People behind the power: What to know about the remarkable role of Duke Energy lineworkers (2024)

On April 18, Duke Energycelebrates the men and women who keep the lights on for customersevery day
Lineworkers play a critical role in the clean energytransition and building the grid of the future
Over the past seven years, Duke Energy and its Foundationhave invested nearly $4 million tostrengthen itslineworker talent pipeline

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 16,2024 /PRNewswire/ -- When the lights go out – whetherit is from severe weather, vehicle accidents or animal interference– lineworkers respond by getting the lights on for our customersand communities.

On April 18, Duke Energyrecognizes NationalLineworkerAppreciation Day and thework of these vital employees, who ensure customers and communitieshave safe, reliable power, and play a key role in enabling theinfrastructure that will drive our energy future.

"Our line, substation and relay technicians are invaluableteammates who are among the first to respond in the aftermath ofstorms and large-scale weather events that can impact thousands,often making the scene safe for other first responders," saidScott Batson, chief power gridofficer at Duke Energy. "Safely powering the communities we serveis our No. 1 job and it could not be accomplished without theextraordinary commitments of these teams."

Just another day on the job

For these thousands of Duke Energy lineworkers – fromtransmission technicians working on high-voltage transmission linesthat carry electricity from power plants to distributiontechnicians working on the lines that carry power to homes andbusinesses – no matter the circ*mstances, it's just another day onthe job.

Here are a few things to know about this gutsy group and theirunique role:

Extreme elements come with the workenvironment.Lineworkers frequently face challengingconditions, including storms, oppressive heat, bitterly coldtemperatures and flooding.
The job is elevated.Line work frequently requireswork in challenging weather conditions on transmission towers atheights of up to 120 feet, while attached to a 40-foot pole, orfrom an elevated bucket truck – always with strict safetyprecautions in place.
They get physical.Line work is an outdoor,hands-on, physical role. Besides working safely with high voltage,the steel-toe boots, hooks for scaling poles, and climbing beltslineworkers use or wear can weigh up to 30 pounds each.
Commitment is contagious. Lineworkers' dedication totheir jobs, passion for their craft, continued learning and eternalsupport of one another on and off the job makes a difference in thelives of customers who depend on reliable power.
Family and community are priorities.Lineworkersoften live close to and work in their own communities – from largercities to more rural towns – and Duke Energy continues to hireacross the range of geographic areas it serves.
Conversing in code is customary.Lineworkers havetheir own lingo– nicknames for tools and tasks have beenpassed down from one generation of lineworkers to the next.
Long-term learning improvesexpertise.Lineworkersare highly skilledprofessionals who undergo rigorous training to work withelectricity safely and efficiently. Their extensive progression oftraining over several years includes written and field tests thatmust be successfully completed to demonstrate expertise and jobknowledge.
Safety is foundational.Line teams prioritizesafety above everything else – mitigating hazards whenever possibleand always watching out for the safety of those around them.

Guarding the future grid

Beyond keeping the lights on, lineworkers also play a key rolein power grid improvement projects that are helping modernize andstrengthen Duke Energy's system. This includes protection againststorms and other impacts, making the grid more reliable andresilient, as well as integrating new and cleaner energytechnologies.

"The grid is a massive, complex system that works nonstop toprovide reliable power to our customers. Ourtransmission anddistributionline, substation and relay technicians have afundamental role in making sure it is prepared to support thegrowth we are seeing in our regions and to enabling the addition ofmore renewables to our system at an ambitious pace," said Batson."This work can include upgrading lines and poles, undergroundingoutage-prone lines where data indicates it is prudent to do so, andenhancing grid reliability through the integration of smart,self-healing technology – which saved more than 1.5 millioncustomer interruptions and avoided more than 3.5 million hours ofcustomer outage time in 2023."

Hiring and developing craft and skilled talent is critical toaddress the growing energy needs of customers and to continue tomake grid upgrades for the future. The company continues to hiretalent and works closely with community colleges across its companyfootprint to recruit diverse, skilled candidates.

"It's important to me to be able to serve my community bybuilding and maintaining a resilient power grid to help people withtheir daily needs and quality of life," said Miles Bell, journeyman lineworker with DukeEnergy's Spartanburg Operations Center. "This is an industry andcareer field that is constantly evolving and is rewarding in somany ways."

People behind the power: What to know about the remarkable role of Duke Energy lineworkers (2024)

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