co-op news
line superintendents Meet your CW REMC Tim Bowley is the CW REMC line superintendent at the Delphi office, and Travis Curts holds that position in Monticello. Both of these individuals began their cooperative careers as groundmen, advanced to the apprentice program, and then became journeyman linemen.
schedule, to locate where their next job is, and then to submit their time at the end of the day. Many devices in the field are read and operated from the office. This, too, requires specialized training. The industry is trending to more technologically advanced systems, and we try to be as ready as possible for these changes.”
In January 2017, Bowley was promoted to line superintendent. “To me, this position is being the middle man between providing the members with reliable power and helping the lineman who build the lines to provide it,” Bowley said. “We meet with members to get a game plan together, and then we relay that information to the linemen to implement those plans.”
“Technology is used everywhere in rural electrification and is changing every day,” Curts added. “We have meters that self-read and provide valuable data that help us trouble shoot issues. We also use remote-operated switches and controls to help reduce outage times. As Bowley said, iPads are used for daily job tickets and maps of the systems, as well as outage tickets. Members can access their accounts through the SmartHub app on their phones to make payments, monitor use and even to report an outage.”
Curts began his career working for Carroll REMC, and in September 2017, he took the line superintendent position at the Monticello office. “My responsibilities include meeting with members and contractors for new services and upgrades,” Curts said. “I supervise line crews, tree crews, storm dispatch and staking jobs. Both Bowley and Curts stress the importance of technology in their positions. “Technology is becoming more and more infused into the industry at many levels,” Bowley said. “Linemen use iPads to get their daily work
“I feel the biggest challenge of the job is ensuring that we are providing what our members expect from us in the safest manner possible,” Bowley said. “Many times, things that seem best on paper are not the best solutions in the real world, and communicating that to members and employees is not always popular or easy.” Both line superintendents said they enjoy meeting with members. “I enjoy meeting with
TRAVIS CURTS
members out in the field to discuss options and/ or concerns they many have,” Bowley said. “I would rather talk face-to-face with members,” Curts stated. “Having an opportunity to put a face to a name helps both of us to be clearer about what each of us wants or needs in a situation.” Curts said CW REMC has a great group of employees in the operations department. “Not only the crews out working on the lines, but the office personnel as well,” Curts said. “It takes many talented people to make things work safely and efficiently.” “We are here to make things better for you and all of our members,” Bowley added. “We have a group of people that routinely go above and beyond to make things work for our members.” Bowley is originally from Remington, graduating from Tri-County High School. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. He and his wife, Melissa, have three sons, four grandchildren and a dog. Travis graduated from Delphi Community High School and lives in Delphi. He and his wife, Trisha, have two children.
TIM BOWLEY
JULY 2018
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