworkers are replacing industrystandard bare wire with covered conductor to reduce faults and ignition risk from contact with objects, as well as safely raising windspeed thresholds for PSPS in targeted areas.
“A key benefit of covered conductor is the speed at which it can be installed to achieve immediate wildfire risk reduction,” Roy said.
The installation process for covered conductor requires specific tools and techniques for stripping and installation. For example, torches and knives are not recommended for stripping covered conductor as they can damage the covering.
subtransmission grid hardening.
• Integrate climate change scenarios into risk models and using AI for HD camera data feeds to assess realtime conditions of a fire.
• Continue to install covered conductor, performing more frequent equipment inspections and trimming vegetation that could potentially contact power lines and lead to ignitions.
Bare wire installation is simpler and does not need specialized tools for stripping. In remote, difficult-to-access terrain, line crews use helicopters to string covered conductor from pole to pole.
SCE has installed about 6,500 circuit miles of covered conductor since it began installations in 2018. It has covered about 70% of SCE’s overhead distribution lines in high fire risk areas. By end of 2025, SCE expects to be approaching 90% of total distribution lines in high fire risk areas hardened. By end of 2025, SCE expects to be approaching 90% of total distribution lines in high fire risk area hardened.
Expediting the Project Timeline
To accommodate customer demand, SCE is updating the grid design to restore power more quickly. Consistent with SCE’s grid enhancement plans throughout the service area, the utility is designing the underground infrastructure with more automated switching and fault detection equipment to enhance SCE’s ability to locate issues, isolate disruptions and restore service faster. These updates should
reduce the frequency and duration of outages. The new infrastructure will also have increased capacity to accommodate future demand growth in these communities.
“Automation plays a crucial role in enhancing equipment maintenance and expediting power restoration by enabling swift fault detection, diagnosis and response,” Roy said. “It helps significantly reduce outage times and minimize customer impact.”
Another way that the rebuild project is moving on an accelerated timeline is through Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order, which expedites permits on projects. For example, this decision helped to cut down the red tape as it typically takes SCE’s teams several weeks to put together the paperwork to submit a coastal development permit exemption, let alone the time to process and gain approval or be granted an exemption. The emergency declaration gives cities, counties and other agencies an opportunity to expedite siting and permitting, which can speed up project timelines.
“Some sections of the undergrounding work are expected to be completed in just a few months versus what would have normally taken two years or more,” Roy said. “For example, Los Angeles County Public Works expedited encroachment permits, which allowed SCE to start trenching soon after project designs were complete.”
Looking to the Future
Currently, a combination of internal and external crews is supporting restoration work.
“Undergrounding electrical lines is a complex process that will take time, but the emergency declaration gives the cities, counties and other agencies an opportunity to expedite siting and permitting, which can speed up the construction timeline.” Roy said.
The project is currently in various stages of progress. In the rebuild areas, some sections of the grid are set to be completed in just a few months, however, the full rebuild will take several years and is dependent upon when customers decide to rebuild
their homes.
Moving ahead, the utility will continue to be forward-looking in its rebuild as it relates to resiliency, adaption and expected electrical demand growth. SCE has formed a dedicated team to develop and implement a long-term strategy to build the grid back stronger. In addition, the utility aims to engage effectively with external stakeholders whose support and cooperation are essential to streamline the work.
Underground power lines can help reduce the risk of wildfires, reduce PSPS in certain cases and make the electrical system more reliable during extreme weather conditions by protecting it from high winds, vegetation and other hazards that could cause fires or power outages. By taking a proactive approach to wildfire mitigation, SCE is safeguarding communities and its electrical system.
AMY FISCHBACH (euoeditor@endeavorb2b.com) is the Field Editor of T&D World magazine and the host of the Line Life Podcast at linelife.podbean.com.
PNM uses real-time visual intelligence to improve fast event response.
By GATHEN GARCIA and CHRIS CARPENTER, Public Service Co. of New Mexico
Extreme weather events fueled by global climate change have impacted the power delivery system in many ways no one could have anticipated. As a result, Public Service Co. of New Mexico (PNM) has had to take drastic methods to protect both the utility’s infrastructure and its customers. These severe storms can bring flooding, produce hurricane-force winds and trigger dangerous temperatures. Climate change also creates droughts with highly combustible vegetation subject to wildfires and many other dangerous conditions. There is no choice, PNM must be ready to respond quickly at a moment’s notice.
Many utilities and grid operators have developed an emergency procedure known as the public safety power shutoff (PSPS) process as has PNM. Determining whether to shut off power during an emergency is an important decision. Emergency response requires dynamic balance when
shutting off power circuits early enough to prevent wildfires. However, it also must be tempered with the need to maintain critical infrastructure for as long as possible for those in need.
In keeping with this concept, PNM has implemented an advanced situational awareness platform to enhance decisionmaking and fast response during PSPS events. This platform is a geographic information system (GIS) based dashboard suite that uses enhanced machine learning to analyze complex datasets. It also enables real-time visibility into customer impact, critical infrastructure, restoration progress and weather risk across the grid.
The sophisticated suite of tools — including a high fire risk area (HFRA) alert dashboard, PSPS dashboard and real-time isolation dashboard — supports regulatory compliance, customer safety and operational efficiency, positioning PNM as a forward-thinking utility addressing
wildfire threats through proactive planning and technology-driven strategies.
Value and Readiness
The HFRA alert dashboard demonstrates how red flag warnings, current outages and critical infrastructure exposure are integrated across the state. This intelligent tool supports decision-making in pre-deenergization phases and mitigates risks while encouraging collaboration throughout the organization.
The PSPS dashboard is not simply a tool for outage visualization; it is a strategic platform for cross-departmental coordination. By centralizing real-time data, departments such as T&D operations, customer service, emergency planning and regulatory affairs can work from a single source of truth.
During active PSPS scenarios, the dashboard serves as a real-time status board, informing executive decisions on grid
data into intuitive visuals that support informed, high-speed decision-making. When PSPS decisions must be made within minutes, clarity and access to key indicators like customer counts, critical facilities and feeder conditions can make all the difference. The platform reinforces PNM’s role as a responsible steward of public safety. By demonstrating a proactive, technologically advanced approach to wildfire mitigation, the utility can enhance its standing with regulators, communities and stakeholders. In addition, customer service teams use the dashboard to identify and prioritize communication with Life Watch and Will Call customers. This proactive outreach helps to maintain trust and reduce inbound call volume during emergency events. The dashboard also can be used for training and planning because it has the ability to simulate event outcomes. By using it to rehearse PSPS scenarios, the dashboard strengthens PNM’s overall emergency readiness posture. Collectively,
sectionalizing, restoration prioritization and communication protocols. This realtime status improves transparency and speed of response, which are critical in fast-evolving wildfire conditions. In practice, the dashboard has helped to reduce redundant field deployment by up to 20%, while improving coordination with crisis communications teams and reducing call center escalations. The result is a more
agile and informed organization capable of responding dynamically under stress. Capturing and reporting historical metrics from PSPS events not only supports compliance reporting and future rate case justifications, but also plays an increasingly vital role in regulatory strategy by helping to eliminate silos of influence — ultimately enabling ongoing innovation. Geospatial dashboards convert complex emergency
these capabilities reduce unnecessary field dispatches, improve outage response times and ensure a coordinated restoration process grounded in data, not guesswork. The real-time isolation dashboard gives a visualization of the impacted feeders, customer counts, and estimated restoration hours. This enables personnel in the field and on the system coordination during PSPS scenarios.
PNM fire weather dashboard. Below: critical infastructure...needs caption All graphics by Public Service Co. of New Mexico (PNM)
Strategic Importance
PSPS events are a critical tool in wildfire mitigation, but they present complex operational, regulatory and reputational challenges. PNM’s geospatial dashboard approach transforms these challenges into manageable operations by aligning asset data, risk modeling and customer prioritization in a single operational view. This system supports the utility’s mission to deliver safe, reliable energy and to exceed
regulatory and customer expectations in HRFAs.
The PSPS dashboard system provides users with interactive tools that enhance planning, situational analysis and event forecasting. Users can drill down into feeder segments, view historical outage data and overlay risk models to support PSPS preparedness.
Life Watch customers are identified automatically and visually flagged, allowing
for preemptive engagement by customer service and field teams. This ensures medically dependent customers are never overlooked during isolation events.
Visual Intelligence
The PSPS dashboards enable stakeholders — from control room operators to emergency response coordinators — to gain situational awareness instantly. By visualizing feeder-level impacts, critical customer locations and restoration estimates, decision-makers can act with clarity and speed. Key benefits are as follows:
• Real-time identification of medically vulnerable customers.
• Dynamic restoration time estimates by feeder.
• Centralized outage and alert visualization during red flag conditions.
• Deenergization exception plans visualized and linked to documented procedures to ensure power is not lost to critical sites during PSPS.
Dynamic restoration modeling is a key differentiator. System operators can evaluate various restoration scenarios based on current crew availability, asset condition and projected weather impacts. This helps to minimize downtime without compromising safety. Moreover, the dashboards foster collaboration by offering a common operating picture across departments. Whether accessed in the control room or the emergency operations center, everyone sees the same accurate, real-time data.
This transformation from manual mapping and spreadsheets to automated intelligence has significantly reduced decisionmaking delays, shortened outage windows and improved stakeholder engagement.
Restoration Activities
Through the integration of outage tracking, crew modeling and customer outreach tools, PNM can coordinate restoration activities immediately after deenergization. This reduces downtime for essential customers and ensures compliance with regulatory restoration timelines. Field crews are dispatched with route intelligence, and Will Call customers are tracked and contacted efficiently.
Beyond operational value, the platform ensures PNM remains aligned with
Santa Fe regional view.
state mandates and emergency protocols, demonstrating a best-practice approach to utility wildfire mitigation.
This GIS dashboard strategy ensures enterprise alignment across T&D, customer service, emergency planning and regulatory affairs. It streamlines interdepartmental coordination, enhances reporting readiness and fulfills mandates for community protection and grid reliability during fire season. With this platform, PNM elevates PSPS from reactive disruption to managed, transparent operations.
With the dashboard’s integrated crew modeling features, PNM can forecast estimated time to restoration for each affected feeder. This information enables planners to better allocate field resources and optimize logistics for restoration efforts.
Measurable Value
PNM’s PSPS dashboard suite delivers measurable value in risk reduction, operational efficiency and customer safety. It demonstrates the role of geospatial technology as a force multiplier for utility preparedness and resilience. By integrating real-time asset data and operational intelligence, field and system teams can coordinate responses in minutes instead of hours. By leveraging restoration modeling and route optimization, PNM expects to reduce feeder restoration times by up to 30%, saving more than 150 labor hours
during recent event simulations. Automated Life Watch identification further cuts manual lookup times by an estimated 2 hours to 3 hours per event, easing the burden on call centers and enabling faster, more efficient customer outreach. As the wildfire landscape continues to evolve, this strategic approach ensures PNM leads with foresight, precision and a commitment to keeping communities safe and powered.
Looking ahead, the second phase of this initiative will expand the dashboard’s functionality through the integration of GeoEvent Server, enabling real-time data feeds and automated alerts. Push notification capabilities will also be introduced to deliver recloser instructions directly
to field personnel during PSPS events. Furthermore, advanced AI integration is planned to enhance predictive modeling and operational foresight.
GATHEN GARCIA is the manager of drafting and geographic information systems at PNM. With more than two decades of experience in utility design, GIS strategy and system modernization, he oversees GIS operations and innovations supporting resiliency, regulatory compliance and enterprise efficiency.
LARRY “CHRIS” CARPENTER is the GIS supervisor at PNM, with over 23 years of experience in geospatial systems, enterprise data integration, and utility infrastructure mapping. He leads the development of spatial platforms that improve emergency response, system reliability and cross-departmental coordination.
HFRA alert integration dashboard.
PSPS isolation dashboard.
KEPCO Creates Cable Protection Software
By preventing damage before it occurs, submarine cable protection software enhances the structural integrity and durability of submarine cables.
By JEONGHUN KIM, Korea Electric Power Corp.
As the world is accelerating its push for climate change mitigation, energy transition and cross-border power interconnection, the demand for submarine cable construction — particularly for high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission and offshore wind power — has increased sharply. These submarine cables serve as vital arteries in the modern grid, connecting offshore generators to onshore demand centers.
Recent incidents surrounding submarine cables in the Baltic Sea and Taiwan have highlighted not only the high cost
of restoration, but also the critical importance of safeguarding the cables to maintain stable supply and prevent largescale blackouts. As a result, reliable protection of submarine cables has become a core concern in the construction and operation of international power grids.
Submarine cable protection measures must account for numerous marine environmental factors, including the threat posed by anchors dropped and dragged by sailing and fishing ships, dynamic water depth and current conditions, wave energy and seabed composition. In softer
seabed made of clay or sand, trenching and burial of cables has been the conventional method. However, in geologically challenging areas with hard rock or in deep waters where burial becomes impractical, alternatives such as rock berms and concrete ducts are applied.
Despite wide usage of these alternatives, standardized design criteria and protective engineering standards are lacking globally. The lack of criteria and standards leads to frequent reliance on empirical rules of thumb or outdated practices, which often results in overly conservative (and costly) designs or, conversely, inadequate protection that causes damage and repair that could have been avoided.
Technology Development
To overcome these challenges and drive innovation, Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) developed the KEPCO
Submarine Cable Protector (KEPCO SCAP), computer software that suggests scientifically quantified and optimized submarine cable protection options. The software incorporates a set of standards the utility developed to protect its submarine cables from the risks posed by complex marine environments and elevates cable protection from a reactive engineering measure to a proactive, datadriven design process.
The software provides optimal and multiple protection options when its users simply input key environmental and engineering variables — such as anchor types and weights, wave height, current velocity and seabed properties, including unit weight, undrained shear strength and internal friction angle. Once entered, the design program automatically calculates the optimal burial depth for each segment of the route, suggests options while recommending the most appropriate protection, generates cross-sectional drawings and outputs a comprehensive design report.
This streamlined and standardized process significantly enhances design accuracy, reduces subjectivity and improves documentation and traceability.
Full-Scale Validation
Determining an appropriate burial depth is one of the most critical and sensitive issues of submarine cable protection design. A widely used design tool in Europe, the Burial Protection Index (BPI) offers simplified burial depth guidance but has several limitations. It often relies on users’ interpretation and is not suitable for multilayer seabed profiles commonly found in offshore construction zones.
To address these deficiencies and build a robust engineering foundation, KEPCO conducted extensive numerical simulations and carried out full-scale validation tests at its Gochang Power Testing Center in Jeollabuk-do, Korea. Operated by KEPCO Research Institute (KEPRI) and spanning nearly 741,000 sq m (8 million sq ft). The site includes 765-kV transmission testing lines and underground cable verification facilities, enabling comprehensive trials under realistic field conditions.
Based on these rigorous tests, KEPCO established a key design principle: The burial depth must exceed the sum of maximum anchor penetration and additional safety margin. This empirical finding was converted into engineering standards,
KEPCO conducted extensive numerical simulations and carried out full-scale validation tests at its Gochang Power Testing Center in Jeollabuk-do, Korea. Images courtesy of KEPCO.
Sample output from KEPCO S-CAP design software.
and KEPCO developed formula-based design charts for estimating appropriate burial depth depending on anchor type and seabed conditions. Furthermore, in instances where burial alone was insufficient or infeasible — such as on exposed
Testing included 765-kV transmission testing lines and underground cable verification facilities, enabling comprehensive trials under realistic field conditions.
rocky seabed or in active fishing zones — the utility created quantified design standards for protective structures such as rock berms.
KEPCO S-CAP operates based on these standards that include specifications for berm dimensions, material selection and installation tolerances. The software applies variable burial depths based on localized marine risk, making it more effective and economical than legacy methods that mandate uniform burial depths, such as a flat 1.5-m (4.9-ft) minimum.
OUR WUNPEECE TRANSMISSION SPACERS REDEFINE THE INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR UNDERGROUND POWER TRANSMISSION INSTALLATIONS. WITH PRECISION ENGINEERING AND UNMATCHED QUALITY,
Based on these rigorous tests, KEPCO established a key design principle: The burial depth must exceed the sum of maximum anchor penetration and additional safety margin.
When a submarine cable fails, the repercussions can include massive blackouts and high repair costs.
In a major implementation, KEPCO used the software for the Southwestern Offshore Wind-to-Land Connection
project in Korea. This significant infrastructure project targets grid connection by 2029 and full completion by 2031. By
implementing the software, KEPCO reduced its cable installation costs by an estimated rate of 50% — equivalent to
ASPEN
ENGINEERING SOFTWARE
OneLiner
Short circuit, relay coordination and breaker rating for transmission networks.
Power Flow
Full-featured power flow for transmission systems.
DistriView
Fault simulation, relay and fuse coordination, voltage drop, harmonic analysis, and reliability calculation for distribution networks.
Relay Database
Customizable database for relays and related equipment.
Line Database
Customizable database for overhead lines and underground cables with built-in electrical parameters calculation engine.
EDX Module
Customizable platform for collaborative OneLiner/Power Flow model building and database-driven model data management.
approximately USD$3.6 million — while also minimizing environmental impact. Additionally, the digitized reporting format and transparency of design logic helped to enhance mutual trust between project owners and contractors.
International Recognition
KEPCO S-CAP represents a shift from convention- and experience-based engineering to a science- and evidence-based
framework. This advancement was officially recognized in February 2024, when KEPCO received a letter of document verification from the globally respected classification and certification body, Det Norske Veritas (DNV) on its submarine cable protection design standards. This marked the first time a submarine cable protection method was formally verified for its scientific rigor, quantitative methodology and real-world applicability.
The software is now positioned to support global submarine cable projects across offshore wind farms, HVDC transmission corridors and interregional energy interconnection.
Preventing Damage
KEPCO S-CAP is applicable to both HVDC and alternating-current submarine cable construction and reinforcement projects. The software provides a scientific and quantifiable design method that ensures both safety and economic efficiency. In practical terms, it can reduce construction costs by approximately 5%, or about USD$2 million per 100 km (62 miles) of cable.
When a submarine cable fails, the repercussions can include massive blackouts and high repair costs. By preventing damage before it occurs, the design program enhances the structural integrity and durability of submarine cables, ensuring stable transmission of electricity to vulnerable or remote regions, including island communities, in a high-risk environment.
KEPCO S-CAP stands as more than just a technical tool — it is a holistic solution combining data-driven engineering, field-proven methodologies and globally recognized design principles.
JEONGHUN KIM, Ph.D. (jhkim78@kepco.co.kr) is a senior researcher at the Korea Electric Power Research Institute (KEPRI), where he leads initiatives in the structure and construction projects within the power system research laboratory. Kim holds a doctoral degree in civil structural engineering and specializes in the design, analysis and structural integrity of power system infrastructure. Determining
Kaden Kubas
The journeyman lineman for MidAmerican Energy helps to power the Des Moines, Iowa, community.
• Born in Iowa City, Iowa, and raised in North English, Iowa, and has six siblings.
• Enjoys staying at home and relaxing, going to the gym and playing golf.
• Works on a lot of jobs involving pole replacements and underground conversions.
• Can’t live without the Milwaukee Tool presses, which speed up the work and have less wear and tear on the body.
• Graduate of the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Electric Utility Technology Program.
Early Years
I originally thought I was going to go to a four-year college because that is what is preached to us when we are younger. I realized that a four-year degree wasn’t something I was interested in, so I started looking into one-year programs at DMACC, and line school really interested me.
Day in the Life
I started as an apprentice and am now a journeyman lineman with MidAmerican Energy. A typical work day starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. When there are no outages, our crews are out doing maintenance on the system such as replacing poles, conductors, and cutouts. Some major challenges are how complex the work site can get — from setting up multiple trucks for one pole in lane closures and the pole having energized conductors on it. The best reward is when you finish those complex jobs.
Spotlight on Safety
There isn’t a specific moment where I learned the importance of job site safety. I always try to be as safe as possible because I’m aware of what can happen. When I’ve been around safety incidents, it’s always a good reminder that accidents happen, and you have to do your best to prevent them from happening and have your personal protective equipment (PPE) on.
Memorable Moment
My most memorable storm moment was when we showed up to a downed line. The conductor, still energized, was laying on top of a bunch of cars. All the cars were burnt to a crisp and you could see the electricity arcing to the ground. This was a good reminder that breakers and fuses don’t always trip and to never touch a downed power line unless it is tested and grounded.
Working Storms
The longest I’ve worked a storm was four days. We worked 16 hours on and eight off to get rest. The working conditions were humid, and there were tons of broken trees from the wind. The trees fell on houses, services and poles and were blocking roads.
Plans for the Future
I’d go back to the power industry if I had to do it all over again. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I truly believe this is the coolest job out there. I like thinking that I’m contributing something good to society by keeping people’s lights on. My plans in the future are to keep working here and learning to get better at my job.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Physical Security
3B Protection has completed a third-party test verifying that the FR360, its newest fire wall system, withstood six continuous hours of direct fire exposure, setting a new industry standard.
Tested by Intertek Building & Construction in York, Pennsylvania, the 3B system not only passed ASTM E119 fire resistance testing, but also endured the ASTM E2226 hose stream test—a challenge few products survive after such prolonged heat.
Built using 3B’s proprietary non-combustible material, the wall achieves these results by relying on advanced material science to provide stability, longevity, and resilience.
Key results of the test included:
• 360 minutes of sustained fire resistance
• No structural breach or failure
• Passed hose stream at 45 psi
• Designed for high-threat sectors including utilities, BESS enclosures, and telecom
• Blast- and ballistic-resistant design 3B Protection | www.3bprotection.com
UAS LiDAR System
Censys Technologies last summer announced the Mapper+ Version C, YellowScan’s cuttingedge UAS LiDAR system. Integrated with the Sentaero 5, this payload introduces features that enable enhanced LiDAR capabilities.
Censys extends its utility across a variety of applications by merging BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) missions and operations over moving vehicles and people with the ability to seamlessly acquire colorized point clouds in a single flight.
The Mapper+ Version C payload enhances operational efficiency for a variety of applications, including surveying, mapping, utilities, and environmental sciences, by reducing the number of flights needed, payloads, and data processing time.
Censys Technologies | https://censystech.com
Data Management Platform
Cyberhawk this past year announced a strategic enhancement to its flagship iHawk enterprise SaaS visual data management platform:
Visualive. This version of iHawk’s image inspection module delivers new capabilities and leverages AI to enable the instant analysis of drone-captured asset data, significantly streamlining the inspection process.
The software release of Visualive allows operators to enhance overall inspection outcomes, lower asset management costs, and improve performance.
Visualive delivers data analysis and visualization, such as multi-view inspection image comparison, enhanced annotation tools, and customizable workflows. Building on the foundation of previous versions of iHawk, users can streamline their inspection processes, make informed decisions quickly, and simplify surveyed asset management more effectively throughout their organizations. Cyberhawk | https://thecyberhawk.com
Micropile Drilling Machine
CZM Foundation Equipment’s CR25 is the first in its new micropile line. The CR25 is an advanced micropile drilling machine designed to perform micro piles, tie-backs, or jet grouting on tough soil conditions. With 62,000 lbs of operation weight, it is one of the largest micropile machines in the market. The extendable undercarriage makes it stable, especially with large diameter micro piles on long mast configuration.
The machine is fully articulated, allowing it to perform tiebacks in various positions. The articulation is extremely robust, with double boom cylinders, and all the parts are manufactured with high-yield Weldox Steel. It has front-of-the-wall kinematics, allowing it to drill parallel to the tracks.
The crowd/pull-back system is integrated into the base mast with a maximum force of 39,680 lbs, driven by a motor reducer and chain with an automatic tensioner. With a maximum stroke of 34’5”, it can work with long sections of drilling rods.
It can be equipped with double or triple clamps, with 14” or 18” maximum
diameters, and sliding clamps as a standard feature, with 39in of stroke and 44,000 lbs of pull-back force, making it easier to break casing connections.
The power pack has a Cummins B6.7, Stage V, with 310HP equipped with PMS for reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Along with the 11’ touch screen, it is equipped with a complete load-sensing hydraulic system designed for efficient
operation, reducing fuel consumption by up to 30% and guaranteeing very high productivity.
CZM US | www.czm-us.com
SOCIAL MEDIA HUB
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@HwnElectric Today, our crews will straighten a utility pole near UH Manoa along Nakiu Pl at Metcalf St, closing Nakiu pl fr 1030a - 230p. Motorists should drive w/ caution in the area & expect delays. #HITraffic
Atchison-Holt Electric Cooperative located in Rock Port Missouri will be seeking proposals to supply electric distribution materials, engineering design services, and electrical construction services as part of a FEMA approved mitigation project. For more information or to submit an RFP please contact Maggie Lair at (660) 744-5344 or Mlair@ahec.coop. Bid requests will remain open until COB September 30, 2025.
Nikki Chandler in/nikki-chandler-2aa5a012
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Amy Fischbach @amyfischbach
@Pacific Gas and Electric Company
A couple of highlights of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s progress in the second quarter of 2025! Growing electricity demand from #EVs and #datacenters in the years ahead can help reduce electricity prices for all by making better use of our #grid and spreading out costs over more users.
@Georgia Power Company Boots on the ground- and beneath it. ��
Ever wondered what’s beneath the sidewalk? You might be right above our Network Underground crews! Recently, they’ve been busy modernizing the underground infrastructure to keep your city powered up and running smoothly. Stay tuned for more updates!
Evergy
This National Intern Day, we’re celebrating the next generation of energy leaders like Laney, who’s not afraid to rise to the challenge (literally). This summer, 61 interns joined teams across our company and service area, contributing to impactful projects, gaining hands-on experience, and learning more about the energy industry along the way. Today, we celebrate our interns as they keep climbing toward their goals!
Eversource CT: We joined Connecticut Department of Transportation and City of Norwalk, CT officials to celebrate a major achievement in the Norwalk Bridge Replacement Project. Transmission lines have been successfully buried beneath the Norwalk River—a necessary step, so the replacement of the aging WALK Bridge can move forward. Thanks to this powerful collaboration, these upgrades will strengthen reliability for our customers and support the state’s goals for the project.
MEDIA SALES
Director, Business Development
Stephen M. Lach
Phone: 708-542-5648
Email: slach@endeavorb2b.com
Account Manager
Brent Eklund
Phone: 303-888-8492
Email: beklund@endeavorb2b.com
Account Executive
Andreja Williamson
Phone: 630-721-0712
Email: awilliamson@endeavorb2b.com
INTERNATIONAL SALES
Europe
Sarah Howell
Phone: +44 7935 299 884
Email: showell@endeavorb2b.com
South America, Central America
Fernanda Vega
Phone: +55 21 97673-9692
Email: fvega@endeavorb2b.com
Middle East, India, Asia, Australia, Africa
Saurabh Kapoor
Email: skapoor@endeavorb2b.com
EVENT SALES
Account Manager
John Blackwell
Phone: 518-339-4511
Email: jblackwell@endeavorb2b.com
Account Manager
Denne Johnson
Phone: 607-644-2050
Email: djohnson@endeavorb2b.com
International Linemen’s Rodeo, and Events
Sam Posa
Phone: 913-515-6604
Email: sposa@endeavorb2b.com
MEMBERSHIP SALES
UTILITY ANALYTICS INSTITUTE
Membership Development Manager
James Wingate
Phone: 404-226-3756
Email: jwingate@endeavorb2b.com
Utility Analytics Institute, Smart Utility Summit and Smart Water Summit Advertiser
All-Pro Fasteners, Inc. 16 apf.com/ladders
American Wire Group 47 www.buyawg.com
Aspen Inc. ......................................... 42 ......... www.aspeninc.com
Asplundh Tree Expert Co ................... IFC ......... asplundh.com
Atchison-Holt Electric Cooperative .....48 ......... mlair@ahec.coop
Champion Fiberglass, Inc. ................... 3 .......... championfiberglass.com
Condux Tesmec, Inc. 31 www.ConduxTesmec.com
Copperweld 21 copperweld.com/arcangel
Copperweld 19 copperweld.com/stingray
Cromer Contracting Co Inc 18 cromeroffice@gmail.com
EDM International, Inc. .......................34 ......... www.edmlink.com
The Davey Tree Expert Co 27 daveyutilitysolutions.com
UAI Training 9 www.training.utilityanalytics.com
Underground Devices 43 www.udevices.com
United Rentals Inc 5 unitedrentals.com/PHVAC
Uticom Systems, Inc. ......................... 18.......... www.uticom.net
Wilson Construction ........................... 20 ......... www.wilsonconst.com
Youngstown Glove Company ........... 10-11. ....... www.ytgloves.com
Leading With Innovation, Building the Future Workforce, and Keeping Customers First
When I first entered the utility industry back in 2014, I was looking for a career — not just another job. I started at ComEd in Chicago as a meter reader. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was foundational. That first step opened the door to everything that has followed: AMI deployment, electric and gas utility work, project and contract management, and now leading AMI field operations and dispatching at Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), part of the Exelon family.
Since joining BGE about three years ago, I’ve had the opportunity to build and expand teams focused on both residential metering and utility dispatching. Our teams support not only gas and electric meter operations but also coordinate dispatching for nearly three-fourths of the field and metering departments. This includes everything from high-bill testing to net metering installation.
Adapting to the Solar Future
Customer-owned solar is no longer a novelty — it’s a reality we’re actively adapting to. At BGE, we’re committed to making sure our field operations keep pace with this transition. That means understanding not just the technology but also the policy landscape here in Maryland and at the federal level.
I see our role as part technical and part educational. Our AMI meter technicians may be installing or inspecting devices that enable net metering — but they also need to understand why it matters, how it impacts the grid, and how it affects our customers. We’re actively exploring ways to introduce awareness training on net metering and DERs for our frontline teams.
How AMI Data Supports a Smarter Grid
AMI data is one of the most powerful tools we have right now for navigating the challenges of distributed energy. Whether it’s improving load and generation forecasting, managing voltage fluctuations from solar production, or supporting better outage response, that data gives us actionable insight.
It also enhances customer engagement. Giving customers access to their usage data — including solar production — opens the door to smarter energy decisions and programs like dynamic pricing or load shifting. When AMI is done right, it doesn’t just make operations more efficient — it makes customers more informed and empowered.
What Innovation Looks Like in the Field
For me, innovation at the field level isn’t just about fancy new tools — it’s about solving real problems. Yes, we’re using digital work management tools like S-Field and OneMD, integrating drones into vegetation management, and planning for wider use of AI and predictive analytics. But sometimes, the biggest
innovations are process improvements — streamlining how work gets routed, how data is collected, or how teams collaborate across departments.
We’re also investing in virtual reality (VR) training. We’ve already deployed it for substation and gas construction, and now we’re planning to expand into the metering space. Imagine new hires learning to troubleshoot electric meters in a VR environment before ever stepping onto a customer’s property. That’s the future, and we’re actively building it.
Developing the Next Generation of Utility Talent
Workforce development isn’t optional — it’s a necessity. We’re upskilling our current teams with VR training, customer experience simulations, and real-time feedback coaching. For new talent, we’re supporting early-career programs like our high school internship initiative and the 18-month utility training program.
One program I’m especially proud of is our Workforce Collaborative, in partnership with Civic Works. It provides job training for underemployed and second-chance adults, preparing them for real careers in the utility space. Since its launch, it has helped more than 200 participants — many of whom now work for BGE or our contractors.
We’re also inspiring the next generation through the Exelon STEM Academy, which brings high school students — especially young women — into immersive, week-long programs focused on sustainability and energy careers.
Putting People at the Center — Always
At the end of the day, I believe that utility work is about people — our employees, our customers, and our communities. Whether it’s launching a new tool in the field or building out a long-term workforce strategy, we must keep the human side of the work front and center.
I always encourage my team to stretch outside their comfort zone. Learn a new part of the business. Take ownership of their growth. The same goes for utilities in general — we need to keep growing, evolving, and listening.
Looking Ahead to T&D World Live
I’m proud to serve on the T&D World Live Advisory Board, and I’m especially looking forward to this year’s event in Phoenix, September 23–25. I’ll be moderating a session on private LTE networks and am excited about the panels covering workforce development, undergrounding, energy affordability, and innovation in utility communications.
T&D World Live is more than a conference — it’s a place to build relationships, learn from peers, and be inspired by the solutions that will carry us forward. I hope to see many of you there.
LCelebrating the People Behind the Power
ineworkers put their lives on the line every day to serve their communities. Oftentimes, they are only in the spotlight when they restore power following a storm, but T&D World honors lineworkers as first responders and heroes year-round with its Line Life Podcast, Lineman Life enewsletter and Electric Utility Operations section.
Every September, we also publish the annual Lineworker Supplement, which features four full-length feature articles all about the line trade. Over the years, we’ve covered everything from women in line work to severe storms to lineworkers volunteering to provide first-time electricity to communities.
By AMY FISCHBACH, Field Editor
This year, we are focusing on the future of the trade and honoring the full spectrum of a lineworker’s career — from the pre-apprentices just starting in the trade to retired journeymen lineworkers who are continuing to work in the industry. Here’s a look at the stories in this year’s supplement.
Spotlight on Students
For the last year, we’ve featured apprentices in our “Faces of the Future” podcast series and department within our print magazine. This story profiles those who have yet to join an apprenticeship program — the pre-apprentices of the line trade.
These training programs offer the students the opportunity to learn how to climb poles, operate equipment and practice setting poles before they even get hired on by a utility or contractor.
The article profiles students from California to New York and explores what inspired them to pursue a career in line work, how they spend their days at the training center and what they envision for their future endeavors.
The Frontier Beyond the Field
Long ago, I heard a saying that linemen never retire. Due to their passion and dedication to the line trade, line work lives in their blood long after they announce their retirement from a utility or contractor.
The article, “Life After the Line,” tells the story of five of these journeymen lineworkers, who have continued to support the line trade through consulting, volunteering and responding to storms. These lineworkers go above and beyond to serve their communities and clients long after they retire from the field.
Severe Storms
Focus on Mental Health and Wellness
After years of covering the line trade, I’ve heard many stories from apprentices and journeymen lineworkers about near-misses, injuries and fatalities in the line trade. Oftentimes, when a lineworker loses a friend on a crew or experiences an accident, it can take a mental, physical and emotional toll. One of our stories for the Lineworker Supplement focuses on the need to provide support and assistance for lineworkers by shifting to a safety-first mindset and empowering the field workforce to openly connect with one another, especially following a tragedy.
Over the last year, intense storms have inflicted widespread outages and destruction to utilities’ service territories nationwide. Storms may be ramping up in severity and intensity, but lineworkers are trained and ready to handle any outage that comes their way. Utilities are also investing in new technologies to monitor weather conditions and pinpoint the location of outages.
This proactive approach to storm response helps to expedite restoration and improve safety for the field workforce. With advanced planning, utilities can pre-position crews, manage resources and get the lights back on for their communities.
To listen to the narrated versions of the stories within this supplement, make sure to stay tuned to the Line Life Podcast. For our “In Case You Missed It” (ICYMI) series, I narrate articles from the T&D World print magazine for the episodes aired on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. I also feature interview-style episodes with lineworkers and those who support the line trade on the first and third Fridays.
Tune in to linelife.podbean.com to listen to more than a hundred podcast episodes about the tradition, legacy and passion of the line trade. The podcast celebrates the grit, inspirational courage and determination that it takes to become a lineworker.
If you want to be part of a future episode, stop by T&D World ’s booth at the 2025 Lineman’s Expo, where I will be interviewing attendees and supporters. Lineworkers, I look forward to seeing you and your loved ones in Kansas City during the 2025 International Lineman’s Rodeo Week!
Utilitrain offers a 15-week preapprenticeship program for the next generation of lineworkers.
FAST FORWARD to the Future of the Line Trade
These pre-apprentices are training to embrace new opportunities in the utility industry.
By AMY FISCHBACH, Field Editor
For years, electric utilities managed large workforces, but as experienced lineworkers began to retire, a growing concern emerged about how to replace their invaluable, hard-won knowledge. Utilities established internal training programs and hired new individuals, but due to the unique challenges of line work — combining fears of heights and electricity — not all candidates succeeded.
As the older generation continues to retire, the demand for new lineworkers remains high, said John “Matthew” Horan, an instructor at the Lineman Institute of the North East (L.I.N.E.), a 15-week pre-apprentice electrical lineman trade
school in Kingston, New York. After working as a journeyman lineworker, Horan is helping aspiring lineworkers to hit the ground running when they enter apprenticeship programs.
“Mentoring students and witnessing them overcome mental and physical obstacles has been the most rewarding aspect of my career in the line trade,” Horan said. “I am incredibly proud to be shaping the next generation of lineworkers.”
Exploring Opportunities for Pre-Apprentices in the Trade
Jon Backman, a 25-year journeyman lineworker and electric response troubleman,
said currently, the opportunity to work in the trades is wide open.
“The electrical industry has been a wonderful provider for myself, my family and countless others, and demand is high for well-trained, safe and effective workers,” he said. “I would encourage any young person who wants to contribute to their community in a rewarding and meaningful way to consider the electrical trades.”
Due to the continued investment in grid modernization and the retirement of a large portion of the utility workforce in the near future, opportunities in the line trade are strong and growing, especially for well-trained lineworkers, said
Don Finn, an instructor in Electric Utility Technology/Powerline at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) in Ankeny, Iowa.
“Students entering the field today have access to competitive wages, excellent benefits, opportunities to travel or stay local and clear pathways for advancement into leadership, troubleshooting or system operations roles,” Finn said.
To continue to build their field workforce, utilities and contractors are actively recruiting from training programs and are offering internships, ride-alongs and early hiring options. For example, at DMACC, students can get a head start and gain foundational skills in safety, climbing, rigging, pole-top rescue and electrical theory — all of which are essential for success in an apprenticeship, Finn said.
“Students graduate with certifications, hands-on experience and a clear understanding of the trade’s demands, making them more competitive for openings,” Finn said. “Utilities and co-ops often view program graduates as ‘apprenticeshipready,’ which can shorten the time it takes to get hired and to succeed in the field.”
Training today blends traditional hands-on learning with new technologies like augmented reality, 3D models and digital simulations to help students visualize equipment and practice procedures safely.
“Programs now emphasize troubleshooting, communications, teamwork and resilience — all critical in today’s complex and interconnected utility grid,” Finn said. “The overall approach is more multi-modal, inclusive and aligned with the needs of modern utilities.”
Learning in the Classroom and Training in the Field
To break into the trade, some up-andcoming lineworkers are enrolling in preapprenticeship programs and vocational and technical programs nationwide. From coast to coast, students can learn the fundamentals of the line trade before they even step foot into a utility’s apprenticeship program. These programs give future lineworkers a glimpse into the line trade and empower students to determine whether a career on the line is a good fit
before they are hired on as an apprentice and set out on the path to become a fullfledged journeyman lineworker.
For example, at Utilitrain, a 15-week Electrical Lineman Program, students learn about basic electricity, electric systems, rigging, personal protective grounding, transformer theory and career planning and strategies. In addition, they engage in simulator training
to learn how to safely operate digger derricks and excavators.
“We believe that every lineman should learn and understand basic electricity to fully comprehend the nature of the business before entering the serious business of line work,” said Randy Beckes, a lead trainer. “After graduation, students will know how the electrical distribution system works and be familiar with electric
THAT WORK
company equipment, trucks and specialized tooling to be fully ready their first day on the job.”
Case in point: Ethan Gaz, a recent Utilitrain graduate from Charlestown, Maryland, started his new job the day after graduation, and he encouraged others to consider the training program.
“They have a good group of trainers who know what they are doing,” Gaz said. “It was a fun and very educational experience.”
To continue their education following graduation, young lineworkers can enlist in apprenticeship programs or different types of transmission and distribution programs.
“This will help to further them along in their careers and increase their knowledge along with their pay,” Beckes said. “Specialized programs in high-voltage transmission barehand and hot sticking programs are available to those who want to keep climbing the ladder of success.”
While each pre-apprenticeship and vocational program is structured differently, the L.I.N.E. program gives students a strong grasp on climbing, power line construction, electrical theory and equipment operation. In addition, they earn their commercial driver’s license and become trained in both CPR and First Aid, equipping them for future careers in the line trade. Horan said some students must overcome their fear and uncertainty of climbing wood poles and working at heights, but that is where the instructors come in.
“They train and push the students beyond their comfort zones,” he said. “After mastering basic climbing skills, students advance to building our own distribution system in our training yard.”
Horan said utilities, unions and contractors are seeking individuals committed to a long-term career in line work, and the L.I.N.E program provides that solid foundation.
“We are confident that our pre-apprentices enter the workforce with a comprehensive understanding of the daily operations and expectations of a working line crew,” Horan said.
Taking a Different Approach
The American Lineman College, a specialized training program in southern California, is also preparing pre-apprentices for careers in the line trade. Unlike other 15-week programs, which may include 4.5 hours of classroom instruction and two to three hours of hands-on skills training per day, American Lineman College students complete their coursework online, giving them more time in the field, where they are immersed in a simulated work environment.
“We’ve disrupted how the pre-apprentice line school model is delivered to students,” said Joe Wiley, chief learning officer for American Lineman College. “Our class sizes are small, with a very targeted learning approach for adult learners. Cultivating a diverse and skilled workforce, American Lineman College actively recruits and trains individuals from under-represented communities, preparing them for essential roles that power our nation.”
The high cost of traditional vocational schools, along with the need to move away from home for extended periods, were two significant barriers to entry into the power delivery industry for most people, Wiley continued.
“We’ve been able to shatter those barriers and make line school achievable,” Wiley said. “Our students are finding employment in this highly competitive field and achieving success. It’s a beautiful thing to be a part of.”
The following stories shine the spotlight on seven recent and current students in pre-apprenticeships and lineworker training programs at vocational schools and community colleges. They hail from different parts of the nation, but they all have one thing in common — their desire to one day work in the line trade and power their communities.
Bryy Marriott: Learning on the Line in Los Angeles
Bryy Marriott of Buena Park, California, earned the Lineworker Scholarship from Edison International, giving her the opportunity to train at the line mechanic program at the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC). She was inspired to work in the line trade by her father, who used to work for Southern California Edison (SCE) and PAR Electrical Contractors, and her uncle, who is still working as a lineman for SCE.
American Lineman College
Bryy Marriott trains at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College as part of the Lineworker Scholarship program funded by Edison International.
While at LATTC, her classes started at 7 a.m. After spending about an hour learning about electrical theory, she and other students performed physical training on the soccer field or headed straight to the pole yard. Most days, her class would climb and learn how to use different types of rigging or set up double cross arms.
“One of the biggest challenges is that nothing can really prepare you physically to learn how to climb,” Marriott said. “You use different muscles that you didn’t even know you had. One of my favorite things about training was realizing I was stronger than half the boys in my class, even at the age of 35.”
In her class, she mostly used basic hand tools like drills, shovels, nuts and bolts. Over the years, she said the line trade has made some innovative speed wrenches and stripping tools and made advancements in safety equipment.
“The safety equipment used to climb has definitely changed over the years and is more innovative,” Marriott said. “We use a lot more safety equipment while climbing than before. They used to free climb, whereas now we use a primary safety line while we climb.”
She recently graduated from the training program, and she’s about to obtain her Class A driver’s license, which she’ll need to work for SCE and most utilities.
“The end goal is to become a journeyman lineman, but everybody starts as a groundman or a helper, and I’m already on my way to reaching that goal,” she said.
Marriott considers LATTC as one of the best lineman training programs in California.
“The instructors are top notch, and I wish the incoming trainees the best of luck,” she said. “Also, always look out for your brothers and sisters on the job. You couldn’t do it without them.”
Matthew Miller: Wildland Forest Firefighter to New York Pre-Apprentice
Matthew Miller, a pre-apprentice at L.I.N.E. in New York, transitioned from a career in wildland forest firefighting to learning the line trade for a more financially secure future.
“I had conversations with others who made a career out of line work, and they all spoke highly of the trade,” Miller said. “I decided it was the best move for myself and my family.”
Now enrolled in the L.I.N.E. program, he and his fellow students start school at 7 a.m. in the classroom to review readings from the assigned chapters for the week. Next, his class moves down to the training yard to perform their morning exercises, called “up-downs,” and then shifts into skills training. For example, he is learning to use the digger and crane to dig and set poles, which has been very beneficial.
While other pre-apprentices may be hesitant about working at heights, he said climbing is his favorite part of the training, and he looks forward to using this skill during a future apprenticeship program. He said some of the challenges involve the complexities of the job.
“There is an abundance of information that is crucial to learn in order to stay safe on the job,” he said.
Horan said Miller has become fully immersed in both classroom learning and hands-on training in the program.
“His eagerness to ask insightful questions and his readiness to tackle new tasks showcase his unwavering commitment to learning the trade,” Horan said. “Once he masters a task, he humbly offers assistance to those who are struggling. I foresee a bright future for him in any area of electrical distribution.”
Miller is now applying for apprentice lineworker positions, and he is looking forward to joining a company in the near future. He said he is glad that he decided to first enroll in the pre-apprenticeship training before going out into the world of line work.
“The Linemen Institute of the North East is a fantastic program that allows the student to grow and learn in a short time period,” he said. “Also, the instructors give you the knowledge you need to succeed and stay safe in a trade that can easily be unsafe.”
Klarence Pilkington: Oil Fields to Climbing Poles in California
Back in 2014, Klarence W. Pilkington was working in the oil fields with all four of his brothers. He eventually became a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and is now a student at American Lineman College in Bakersfield, California.
Matthew Miller, a former wildland forest fighter, enjoys learning how to climb poles as part of his pre-apprenticeship program at the Linemen Institute of the North East.
“I started learning and really loving the trade,” he said.
On a typical day, he shows up early to get water jugs ready and the trucks stocked before learning new ways and techniques from his two instructors.
“I am super grateful I have had the opportunity to attend American Lineman College and be able to get taught by Mr. Wiley and Mr. Saraceni,” he said. “They’ve made me realize things I would never have even thought about before I went to campus. I believe this trade should have more professional linemen like them. They are extremely professional, and anyone who gets the opportunity to attend campus should take it and soak up all the knowledge they have to give.”
He said the training today is likely different than in past years due to a shift in the safety culture.
“A lot of the classic linemen talk about free climbing and not wearing FR clothing, which is foreign to the ears of the newer guys coming up,” he said.
Pilkington discovered a lot of new tools and technologies in the program, and he sees the trade evolving rapidly in the future. At the same time, he also learned it takes more than just the physical training and skills to succeed as a lineworker — it also requires certain characteristics.
“If you stay humble, work hard and have a great attitude, it will take you far in this trade,” he said. “I’ve also learned you need to be a good leader and have integrity.”
He is also aware of the round-the-clock nature of the job as a lineworker and the need to travel to respond to storms and work opportunities.
“I will be able to travel and see new scenery, although it can be rough on my family,” he said. “My beautiful wife and daughters understand everything I go through, and that every hardship is for my family.”
After completing the training program, he plans to complete his orientation for Mountain States Line JATC. One day, he may even start a training program of his own.
“I would love to journey out and start my own training facility so I can teach the young people who are up and coming in the trade,” he said.
Wyatt McCauley: Studying High-Voltage Work in Oklahoma
Wyatt McCauley, a pre-apprentice in the high-voltage training program at the Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (OSUIT) in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, discovered the line trade from a family friend.
“He has been a lineman for years, and he told me it would be perfect for me,” he said.
McCauley said his favorite part about training is working as a team to get a task accomplished, and the most significant challenge is safety.
“The biggest challenges I face are keeping my head on right and thinking of my safety, and for everyone around me to make sure we get the job done with no one getting hurt,” he said.
Through the training program, McCauley learns the basics of line work through a blend of classroom training and handson work in the yard. Each week, he and the other apprentices tackle a different topic and hands-on project in the field. He is currently running a digger truck and bucket truck, and he said the new bucket trucks are helping lineworkers to work faster, more efficiently, and most importantly, more safely.
Wyatt McCauley enrolled in the high-voltage training program at the Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology so he could learn the basics of line work before joining an apprenticeship program.
Klarence Pilkington worked in the oil fields with his brothers before training at American Lineman College for a future career in the line trade.
“Line work is still the same when it comes to how everything is wired and framed and the techniques that are used,” he said. “It is different today because we have bucket trucks and better safety equipment, so we can approach jobs in a safer manner.”
In the future, he would like to pursue his journeyman’s license after he graduates from the training program.
“I will reach this goal by showing up to work every day and absorbing as much knowledge as I can,” he said.
Weston Fabian: Preparing for a Future Career as a Troubleman
Northwest Lineman College (NLC) has four campuses nationwide, but Weston Fabian chose to attend the Electrical Lineworker Program in his home state of Idaho.
“A friend of mine from the Marine Corps spoke very highly of it and encouraged me to look into it,” he said. “I also did a ride-along with a local utility and spoke to a retired lineman, who urged me to attend NLC. During his entry into the trade, there was very little training or structure for apprentices. Almost all the learning was done on the job, and there were not many safety regulations or rules.”
He said NLC was the remedy to that — he and his classmates learned the fundamentals and basic foundations, safety rules and a basic structure to how the trade works. While his training was different than that of the retired lineworker, he said the job of a lineworker has essentially stayed the same throughout the years.
“Many of the tools are almost exactly the same as they were 50 or 60 years ago, many of the methods of doing the work are the same as well,” she said.
Every morning, he gets to school early to review material, spend four hours in the classroom, take a break for lunch and then spend the afternoon in the field using practical handson skills.
“There’s always more to do, so when class ends, there’s plenty to study, help out with or practice in the field if you truly want to excel in the program,” Fabian said.
He said the challenges of the training are the early mornings, late evenings and being out in the elements doing work — whether it’s 30 deg or 103 deg.
“My favorite part is that challenge and hardship, along with all the work and learning you put in,” he said. “It makes me feel accomplished and fulfilled.”
At NLC, he is learning about new technologies, and he said his favorite new smart grid device is a recloser.
“It can help to solve a short-term fault quickly and efficiently without knocking out an entire community’s power until a serviceman can arrive,” he said. “I just spoke with a small co-op where they plan on purchasing and installing one in order to address a hot spot area of the community.”
He said equipment like reclosers, smart meters and SCADA help to pinpoint problems, expedite troubleshooting and restore power more rapidly.
“I believe we will see a surge of smart technology and the usage of drones to help make the job safer and more efficient in the coming years,” he said.
In the future, he hopes to get hired on by a public utility or cooperative where he can complete an apprenticeship and learn enough over the years to become a troubleman or serviceman.
“I think I attended a very well-planned and comprehensive program at NLC,” she said. “I was pretty impressed with how professional and intensive it was at times. I think it’s given me a ton of tools to help get started in the trade, including how and where I may find an apprenticeship, what to expect and how to be successful when I begin one as well.”
He said he can’t wait to join the line trade and start on the path to his career as a lineworker.
“If you speak to any career lineman, they will tell you they love their trade, and it’s not going away or even slowing down anytime soon,” he said. “I believe them 100 percent.”
AJ Bruns: Following in His Family’s Footsteps in Iowa
With family members who work in the trade, AJ Bruns was always interested in being a lineworker growing up.
“I love operating the equipment, climbing and building things,” he said. “I enjoy being outdoors and solving problems.”
As a student at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), he learned about better ways to do tasks such as building, fixing and wrecking line, operating various machinery used in the line trade and perform tasks that may be performed every day by a lineworker. Some days, the students performed difficult tasks that required more time and effort, like scenario training and replacing a broken pole.
After wrapping up his pre-apprenticeship program at Northwest Lineman College, Weston Fabian is looking forward to a career in the line trade.
WHERE TO GO FOR MORE INFO
Across the country, individuals interested in the line trade can discover a training program that works for them, their budget and their schedule. To find lineman training programs near you, go to linemancentral.com/locations. Here is more information about the training programs mentioned in this article.
American Lineman College: This training program, located in Bakersfield, California, lasts from 10 to 16 weeks and offers online academic instruction and weekend classes to fit varying schedules. Founded by Mike Hennesey, one of the honorary founders of Northwest Lineman College (NLC), American
Lineman College offers three programs: the Certified Utility Worker Program, Climbing Certification and Class A CDL course. In the utility worker program, students learn to work on a simulated crew. The students practice assembling, loading and preparing line equipment, digging holes, setting poles and operating utility equipment. Upon completion, the students are certified for entry-level groundman and utility worker positions. Through the climbing certification, students learn how to climb over obstacles, install crossarms and rig from an elevated position. Learn more at lineman-school.com
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC): The Electric Utility program, which can be completed in 12 months, teaches students to learn how to work with underground and overhead electrical distribution systems and gain skills to install and maintain transmission systems. In addition, the pre-apprentices can earn credits to apply to a formal apprenticeship, reduce time achieving journeymanlevel status and prepare for leadership
positions in the field. Details are available at www.dmacc.edu/pathways/btt/ electric-utility-technology.
Linemen Institute of the North East (L.I.N.E.): This pre-apprentice electrical lineman trade school in Kingston, New York, offers a 500-hour training program. Over the course of 15 weeks, students earn the following credentials: digger truck operations, commercial driver’s license, First Aid and CPR, OSHA 10hour and pole top rescue. The program was started by Donald Leiching, who spent 25 years in the line trade. To apply for the spring 2026 program, go to linemaninstitute.com
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC): Within its construction, maintenance and utilities division, LATTC offers the Powerline Mechanic (Lineman) program. Students learn how to identify problems with overhead and underground power line equipment; analyze and solve routine technical problems related to electrical technology and power distribution; and install, maintain and remove power poles, transformers, structures and other utility equipment. The students who earn the Edison International Lineworker Scholarships train at LATTC. Visit LATTC at www.lattc. edu/academics/aos/powerline-mechanic. Northwest Lineman College (NLC): NLC, which was founded in 1993, has four campuses nationwide in Idaho,
California, Texas and Florida. The 15-week pre-apprentice Electrical Lineworker Program gives students the opportunity to obtain certifications in aerial lift rescue, climbing, chainsaw safety and maintenance, CPR, digger derrick safety, enclosed space rescue, First Aid and pole-top rescue. Graduates also earn the OSHA 10-hour T&D and can add on courses such as applied mathematics, NCCCO crane operator certification training and Class A Commercial Driver’s License training. Go to lineman.edu for further details.
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (OSUIT): The intensive two-year high-voltage program provides students with comprehensive, handson experience in the high-voltage field lab. Students can gain practical skills, including electrical pole climbing and working safely with live wire technology. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, from electrical and transformer theory to substation operations. A critical component of the program is the required internship, which places students in real-world settings for on-the-job training. The participants engage in four paid, company-sponsored internships to gain practical experience and “earn while they learn.” Once the students complete the program, they earn an associate’s degree in in applied science in high voltage line technician. Go to https://osuit.edu/academics/degrees-programs/high-voltage. html to find out more.
Utilitrain: This 15-week program, located in Elkton, Maryland, consists of classroom training and field competencies. For example, the students learn about basic electrical theory, how to perform proper grounding techniques and how to drive and operate commercial vehicles. During the program, the students practice climbing poles, working on transformers and rigging. They also learn about career planning and strategies such as the different structures of various companies, how to create an effective cover letter and resume and interview for a position in the field. Visit utilitrain.org
American Lineman College
The Linemen Institute of the North East
Bruns is also learning about the new electric tools and how they work, as well as the different technologies used in the trade like Viper breakers and SCADA. He says electric hoists and lighter tools like crimpers, staple guns and impacts are helping lineworkers to improve productivity and safety.
After graduating from the program, he is now an apprentice at Midland Power Constructors. He said he is glad he decided to complete a pre-apprenticeship program to start out his career in the line trade.
“I thought my training program was awesome, and I would recommend it to anyone,” he said.
Justin Gonzales: Looking to Work on the Line in California
With a desire to follow in his brother’s footsteps, Justin Gonzales enrolled in the American Lineman College training program in California.
“I want to make a difference every day for those in need of power and be a part of the ever-evolving power industry,” he said. As a recent student in the training program, he and his class started the day with a tailboard covering the projects for the day. The group then stretched their bodies and worked on all groundman fundamentals. He then worked one-on-one with
the instructors to gain in-depth knowledge, and at the end of the day, he learned how to improve the task he learned that day. He said he enjoyed having the personal instruction at American Lineman College.
“It’s great to have the one-on-one teaching,” he said. “With our class sizes, it was greatly helpful to have the instructors right there with you, teaching and guiding you with everything we needed.”
With access to special resources in the classroom, the students were able to learn and soak up information as if they were already in the trade. For example, they discovered how to gather information to complete a job or task correctly on their iPads.
“We would do things that you would encounter in the real world,” he said.
Through his training, he learned that safety is of utmost importance in the line trade along with staying updated on technology and tools.
“There are so many real-world things changing or updating from solar farms to car chargers to the ever-changing power systems,” he said. “Technology is what we have to lean on, but the tools we are using are changing as well, so we have to make sure they are up to date and able to do the job. You must adapt every day for what that day may bring you — no day is the same.”
He said American Lineman College fully equipped him with the proper learning and fundamentals for him to succeed in the line trade and for the work that is out there.
“I’m three days out of completing all my training for Southern California Edison, and I have reached a goal that I have had for a lifetime,” he said. “I would not be in this position if it was not for American Lineman College teaching me all the groundman fundamentals and what is needed for the line trade.”
After completing a one-year training program at Des Moines Area Community College, AJ Bruns is now an apprentice at Midland Power Cooperative.
After graduating from the training program at American Lineman College, Justin Gonzales is following his dream of working as a groundman for Southern California Edison.
Life After the Line
After working on the line for decades, these retired lineworkers continue to support the line trade.
By AMY FISCHBACH, Field Editor
Every year, a wave of lineworkers hangs up their hooks and retires from the line trade, opening spots for those trained to fill their work boots. From 2023 to 2033, about 10,700 new power line repairers and installers will be in demand due to the 8% growth rate in employment over the decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The average age of lineworkers is 41, which represents 55 percent of the journeyman lineworker population, according to Zippia. While journeyman lineworkers often retire at 65 years old, many choose to opt for early retirement as young as 55 years old with an actuarially reduced pension if they are vested.
For example, Robert Padgett, a firstclass lineman, International Lineman Hall
of Famer and owner of Padgett Poleline, worked for almost 31 years for Lakeland Electric and has no regrets.
“I actually retired young enough at the age of 55 to go out and do some things I had not had the opportunity to do previously,” he said. “I took four months off before starting my next chapter.”
After decades of powering their communities, however, many journeyman lineworkers don’t want to leave the line life behind. For example, they may transition into other roles such as consultants, line instructors, small business owners, storm support specialists or volunteers for the International Lineman’s Rodeo Association (ILRA).
Here are the stories of a few of these lineworkers and how they are still making
a difference in the line trade. They reflect on their careers in the industry and talk about how they are now continuing to support the line trade.
From Florida Lineworker to Business Owner
Padgett, a journeyman lineworker who joined Lakeland Electric in 1988, came from a background of welding and fabrication. The more he learned about the line trade, the more interested he became in a future career on the line.
“Lakeland Electric started their own training program that year, and I was fortunate enough to be one of the first apprentices to go through the four-year program,” he said.
Early on, he worked for some “old school linemen” who were hard on him and even harder to get to know. When he did earn their trust, however, they would take the time to teach him the skills of the line trade.
“I feel like most linemen are only willing to teach those who are interested in the trade and want to learn,” he said. “Many of these men I still visit today just to talk of the early part of their careers and to hear how it used to be done — especially those about working off the pole.”
During his career, he said he learned how to perform line work without the use of bucket trucks and specialized machines.
“We had about 88,000 poles on our system, and about 12,000 you couldn’t get trucks to,” Padgett said. “We didn’t have any back-lot machines then, and I can proudly say to this day, I have never worked out of one. I got to do a ton of that work, and we did most of it energized.”
He said hot boards and hot sticks may be a lost art in some areas of the United States, but they were commonly used at
Robert Padgett works on a transmission line upgrade.
Lakeland Electric as long as he was on the crew.
“We did some reconductoring of threephase easements with no outages as well as many three-phase pole replacements — good times right there,” he said.
When he looks back at his career, he said his first storm work was in 1992 for Hurricane Andrew.
“I have worked many, many storms since, but none have compared to the amount of devastation we encountered there,” he said. “There weren’t many homes left to run power to.”
Fast forward to 2004, and Lakeland Electric was hit with three hurricanes in six weeks with the last one causing outages to 95,000 of the utility’s 105,000 customers. It took six weeks for the line crews to restore power to the last customer. Then in 2012, Lakeland Electric’s crews traveled to Long Island, New York, following Super Storm Sandy.
“Many of our linemen had never seen snow, let alone worked in it, and it was quite an experience,” he said.
Since his “so-called retirement,” he has worked several more storms in the Big Apple.
“The way I look at it, the crews come from all over the United States to help us after hurricanes, so it’s only right for us to go help them,” he said. “In the past six years, I have worked from the banks of Lake Ontario as far west as Houston, through the swamps of Louisiana and as far south as Key West. I have nothing but good memories from those journeys.”
Now, as the owner of Padgett Poleline, he has had the opportunity to work on some transmission projects, and he said he has learned a lot.
In his current role he has been fortunate enough to do more back-lot work, barehand work, and some hot stick and helicopter work. One day, however, he was approached and asked if he wanted to share some of the things he had learned with the new generation of lineworkers. At that point in time, he had not thought much about teaching others about the trade, but he did have experience with training while working at Lakeland Electric. Last year, Padgett had six W-2 forms, and he swore he would slow down this
year. Instead, he is helping to move the International Lineman’s Museum from Shelby, North Carolina, to Leesburg, Florida, which has kept him busy. Also on the property will be the Fallen Lineman Organization, which will have a bronze statue to memorialize fallen lineworkers.
“It pays tribute to the linemen who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in serving this great trade,” he said.
The museum displays will begin with the telegraph system and then move into an introduction of the telephone linemen and catenary work. In addition, the museum will honor the U.S. military, like the Army Signal Corps and Navy Seabees, who have been instrumental in building power and communications lines to protect troops abroad since World War II. Other items on display will be artifacts and insulators from the Civil War and the mining of copper from the 1800s all the way up to modern-day tools and technologies.
“This will be a one-of-a-kind experience that recognizes the history of the trade like no one ever has,” he said. “It’s really going to be quite an experience when we get it up and running. We welcome those who are interested in the preservation of the trade to contact us and hopefully help with donations, both historically and monetarily.”
Training the Future Field Workforce
The electric utility industry has come a long way since the first commercial distribution of electric power started in 1882 with electric lighting, said Randy Beckes, a lead instructor at Utilitrain with 48 years of experience in the line trade. Electric utilities are now experiencing some of the fastest employment growth compared to employment across traditional industry sectors.
“In 1977, I started my career in the line trade,” said Beckes, who started in the trade as a groundman with Gulf States Utilities in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, before working his way up from an apprentice to journeyman lineworker to safety director. “Since that time, there have been many changes, especially within the last two years. With the ever-increasing need for electric service nationwide, the need for qualified lineworkers has also increased.”
To ensure the safety of crews as well as the reduction of injuries in the electric utility industry, Beckes became a lineworker trainer in 1988. Over the years, he expanded his skills to include specialized live-line training, including hot sticking and rubber gloving. During his career, he has trained thousands of lineworkers throughout the United States as well as 39 countries around the world.
After recognizing the need for professional training for lineworkers, he opened a training school for lineworkers in 2000 in Georgia and then focused on live-line training. Then, while training AUI Power in Maryland during the summer of 2022, Beckes discovered a need for a lineman school in the Mid-Atlantic region. A few months later, one of the owners of AUI Power responded positively about building a school, and two years later, Utilitrain became a reality.
In January 2023, Utilitrain was born, with the mission of training the next generation of lineworkers by providing hands-on, real-world training during the 15-week training program.
The Utilitrain facility spans 38 acres and includes training simulators, administration offices, student classrooms and break rooms, bucket trucks, digger derrick trucks and a crane. Field training features a pole circle and single three-phase lines as well as underground transformers. Students learn how to climb poles, operate a digger derrick and bucket aerial truck and install line hardware, poles, crossarms, conductors (primary and secondary) and transformers.
Beckes said he is honored to share his extensive knowledge and years of experience with the students at Utilitrain.
“When creating and building the programs here at the school, our team’s goal was to help the utility industry by providing quality lineworkers,” Beckes said. “I have seen how this invaluable training has changed the lives of so many, and it does my heart good to see the students succeed and prosper as a result of our training.”
From Powering the U.S. Military to Volunteering for the ILRA
Rustin Owen hailed from a family of lineworkers with his father, cousin and great
uncle all in the line trade. He completed all his training in the U.S. military and attended a joint school for the Air Force, Navy and Army for his initial training. Before retiring from the U.S. Army, he was part of the team that built the U.S. Army Power Line Distribution Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
“The feeling of accomplishment from building a course that has continued since I left the Army is a great one,” he said.
Most of his career in the military was working worldwide to provide power to the warfighter from 2003 to 2016. During that time, he was able to respond to many outages and provide power to cool down warfighters in the deserts of the world. He also remembered troubleshooting an underground fault during a mortar attack.
Electric Power (AEP) for six years alongside line crews during storms. Today, in his job position with Salisbury, he gets out in the field with lineworkers to ensure they have what they need as far as tools and safety equipment. In this role, he answers questions about products and how to use them and educates lineworkers about standards and testing.
“This job keeps me connected since I have transitioned out of line work, so I really enjoy the ability to continue to be connected to lineworkers in the field,” he said. “Having a way to stay connected has been key, as my family has retired from the line trade, but we still have lots of conversations about how things are going for linemen today and how safety has become a lot better.”
He said while it’s been difficult to learn the business side of things and spend time on a computer, he still enjoys getting out, attending events, and visiting crews around the nation.
committee for the International Lineman’s Rodeo Association (ILRA) and as a First Aid and safety coordinator on the Rodeo grounds. In his volunteer position, he is responsible for working with a team to build a valuable safety and training conference and organize a safe competition year after year.
“Every year I attend the Rodeo is a memorable one,” he said. “Being able to continue being part of the ILRA is a huge thing I love, and I will continue to do it as long as I can. Making friends around the nation and seeing them every year has been one of the most memorable things of my career and what I look forward to many more times in the future.”
Working Storms: From the Field to Management
Rick Owens, distribution operations supervisor for TRC Companies, learned about the line trade from a high school friend, who told him about his company — Dallas Power & Light.
“The best feeling is always restoring power in times it is knocked out,” he said. “Working on storms and getting power back to those whose lives were interrupted by power outages is a great feeling.”
For example, he helped to restore power to the island of American Samoa after a tsunami. He also responded to an ice storm in Kentucky, which eventually led to flooding due to increasing temperatures.
“It was a nonstop repair of the same circuits and poles back-to-back,” he recalled.
After retiring from the Army, he worked as a safety coordinator for American
Rustin Owen was a guest for T&D World’s Line Life Podcast, available at linelife.podbean.com. After serving in the U.S. Army and working in the line trade and safety department, Rustin now volunteers for the International Lineman’s Rodeo Association’s safety committee.
“I still watch outages and try to keep up with friends as they go out on a storm,” Owen said.
From 2005 to today, he has also been involved in the International Lineman’s Rodeo. While in the U.S. Army, he had the opportunity to compete in the event, and after retiring from the military, he now volunteers on the safety conference
“It sounded like an interesting opportunity,” he said. “Dallas Power & Light provided on-the-job training, and once you have enough experience, you can start climbing poles.”
From there, he started an apprenticeship program, where he learned about climbing, rigging, tool use, line construction and how electricity works. After completing his internship, he started as a journeyman lineman at Dallas Power & Light, which merged with Texas Power and Light and Tesco to form TXU Electric before being rebranded to Oncor Electric.
He worked as a lineman for 21 years before taking on a role as a troubleshooter and first responder, where he was responsible for power outages, downed lines or equipment failures. He was then promoted to distribution operations technician and in this role, he oversaw five to seven team members at each service center. He then returned to his roots in Dallas as a supervisor at an Oncor service center before moving to Waco, Texas, as the supervisor over three service centers with 35 direct reports. About halfway through his career with Oncor, his daughter started working for the same company and she’s climbed the corporate ladder.
Randy Beckes has trained thousands of lineworkers and is now a lead instructor for Utilitrain to train the next generation coming up in the line trade.
“I’m very proud of her,” he said. As a lineworker, some of his most memorable moments were working on homesystem or off-system storms.
“After the storm, it’s not just the power that’s gone — it could be water, internet and access to food or medicine. We aren’t just turning the lights back on. We’re restoring people’s livelihoods and helping bring their lives back to normal. That’s the part of the job I really enjoyed.”
For example, when Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico in September 2017, it wasn’t just a storm — it was a fullscale infrastructure collapse, he said.
“The Category 4 hurricane obliterated the island’s aging electrical grid,” he said. “Utility trucks couldn’t just roll in from neighboring states. Everything had to be shipped in by sea or flown in. We drove our trucks and gear to Lake Charles, where it was sent by barges, which took over a week to arrive. The remote, mountainous regions were very hard to reach. Power lines were wiped out for miles. It would
take over an hour to drive up narrow mountain roads, which was a challenge for our trucks to squeeze by.”
The line crews encountered several communities that had been without power for three months before they arrived.
“Once we restored power, these mountain communities would tell us their
stories,” he said. “Many of them used small generators to power schools, but children were reading and writing in the dark for months. Because of the infrastructure, some places haven’t had electricity since the 1980s. The Puerto Ricans are a resilient people. I befriended a man about my age who would cook for us every day without electricity or anything. He was so proud.”
Within a few weeks of retiring from Oncor in Waco, he discovered opportunities at TRC and began working full-time for them. In his role, he spends his day checking emails, making phone calls and directing the field team’s work to where they are most needed. He is primarily responsible for managing field technicians responsible for helping with broadband expansion. For example, when a company wants to attach fiber cables to a utility pole, his crews measure the pole height and clearances, determine attachment placement and inspect for integrity.
“We are basically designing in the field,” he said.
Rick Owens joined TRC Companies after working for the utility industry for the majority of his career.
The lineworkers use SPIDA Systems for pole design and structural analysis to generate reports to determine if the pole needs to be changed out before fiber can be added. Once fiber is attached, the crews go back to ensure everything is working correctly.
“The biggest transition is in the area of safety,” he said. “Electrocution and bucket trucks used to be my top concern. Today,
it’s driving conditions, aggressive dogs, distracted traffic, and of course, the most common — slips, trips and falls.”
He said the most challenging part of his job is finding new business.
“I’m used to being out in the field,” he said. “Stepping on a trade show floor or knocking on doors is unfamiliar territory for me.”
He now has 22 direct reports, and his motto is to treat everyone with respect.
“The favorite part of my job is making sure my team has what they need to succeed — whether that’s equipment or proper gear. When I can remove obstacles and get them the right tools, I feel like I’m making a difference. When you take care of the little things for your employees, it gives them a sense of pride in the company. That’s when the job really feels meaningful.”
SMUD Supervisor to California Consultant
Back in 1984, Max Fuentes’ friend asked him if he was interested in becoming a lineman, and he was hired on at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) as a pre-apprentice. After completing his apprenticeship, he was promoted to a journeyman four years later.
He now brings a wealth of on-the-job experience to his new role as the owner of
FRONTIER BEYOND THE FIELD: Advice for Soon-to-be Retired Lineworkers
After investing decades in working in the field and working around the clock to keep the lights on, it’s often challenging for lineworkers to downshift into a relaxing retirement. Here are some words of wisdom from those who have exited a full-time job for a utility to discover other opportunities related to line work.
Gain as much knowledge as possible. “My advice would be to learn all you can about this awesome trade and make yourself valuable to your organization,” said Robert Padgett, owner of Padgett Poleline. “It can propel you into many opportunities connected to the transmission and distribution industry.”
Stay in shape. “Don’t sit around and focus on your health so you can enjoy a great retirement,” said Maximo Fuentes, owner of Fuentes Consulting LLC, who works out every day. He took up Brazilian jiu jitsu at 57 years old, and he has trained consistently for the last eight years. “I compete and have won several world championships in my age division,” said Fuentes, who currently has a brown belt and wants to be promoted to black belt someday.
Start formulating a plan weeks or months before you retire. “There is life after your utility and great opportunities and great companies that would love to have your experience,” said Rick Owens, distribution operations supervisor for TRC Companies.
Fuentes Consulting, LLC, in Carmichael, California. For example, after working as a journeyman lineman and line foreman, he moved to Idaho to serve as the chief field instructor and vice president of Northwest Lineman College. He then moved back to Sacramento to serve as the president of Trade Tech, a lineman vocational school. In 2002, he returned to SMUD as a journeyman lineworker and then was promoted to supervisor of safety and training, supervisor of meter and service crew, supervisor over crew scheduling and supervisor of asset management. He retired as the grid assets line supervisor for business operations in 2015.
In addition to working in the field, he also loved competing at the International Lineman’s Rodeo. Case in point: he was a member of a winning team five times with three times as the top team in the municipal division and twice as the top team in the contractor division. His team has also won the hurt man rescue twice and various other rubber glove and hot stick events. Since then, he has returned to speak at the Safety and Training Conference about leadership in the line trade during the International Lineman’s Rodeo Week.
Like the other lineworkers at the Rodeo, he has worked his share of storms. For example, in the winter of 1995, SMUD experienced multiple days of wind and rain, and trees took out a lot of lines, backyard transformers, pole sets and reconductoring. One of his most memorable weather events, however, was in 1988, when a summer thunderstorm took out about 400 transformers throughout the service area.
“I worked for seven days straight for 16- to 24-hour shifts, climbing poles and replacing transformers,” he said.
Today he has a consulting business, and he works with utilities and contractors to teach line construction work methods, write procedures, certify hurt man rescue and rubber glove recertifications and write investigative reports. He provides a safety meeting curriculum monthly, so he focuses on doing research and development of his lesson plans and presentations. He also conducts research, writes reports and interacts with lawyers to provide depositions and occasionally testify in trials.
After working as a leader in the line trade, Maximo Fuentes is now helping others through his consulting business.
Prioritizing the Mental Health of First Responders
Theses six strategies can help safeguard lineworkers as they put their lives on the line every day to serve their communities.
By AMY FISCHBACH, Field Editor
Lineworkers restore power to communities, work long hours in extreme conditions during storms and serve as first responders. They also have one of the most dangerous jobs in America. The fatality rate for electric power line installers and repairers is 23.7 fatalities per 100,000 workers, compared to 9.6 for all construction workers and 3.5 for all occupations, according to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
As the owner of a California consulting firm, Maximo Fuentes provides training, education and expert witness services to the electric utility industry. He said he thoroughly enjoys interacting with the young lineworkers and apprentices and sharing his knowledge and experience. At the same time, he’s challenged and frustrated by the litigation and catastrophic injuries he sees working as an expert witness.
“I am disappointed in the direction that I see some companies going in our trade,” said Fuentes, who has 31 years of experience in line work and is the owner of Fuentes Consulting, LLC. “There’s not enough emphasis on education and training, and there are too many needless accidents. Too many times, I have seen accidents, discipline and a lack of professionalism in our trade, with the emphasis on making more money at the expense of the workers.”
Electrical fatality rates have remained consistent year after year, and more needs to be done to reduce the number of electrical fatalities in the workplace, according to the Electric Safety Foundation International (ESFI). To drive down injury and fatality rates, the electric utility industry is investing in personal
BY THE NUMBERS: Stats on Safety in the Line Trade
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) recently compiled data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Here are some fast facts about electrical safety and hazards in the workplace.
• Ten occupations accounted for more than 58 percent of electric fatalities—electric power installers and repairers (lineworkers); electricians; construction laborers; roofers; laborers (except construction); electricians’ apprentices; painters in construction and maintenance; heavy truck drivers; tree trimming occupations; and heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics.
• Contact with electricity is one of the leading causes of fatalities in the workplace.
• In 2023, about 91 percent of electric fatalities were caused by overhead power line contact (42.8%), unexpected contact with electricity (19.3%) and nearby energized equipment contact (12.7%).
• Other causes of electric fatalities in the workplace were working on energized parts (4.1%), ground faults (4%) and damaged wiring and equipment (3.1%).
protective equipment and training its field workforce in safe work procedures and practices.
Even so, the line trade loses dozens of lineworkers each year due to work-related incidents. The following story dives below the surface of safety in the line trade to offer some strategies on how lineworkers can come home safely to their loved ones
each night and handle the stress of working as first responders in their communities.
1. Understand the Toll of Trauma in the Line Trade.
As the electric utility industry continues to grow, evolve and expand, safety is always top of mind in the line trade. Even so, from the early years of line work to today, the industry has suffered from many accidents and learned lessons learned from them, said Randy Beckes, a journeyman lineworker who founded Utilitrain, a pre-apprenticeship training program in Maryland.
“Over the years of hard work and training, I have seen a number of linemen, some close friends, seriously injured from accidents,” said Beckes, who started out in the line trade in 1977. “This drew me deeper into my commitment for safety and safety training.”
Ken Lulow, a journeyman lineworker and president of Line Worker Solutions, gives presentations on safety in the line trade.
Lineworkers — whether they have just started in the trade or are nearing retirement — may one day experience a near-miss or the loss of a beloved coworker, and the toll can be complete self-destruction, said Ken Lulow, a journeyman lineworker and president of Line Worker Solutions.
“The guilt, the fear and the pain are crippling,” Lulow said. “Without proper care and support, it could lead to self-destructive behavior that can ruin their lives and have catastrophic effects on all those around them — peers, family, children and friends. Don’t try to self-cope and hold it all in. Share your struggles and find the support that is needed.”
A near-miss, or loss of a close coworker can be more difficult than being the victim yourself, in some ways, said Jon Backman, a journeyman lineworker with 25 years in the industry.
“Watching a serious accident is a traumatic experience, especially if the victim is someone you know well,” Backman said. “The early and unexpected loss of a close person in your life is incredibly difficult to deal with, as you may be left feeling like
Jon Backman, a journeyman lineworker and founder of Making Connections LLC, advises lineworkers on how to work safely in the trade.
you never had a chance to tell that person certain things before they were gone.”
Backman said he has only had one close experience with losing a co-worker due to an on-the-job accident.
“I was an apprentice at the time, and he was a more senior employee with a great reputation and safe work habits,” he said. “The biggest takeaway for me was seeing the heartfelt reaction from all the employees at the utility and the community we served.”
Danny Raines, the author of the book, Legends of an Old Lineman and owner and senior consultant of Raines Safety Solutions LLC in Griffin, Georgia, said a near miss can be a learning experience caused by a distraction or a loss of focus and may or may not cause severe injury. Oftentimes, a thorough investigation of the near miss will identify the procedures that were not followed, which could have prevented the incident. A fatality, however, is something that will impact not only the fallen lineworkers and their families, but also everyone on the crew and at the company.
“A loss of life is a traumatic event with far-reaching, severe outcomes to all employees associated with the event and is very difficult to get over,” Raines said. “A thorough root cause analysis investigation must be implemented to prevent anything like that from happening again.”
Over his 58 years in the industry, Raines has seen utilities and contractors provide additional resources related to mental health, as well as tools and equipment to make the job safer.
“This prioritizes the importance and increases the awareness of doing the job correctly,” said Raines, who provides OSHA authorized training and skills training covering distribution coverup, system grounding and accident prevention and investigation.
2. Provide Support in the Aftermath of a Tragedy, Near-Miss or Loss.
To help the field employees heal from the tragedy of a lineworker fatality, utilities can bring in a therapist or a specialist
THREE WAYS TO BREAK THE SILENCE on Mental Health Struggles
In their roles as first responders, lineworkers may have a hard time prioritizing their health and wellness following a traumatic event or after dealing with chronic stress and anxiety. Instead of burying emotions deep inside, here are a few ways lineworkers can connect with others and take charge of their mental health
1. Look out for each other and ask for help. “Embrace vulnerability and share your stories and experiences with your peers,” said Ken Lulow, president of Line Worker Solutions. “Let others know that it’s okay to not have the answers, and it’s okay to not be okay. Share your knowledge, ask when you don’t know something and don’t turn your back on your peers because you’re afraid
to ask how they are. Be accountable and courageous to ask questions.”
2. Keep the lines of communication open. “I would suggest finding a co-worker you are comfortable with, and have open, honest conversations,” said Journeyman Lineworker Jon Backman. “The cab of a truck is a great place to have these private trust-based chats.”
3. Turn to professional help. Therapists such as Valerie Guile at Buffalo Roam Therapy Group in Overland Park, Kansas, (www.buffaloroamtherapy.com/valerie-guile) are trained in trauma response and helping first responders to heal following crisis situations.
10 SAFETY CULTURE INITIATIVES to Improve Mental Health and Wellness
Utilities and contractors can change the conversation about mental health by offering resources to their field workforce. Journeyman Lineworker and Mentor David Mendonca shares the following 10 initiatives companies can consider to improve the safety culture at their companies.
1. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): Many utility companies offer EAPs that provide confidential counseling services for employees and their families. These programs can help workers deal with personal issues, stress and mental health challenges.
2. Mental Health Training: Training programs focused on mental health awareness and resilience can equip workers with tools to recognize signs of stress or mental health issues in themselves and their colleagues.
3. Wellness Programs: Companies often develop wellness programs that include fitness challenges, mindfulness activities, and health screenings, promoting overall wellbeing and reducing stress.
4. Safety Culture Initiatives:
Implementing a strong safety culture where mental health is prioritized alongside physical safety fosters an environment where workers feel supported and valued.
5. Peer Support Programs: Establishing peer support groups allows employees to share experiences and challenges, creating a sense of community and reducing feelings of isolation.
6. Flexible Work Schedules: Providing options for flexible schedules can help lineworkers manage their work-life balance more effectively, reducing stress and improving overall mental health.
7. Regular Check-ins: Management can implement regular check-ins to
to provide information as to why and how the accident occurred, Raines said.
For example, Union Care Solutions, a 501(c)(3) organization, is helping support mental health and peer support across the industry and creating awareness about critical incident response and suicide prevention. In the aftermath of a fatality, the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) teams can provide “psychological First Aid” through debriefings, defusing sessions, crisis intervention and crisis management briefing.
“Critical Incident Stress Management addresses the emotional and mental well-being of workers exposed to traumatic events or stressful situations,” said Jenny Lavin, founder of Union Care Solutions. “Timely deployment of a CISM team can help mitigate psychological impacts, support workers in coping with stress and support mental health awareness across crews and companies alike.”
Advocates like Lavin along with utilities, unions and contractors, are making significant strides in improving the lives of lineworkers by prioritizing mental health and wellness, said David Mendonca, the executive director of the Show Up Dad Foundation, an organization started in 2020 that helps young men with their mental health, marital, parenting issues.
“This collective effort not only enhances overall safety but also ensures that lineworkers return home to their loved ones
assess employees’ mental health and well-being, demonstrating care and support for their workforce.
8. Access to Resources: Ensuring that employees have easy access to mental health resources, including hotlines and online tools, can encourage them to seek help when needed.
9. Provide Training on Stress Management: Workshops on stress management techniques, such as mindfulness, coping strategies and relaxation exercises, can help workers better handle the pressures of their jobs.
10. Organize Recognition and Appreciation Programs: Acknowledging and celebrating employee achievements can boost morale and foster a positive work environment, contributing to mental wellness.
each night, fostering a healthier and more resilient workforce,” said Mendonca, moderator of the Show Up Dad podcast, pastor, father and journeyman lineworker in Elsinore, California. “A supportive environment encourages open communication about mental health, reducing stigma and promoting a culture where workers feel comfortable discussing their struggles.”
Over the years, utility companies have implemented safety culture initiatives, which can decrease stress and improve mental health for lineworkers, Mendonca said. By addressing mental health proactively, lineworkers are less likely to experience burnout or fatigue, which can impair judgment and increase the risk of accidents, he said.
“Improved mental well-being allows lineworkers to concentrate better on their tasks, leading to safer work practices and decision-making,” he said. “Training and support also help workers develop resilience, enabling them to cope with challenges and stressors more effectively. In addition, peer support and community-building initiatives enhance teamwork, creating a network of support that can help workers look out for one another and prioritize safety.”
3. Shift the Culture to Focus on Mental Health, Wellness and Support.
Traditionally, the line trade hasn’t emphasized emotional health and wellness, but as the stigma of getting help has decreased
IN THE
AFTERMATH OF A TRAGEDY: Potential Tolls and Coping Strategies
Experiencing a near-miss, accident, or the loss of a close coworker can have profound effects on lineworkers, both emotionally and psychologically, said David Mendoca, a lineworker and executive director of the Show Up Dad Foundation. Here are some impacts of a tragedy as well as coping strategies.
Emotional and Psychological Tolls
• Shock and disbelief: A near-miss or accident can leave lineworkers in shock, struggling to comprehend what happened and why.
• Guilt: Survivors of an incident may experience survivor’s guilt, questioning why they were unharmed while others were not.
• Anxiety and fear: Traumatic events can lead to heightened anxiety, especially concerning safety. Workers may become fearful of returning to similar tasks or environments.
• Depression: The loss of a coworker can lead to feelings of sadness, loneliness and depression, particularly if there was a close personal connection.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Some workers may develop PTSD, characterized by flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety related to the traumatic event.
• Decreased Job Performance: Emotional distress can impact focus and performance, potentially leading to further safety risks.
Coping Strategies
• Talk about It. Encourage open discussions about the incident among colleagues. Sharing feelings can help process emotions and reduce isolation.
• Seek professional help. Consider counseling or therapy, especially if symptoms of PTSD or depression
nationwide, it is no longer uncomfortable to acknowledge struggles or stresses, and that’s important to build on, Backman said.
“Many of us face similar challenges, and it helps to talk to other people who are in the same work and life situation,” he said. “You may not get solutions or answers, but it is reassuring to know you aren’t the only one dealing with stress.”
Backman said it takes time to truly have a meaningful impact on mental health and wellness.
“Creating and maintaining a workplace culture of trust, transparency and support is the most effective method,” he said. “This can’t be done virtually. It takes time, dedication and financial investment. Oftentimes, short-term goals eclipse the need for this culture development, but if utilities are willing to provide a secure environment, the employees will feel more relaxed and comfortable at work.”
While technology has led to improved opportunities in many ways, Backman said it’s vital to keep in-person training and learning as the core foundation of improvement for electrical workers.
arise. Professional support can provide effective coping mechanisms.
• Join support groups. Engage in support groups where workers can share experiences and coping strategies related to workplace trauma.
• Focus on safety training. Participate in safety training and discussions to reinforce the importance of safety protocols. This can help regain a sense of control and responsibility.
• Establish Safety Buddy Systems. Partner with coworkers to create a buddy system that promotes safety awareness and accountability on the job.
• Practice mindfulness and stress management. Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing or yoga can help manage stress and improve emotional resilience.
• Memorialize the lost. Create a tribute or memorial for the coworker, which can provide closure and honor their memory.
• Advocate for safety improvements. Work with management to identify and advocate for safety improvements or changes in protocols that can prevent future incidents.
• Reflect on lessons learned. Take time to reflect on the incident and identify lessons learned that can enhance personal and workplace safety.
• Engage in training programs. Participate in or lead training sessions focused on safety practices to help others understand risks and promote a culture of safety. For example, individuals impacted by workplace accidents can reflect on their views of safety and take on mentorship roles. By actively participating in safety training and sharing personal stories, workers can contribute to a safer work environment and support each other in coping with the emotional aftermath of traumatic experiences.
“We still work side-by-side in the field, and our working relationships rely on trust,” he said.
Lulow, who serves as an advocate for frontline workers and leads training and culture-building programs that empower utility workers, said that in his time in the line trade, he hasn’t seen the level of care needed to support the mental health and wellness of field employees. While the tools are available and many organizations have good intentions, they haven’t asked the right question: What can we do to support you and where you’re at?
“Because of this, our industry continues to decline,” Lulow said. “No matter how many resources we throw at the problem, it will never solve this issue until we create a psychologically safe workplace and treat people like people. I have sat in many conferences and other discussions where workers are seen and treated like a resource that can just be pulled off the shelf from the local hardware store — like they are a box of screws — especially when it comes to mutual aid workers following a storm.
We must treat our lineworkers like people, recognize that they have families, real lives and the same struggles we have — not as just a resource to get the lights on when the storm hits.”
He said it’s human behavior to act according to how you’re treated.
“There isn’t a quick fix for this, and no matter how many safety policies we implement, I don’t see the accidents decreasing unless we shift the culture,” he said. “There is more than enough data available supporting the benefits of psychological safety and shifting the culture. Some utilities with courageous leaders are already embracing this, but unfortunately, most others are still relatively unaware or satisfied with the status quo. I wholeheartedly believe this shift will change the industry; it’s just going to take time to catch on.”
4. Emphasize Safety — Not Just Productivity — in the Field.
As the line trade continues to feel the pressure to do more work in less time, safety often takes a backseat in the field. For example, frontline leaders may tell the lineworkers how to stay safe in extreme heat by following the rules they set — drink water, take breaks and set up shade, yet they did little to enable them to truly adhere to these rules in the actual condition of the field. At the same time, they say “safety first,” yet they may advise lineworkers to get the job done as quickly as possible because it’s a “hard-money” job.
“The last thing the crew heard was ‘hurry up,’” Lulow said. “This message leaves the crew feeling that the boss really cares about speed — not safety — and human behavior and fear of job security will have the crew cutting safety concerns to ‘hurry up.’ The guys are going to get the job done — it’s who they are.”
If an accident happens, and the investigation reveals that safety protocols were not followed, Lulow said, human error will be to blame.
“If it’s found that ‘the crew disobeyed safety protocols,’ we tend to reactively set new safety rules to prevent this mistake,” he said. “We are only treating symptoms when we do this. What’s the real reason the crew felt like they couldn’t follow safety protocol? Does the frontline supervisor take responsibility for pressuring them to speed up?”
By taking a different approach, utilities and their field workforce could get a completely different result. For example, the human error may be due to a lack of training, a toxic work environment or chronic dehydration, which could contribute to cognitive decline with slow reaction time or tunnel vision.
“Honestly, this happens more than we think,” Lulow said. “Eighty percent of Americans are already dehydrated, and we create high-stress environments for lineworkers where their cortisol levels are at extreme highs. They cope by drinking alcohol after work — further dehydrating themselves — and then they’re right back out to work again on the same cycle.”
Because lineworkers are needed to perform the job, many companies turn a blind eye and don’t take accountability for putting lineworkers in a losing situation. For example, lineworkers are required to wear arc-rated PPE to protect themselves
from arc-flash burns. In response, some utilities may purchase the least expensive PPE available to check the box, but this may create additional hazards, he said.
“Not all PPE is the same,” Lulow said. “Some is heavy and doesn’t breathe or wick away sweat,” he said. “In high heat, we could be causing our people to overheat or get heat illness. If they remove their PPE, they could get fired. This is a leadership miss — not a field error. If we know the conditions that our people are faced with, asked how could we create better conditions and gave them the ‘why’ behind the ‘how,’ we would be empowering them to mitigate their risk and fewer accidents would happen,” he said.
5. Extinguish Toxic Bravado in the Line Trade.
For decades, lineworkers, especially those new to the trade, may have been reluctant to speak up in an unsafe work environment.
“The old way of control and command is broken,” Lulow said. “This method didn’t work, and never truly did, and we all know it. We are on a plateau, and we’ll drive right off the ledge if we don’t recognize this and change our approach. It’s a people problem, not a safety problem.”
To truly make a difference in improving the safety of lineworkers, it starts with culture. He encouraged apprentices and journeymen lineworkers to be human and identify their purpose — the driving force that gets them out of bed every day.
Years ago, Lulow asked a first-year apprenticeship class to fill out an anonymous poll providing three to five reasons why they chose to be lineworkers. He told them “money” couldn’t be a reason as money is a result of the work, and you can make money from a thousand other occupations.
“I told them that they are treated poorly their first few years, away from their families, struggling to get by, drug all over the country and forced to work obnoxiously long hours in terrible conditions,” he said. “So, I asked them, ‘Why on earth would you choose to be a lineworker? The results were mind-blowing.”
There were three commonalities — a sense of belonging, especially to the union and the brotherhood and sisterhood of the line trade; a sense of helping others and doing something rewarding by getting the lights back on during a power outage or making sure everyone had electricity to keep their life running; and a physical and mental challenge to overcome the odds and test their limits.
“Line work is unique in the sense that it feels special to be a lineworker,” Lulow said. “You are tasked with impossible odds to bring power to others, and the group belonging feel is even further connected by the challenges and obstacles you face with your crew. Risk and miserable conditions bond and connect this group even more.”
He said lineworkers are often unique individuals who may have been told they weren’t good enough for college and to go the trade route, which could cause some subconscious resentment for some.
“Line work provided us with a home where everyone was the same,” he said. “Now we have a group mentality of bonded
individuals with a desire to help people and prove the world wrong — a band of misfits treated like outlaws who took on the outlaw persona — and lineworkers loved this label.”
Management, which historically consisted of former field employees, has now been replaced by career office individuals, creating a knowledge gap from the office to the real conditions in the field, Lulow added.
“Technology now allows management to micromanage the field, demand more, and faster, turning lineworkers into a resource,” he said. “Management recognizes production — it’s what drives profits.”
As a result, utilities and contractors often honor the high producers, which has unknowingly caused damaging consequences, he said.
“Many of these high producers are often the individuals who have an ego, have embraced the outlaw label too much and aren’t true leaders,” he said. “They are the individuals who may cut corners for speed, take safety risks and make dangerous decisions to compete for the ‘I’m the best’ title. Organizations promote these people, setting the example to other lineworkers what they should model to get promoted. This has caused a cancerous culture.”
He said it’s time to stop the toxic bravado and embrace psychological safety and accountability. To truly drive down the number of accidents, injuries and fatalities in the line trade, it is going to take a culture reset, he said.
“Reward the individuals who embrace the positive safety cultures and whose mission is building people and not money,” he said. “Recognize the leaders in this industry who champion safety and do what is right. Make this the standard, and the toxic bravado will die out.”
He likened it to a flower garden. If you don’t cultivate it, it will be overrun with weeds (toxic bravado), but if you nurture your flowers (culture champions), you will wind up with a beautiful flower garden. While you may get a weed here and there, you can just pluck it from your garden before it can spread.
“It’s a complex and challenging issue, and it’s a commitment and a journey that must be nurtured, just like a flower garden,” he said.
6. Encourage Apprentices and Experienced Lineworkers to Learn From Each Other.
Culture changes don’t happen overnight. On the path to improved mental health and wellness, however, apprentices can find senior employees, or even other apprentices, who have a reputation for being safe and accident-free, Backman said.
“Watch how they work and pay attention to the decisions they make,” he said. “These established habits build the foundation for a long career without accidents.”
When new apprentices come into the trade, many get caught up in the cycle of a heavy workload and a lot of overtime, Backman said. Instead, they should try to truly embrace work/life balance.
“There is a great deal of pride in lineworkers’ dedication, but the
PRIORITIZING SELF-CARE IN THE LINE TRADE: 12 Tips for Lineworkers
David Mendonca of the Show Up Dad Foundation offers these self-care strategies for lineworkers. By integrating these techniques into their daily routines, they can enhance their mental health, reduce stress and improve overall well-being.
1. Take regular breaks. Take scheduled breaks during shifts to rest and recharge, even if it’s just a few minutes to step away from the work environment.
2. Incorporate mindfulness practices. Use techniques such as deep breathing, meditation or yoga during breaks or after work to reduce stress and enhance focus.
3. Focus on physical fitness. Engage in regular physical activity, whether through workouts, walking or stretching. This can help alleviate physical strain and improve overall mental wellness.
4. Engage in health eating. Focus on nutrition by preparing healthy meals and snacks ahead of time. Maintaining a balanced diet can boost energy levels and mood.
5. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to maintain physical and mental clarity, especially during long hours outdoors.
6. Maintain a work-life balance. Set boundaries between work and personal life. Make time for family, hobbies and activities that bring joy and relaxation.
7. Connect with colleagues. Foster a supportive network among coworkers. Sharing experiences and challenges can help reduce feelings of isolation and create a sense of community.
8. Seek support. If feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional help or counseling services. Many organizations offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) that provide mental health resources.
9. Keep a journal to express thoughts and feelings. Writing can be a therapeutic way to process experiences and emotions.
10. Engage in hobbies. Dedicate time to hobbies or interests outside of work. Engaging in enjoyable activities can provide a much-needed mental break.
11. Improve sleep hygiene. Prioritize good sleep habits by maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and creating a relaxing bedtime routine. Quality rest is crucial for mental health.
12. Have positive affirmations. Use positive self-talk and affirmations to boost self-esteem and cultivate a positive mindset. By integrating these self-care practices into their daily routines, electrical lineworkers can enhance their mental health, reduce stress and improve overall well-being.
HOW TO GET HELP
Lineworkers are first responders, and due to the danger and nature of their jobs, they may need help and support, especially following a personal near-miss or the fatality of a coworker. Here are some resources for mental health support for the line trade and your families.
• Call 988: More construction workers die by suicide than all the occupational fatalities combined, according to a study by the American General Contractors of America. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach a national suicide hotline for 24/7 confidential support. You can also chat at 988lifeline.org. Help is just a phone call or chat away.
• Visit the Web site for National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): This organization provides support groups, a help line and other support and education at nami.org.
• Connect with ResponderStrong: You can text the word, “BADGE,” to 741-741 to be connected with a trained crisis counselor. This organization serves those who are trained to serve the community in times of emergency, crisis or disaster.
• Reach out to Safe Call Now: This 24-hour confidential crisis referral service is for all public safety employees, emergency services personnel and their families nationwide.
• Learn about PTSD. After experiencing a traumatic event, such as the loss of a crew member or an injury on the job, lineworkers may be at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms include, but aren’t limited to flashbacks, nightmares and intrusive thoughts. The National Center for PTSD, available at ptsd.va.gov, offers research, education, videos and apps that can help those with PTSD and their families to learn how to understand the diagnosis and get help and support.
• Get in touch with a licensed therapist, psychologist or social worker. Psychologytoday.com allows anyone, including lineworkers and their families, to search for free for a mental health professional by location,
effect is cumulative,” Backman said. “You may not feel it yourself, but there are people at home who need you and who rely on you. It’s important to give them that time. It’s the company’s responsibility to adequately staff up for the workload, not the employees’.”
Trying to achieve the perfect balance of life in the field and at home, however, can be nearly impossible for some lineworkers, especially for those new in the field, Mendonca said. For these individuals, it may be better to try to focus on being present in each environment — dedicate themselves to work when they’re on the job and fully engage at home when they’re there.
“If you’re dealing with personal issues at home, consider asking your foreman if you can share your spouse’s or a loved one’s phone number with them,” Mendonca said. “This way, if there’s an urgent need to reach you, they can contact your foreman directly, allowing you to avoid constant distractions and worries about what’s happening at home.”
specializations, gender, language and types of insurance. Visits are often available in-person or virtually to accommodate busy work schedules.
• Reach out to injured or fallen lineworker organizations. Groups such as the Fallen Linemen Foundation; the Fallen Linemen Organization; the National Sisterhood United for Journeymen Linemen (NSUJL); the National Association of Journeymen Linemen; Line Life Foundation; the Line Brother’s Keeper; the Highline Hero Foundation the MTL Foundation and others can provide emotional, financial and physical assistance to fallen and injured lineworkers and their families.
• Connect with Union Care Solutions. This organization offers mental health trainings, peer support education and CISM teams to provide support to employees who have been affected by traumatic events in the workplace. Learn more at unioncaresolutions.org or attend Jenny Lavin’s 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. session on Oct. 15, “Protection Under the Hard Hat: Mental Health and Safety in the Power Industry,” Oct. 15 at the Overland Park Convention Center as part of the 2025 International Lineman’s Rodeo Safety and Training Conference.
The challenges with mental health and balance not only apply to apprentices but also to veteran lineworkers with decades of experience in the field. For those nearing retirement, they must avoid complacency to maintain safety in the field, he said.
“Remember that complacency can be dangerous,” he said. “Shift your perspective to consider, ‘What could potentially harm me?’ For every situation, take the time to identify hazards. By doing this, you’ll have a mental plan in place for what could go wrong, which helps you stay prepared. It’s important to share this mindset with the younger generation as well. Always be aware of your surroundings and prioritize safety.”
Lulow said lineworkers’ legacy isn’t what’s left in the field — it’s the generations that they will influence.
“Give your legacy something to celebrate and be proud of and mentor these next generations,” Lulow said.
David Mendonca, the founder of the Show Up Dad Foundation, honors the hard-working dads who balance life on the line with love at home.
Extreme Storms
As severe weather ramps up in intensity and frequency, line crews are ready to restore power and rebuild communities.
By AMY FISCHBACH, Field Editor
Over the last year, severe storms have swallowed up poles, ripped down transmission towers and left customers in the dark. As heroes and first responders, lineworkers have swiftly arrived on the scene to restore power and rebuild communities devastated by floods, hurricanes, microbursts, bomb cyclones and ice storms.
Electric utilities often prepare for storms year-round, and before the first raindrop falls or high winds knock down a power line, they have crews in position to handle whatever comes their way. As the frequency and intensity of severe weather continue to escalate, line crews are ready to respond.
Here are the stories of some of the countless storms that impacted utilities’ service territories over the past year — from a bomb cyclone in Puget Sound Energy in November 2024 to the Consumers Energy ice storm in April 2025
and tornadoes in Ameren’s Illinois and Missouri service territory a month later.
1. Twister Spins Through Missouri and Illinois
The sky over Ameren’s service territory suddenly turned green on the afternoon of May 16, 2025, alerting both the utility’s customers and line crews to impending tornadoes. Before the twisters even touched the ground, the teams prepared to mobilize crews and resources to respond swiftly to the wrath of the storm.
In St. Louis, the EF-3 tornado had recorded maximum wind speeds of 152 mph. The tornado traveled nearly 23 miles, spinning over the Mississippi River to Granite City, Illinois before dissipating in Edwardsville, Illinois. Another tornado — classified as EF4 — had maximum recorded wind
speeds of 190 mph and traveled for about 17 miles in Marion, Illinois.
The tornadoes not only caused destruction, but they also led to widespread outages to an estimated 216,500 customers in Missouri and 75,000 in Illinois. Following the storms, Ameren teams assessed damage, began restoring power and alerted customers, media, community organizations and government officials of the status of restoration.
Ameren crews partnered with contractors and mutual assistance teams from across the Midwest to replace 1,000 poles decimated by the storm and to support community recovery efforts. In Missouri alone, the storm took down 730 power poles, toppled mature trees and collapsed structures. Ameren Illinois crews and contractors restored power to communities before traveling across the state line to help
Ameren crews set a new pole and crossarm after the May 16 tornado in St. Louis. Ameren
MAKING A STRONGER AND SMARTER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Ameren
Focuses on Reliability Initiatives
Ameren, which serves customers both in Illinois and in Missouri, is focusing on ways to give its customers safe, reliable and renewable electricity for the long term. The utility is also implementing storm hardening initiatives to boost power reliability. The following are a few ways the utility is working to prevent outages.
1. Smart grid technology: Lineworkers are installing smart switches on overhead lines to quickly detect outages and reroute power to restore service, improving reliability by up to 40%.
2. Composite poles: Line crews are strategically positioning composite poles, which are said to be stronger than wood poles, to harden the system against straight-line winds.
3. Proactive undergrounding: By burying lines underground, the utility can reduce the number of storm-related outages to its customers and boost reliability.
Ameren Missouri lineworkers reconnect customers.
The severe weather damaged both the electric and natural gas systems. Case in point: on the electric side, about 260 Ameren Illinois sub-transmission and distribution poles were damaged or downed, and the utility experienced a significant amount of wire-damage reports and damage to substations.
Jamie Simmons, a supervisor for Ameren Illinois, said Granite City, Illinois, was hit the hardest by the tornado that touched down on May 16. Crews worked well into the evening, and within 12 hours of the storm, 55% of customers had their power restored.
“It caused significant damage to the community and our electric grid,” Simmons said. “There was substantial tree damage — trees in the road, trees on houses and trees on electrical equipment — making it extremely difficult for our crews to access the area to make repairs to our poles and lines.”
Amanda Brittingham, senior director of metro operations and contractor management for Ameren Missouri, said one of the biggest challenges in the days after the storm was getting safe access to damaged infrastructure due to the large amount of debris.
“Overcoming this obstacle required close coordination with emergency responders and state local partners,” she said. “And thanks to the efforts of our linemen and support from peer utilities and
contractors across the country, we were able to restore 100,000 customers in the first 48 hours after the tornado struck.”
While the power has been restored to all homes safe for restoration, the community, particularly in north St. Louis, is still hurting from the tornado that ripped through homes, businesses and institutions. To assist with recovery efforts from the storm and tornado that hit the St. Louis metropolitan region and surrounding areas, Ameren donated $1 million in recovery efforts.
For example, Ameren is providing $750,000 to community organizations like the United Way of Greater St. Louis,
Crews
the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and the City of St. Louis Tornado Response Fund to help with ongoing recovery efforts. The donations will fund relief efforts for critical services like relocation assistance, tree removal, property cleanup, emergency repairs, temporary housing, food, clothing, essential supplies and transportation. In addition, Ameren will provide $250,000 in energy assistance support for income-eligible customers impacted by the storms in Missouri and Illinois.
“These devastating storms struck at the heart of our communities, impacting our customers, employees, neighbors and friends,” said Martin J. Lyons Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ameren. “Seeing the damage firsthand is heartbreaking, but our crews are working tirelessly to rebuild what’s been lost. This $1 million commitment is one more way we’re standing shoulder to shoulder with the communities we serve as they begin the long road to recovery.”
2. Bomb Cyclone Tests Emergency Response
In what meteorologists called one of the most destructive storms to hit the Puget Sound region in 40 years, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) mounted an epic response to restore power and ensure public safety during a bomb cyclone event on Nov. 19,
worked around the clock to remove hundreds of fallen trees that blocked access to damaged infrastructure. In some areas, it was described as working a logging site and construction zone at the same time. Puget Sound Energy
TAKING
A TECH APPROACH
to Storm Response in Washington State
Puget Sound Energy serves a community with dense vegetation, forested areas and remote locations. When a storm hit, it was challenging for the utility to gain visibility of its de-energized lines. In mid-2024, right before the bomb cyclone hit its service territory, PSE started a pilot with Gridware to identify hazards and take a proactive approach to wildfire mitigation and outage detection.
Case in point: due to the storm, power was lost to a circuit where Gridware Active Grid Response (AGR) was deployed but had not yet sustained damage. 50 minutes later, a large tree fell, causing significant damage, and then 10 minutes later and a quarter mile away, another tree went down. Rather than being notified about the tree strikes after the storm passed through its service territory, PSE was alerted in realtime, allowing the utility to more quickly prioritize repairs and expedite restoration.
2024. The storm left a path of destruction that resulted in more than 700,000 customers experiencing service interruptions, some more than once, in PSE’s service area.
PSE’s meteorology team identified the approaching storm system nearly a week in advance, allowing the utility to implement emergency protocols and position resources where needed. The storm’s intensity, which was very compact in high urban areas, was comparable to the historic 2006 Hanukkah Eve storm, and prompted PSE to proactively open four local storm bases and its Emergency Coordination Center.
“The conditions our crews faced were extraordinary,” said Ryan Murphy, PSE’s director of electric operations. “In many areas, it was like working simultaneously at a logging site and a construction zone, with hundreds of fallen trees blocking access to damaged infrastructure.”
The utility mobilized more than 2,700 personnel, including 164 line crews and 70 tree crews, to support restoration efforts. Despite challenging conditions that often doubled typical repair times, crews worked systematically to restore power, prioritizing life-safety issues and essential services, such as hospitals and schools.
The storm’s impact extended beyond power outages. PSE’s gas emergency response teams handled a 64% increase in daily emergency calls, with King County customers accounting for 57% of incidents. Teams responded to numerous broken pipelines caused by uprooted trees, carbon monoxide calls related to improper generator use and gas odor reports.
PSE’s emergency response systems, including its backup operations center, proved effective during the storm.
“The greatest success of this historic and dangerous storm was that restoration was safely completed without a major injury to a community member or first responder,” Murphy said.
When communication issues affected the main facility, the utility’s preparation and coordinated response helped ensure community safety and quick service restoration. This event provided valuable insights for future emergency response, with PSE already implementing enhanced training and system improvements, based on lessons learned during this historic weather event.
3. Infrastructure Ices Over in Michigan
Just a half an inch of ice on a line is equivalent to the weight of a baby grand piano, according to Consumers Energy, which experienced a severe ice storm in April 2025 with up to 1 in. of ice accumulation in many areas and one-and-half in. in Elmira, Michigan, a small town in the utility’s service territory.
The combination of this weight on the lines themselves, as well as on the trees surrounding them, made the initial damage severe. Because the temperatures remained cold for the first several days, it also meant that fallen debris froze together and was difficult to disentangle. In some instances, roads were impassible due to the frozen debris across it.
The accumulation of ice on equipment also made it difficult for crews to access
areas to restore power. In those instances, unless crews were able to find ways to speed up the thaw, they had to wait for the ice to melt.
Before the storm even hit Michigan, it was already on the radar of Consumers Energy’s in-house meteorologist, who works directly with the National Weather Service to provide regular updates on potential severe weather that could impact the grid. For this particular storm, Consumers Energy knew about a week ahead of time that not only would it be a significant event, but also that there would be multiple waves impacting different parts of the state.
“This knowledge allowed us to prepare well in advance of the most severe parts of the storm hitting,” said Eric Wojciechowski, Consumers Energy’s director of emergency response. “We had already located two mobile command units and thousands of workers up north by Saturday morning before the first wave hit up north. We began mobilizing additional crews as well as bringing in support crews from four other states very early in the process. Though it was not all at one time, given the multiple waves, the total number of outages we had due to the storm was just north of 390,000.”
Not only ice, but also tornadoes and high winds inflicted damage. The National Weather Service confirmed that 14 tornadoes touched down in various lower portions of the state that Sunday evening.
“Many locations saw gusts of wind up to 80 mph, and in some places, 90 mph was even registered. With high winds always comes damage, whether from lines snapping or trees falling on them. Of the 390,000 total outages, more than 260,000 occurred downstate.”
For example, a journeyman lineworker from Consumer Energy’s Battle Creek Service Center reported trees down from the high winds and tornado. At that point during the storm response, he said the line crews were working their hardest, trying to be safe while putting up lines and wouldn’t stop until every customer was restored.
Crews from Illinois, Indiana and Ohio worked alongside in-state lineworkers to restore power. The mobilization of these crews — combined with the advanced preparation to place them and their supplies in the impacted areas — allowed the
Lineworkers worked together to get the power on quickly following the severe storm, which not only included ice, but also multiple tornadoes.
Consumers Energy
utility to work quickly in the aftermath of the storm. In total, about 800 crews were staged around the state. To house and feed this many lineworkers, Consumers Energy leveraged partnerships with organizations like Camp Grayling, which hosted more than 2,000 workers Friday evening and Saturday morning as they prepared for the arrival of the storm Saturday night. By setting up mobile command units, the utility had a centralized location for area crews and supplies to be directed, creating a more efficient flow of labor and resources as restorations occur. Once a team was done, they could quickly return to the mobile command unit and receive the next assignment, regain supplies, troubleshoot issues and provide updates from the field.
As some of the customers warmed up in special centers, organized by local non-profits and the Red Cross, Consumers Energy focused first on restoring critical infrastructure like hospitals and water treatment facilities and then zoned in on restorations that would bring the most customers back online at a time. As the number of outages began to decline, the line crews narrowed their focus to the more difficult or complicated restorations. Throughout the storm restoration effort, the tree crews, lineworkers and dispatchers were working above and beyond the call of duty.
BUILDING A BETTER GRID: How Consumers Energy is Strengthening Its System Against Storms
To better prepare for severe weather, utilities are investing in grid modernization and resiliency plans nationwide. For example, in Michigan, Consumers Energy outlined its Reliability Roadmap to reduce the duration and frequency of outages impacting its nearly 2 million electric customers.
The utility aims to one day not experience a single outage that affects more than 100,000 customers and restore all customers within 24 hours after an outage event. Here are a few of the highlights of a roadmap to strengthen Michigan’s electric grid and improve reliability and resiliency:
• Infrastructure upgrades: The utility is making investments to replace or rebuild poles, better understand how to bury power lines in a cost-effective way and organize circuits more efficiently.
• Forestry management: The plan increases spending on tree trimming to keep distribution lines clear and prevent and shorten outages.
• Grid modernization: A blend of smart meters, sensors and automation devices will help Consumers Energy to monitor its system more effectively, improve power delivery and solve problems more quickly.
• Resiliency: Lineworkers will soon install poles that can sustain winds more than 100 mph without ice in the utility’s service territory.
“Crews were working in frigid temperatures, in 16-hour shifts around the clock,” Wojciechowski said. “There’s a popular photo that circulated from a source up north of one of our workers with his beard entirely frozen.”
As the weather continues to cause challenges nationwide, Consumers Energy is investing in its Reliability Roadmap, which outlines the investments the utility intends to make over the coming years in the grid. For example, the utility is planning to execute everything from increased tree trimming to infrastructure upgrades to piloting technologies like undergrounding to strengthen and prepare it to better withstand severe weather of all kinds.
“The unfortunate reality is that we know our climate is changing, and with it, so
are weather patterns,” Wojciechowski said. “We are seeing storms happen more frequently and with more severity, and while we cannot control the weather, we can control our response to it.”
Tonya Berry, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer said the number one job for Consumers Energy is to keep the lights on.
“Consistent with our commitment to improve service reliability, Consumers Energy has established new grid performance expectations that better reflect the reality of what Mother Nature is sending our way,” Berry said. “We are sharing these customer service commitments for the first time, reinforcing our ‘Count on Us’ promise to the nearly 2 million electric customers we have the privilege of serving.”
