This Line Life Podcast episode revisits top winners, memorable moments and special events ahead of the 2026 competition. Read the full article from the December 2025 issue and check out more coverage on the T&D World website.

You can also learn more about the 2026 International Lineman's Rodeo, slated for Oct. 14-17, 2026, in Kansas City, by subscribing to our Lineman Life or Lineman's Rodeo News enewsletters or by visiting the International Lineman's Rodeo Association (ILRA) website.

During this episode, William shares the story of how his father's book, inspired by his work in the line trade, became not only a national bestseller, but also a Hollywood movie starring Henry Fonda. Years later, he continued his father's legacy by bringing both books back into print. He now personally inscribes and ships copies to training programs and lineworkers nationwide. To order a copy of the books, go to his website. 

Learn how 24 First Nations, Fortis and partners overcame remote logistics, governance challenges, and the pandemic to build 1,800 km of transmission lines and 22 substations, creating local ownership and lasting community benefits. To read the story, which appeared in the November 2025 issue of T&D World magazine, visit the website. 

Also, if you are working on an interesting transmission, distribution or substation project, we'd love to hear about it. Email Amy Fischbach, Head of Content for T&D World and host of the Line Life Podcast, with your project photos and description, and she will help you to share your story in T&D World magazine. 

Listen for stories about military service, the lineman community and brotherhood, safety and wellness in the trade and Shawn's goals for a future that balances career opportunities with family life.

The utility manages more than 45,000 miles of power lines supported by about 1.3 million utility poles, including 2,000 high-strength composite poles. Ameren Illinois adopted the LineVue device to perform comprehensive, cost-effective inspections of conductor spans, improving accuracy over traditional visual methods. LineVue technology enables remote, real-time assessment of conductor health, identifying issues such as rust, pitting and broken strands on energized lines up to 500 kV. 

To read the full story, go to T&D World's website.

The conversation highlights safety lessons learned at the International Lineman's Rodeo's Safety and Training Conference and Zane’s future plans, including contractor apprenticeship, storm response and his motivation to give back to his family.

This audio story outlines the utility's plan to deploy roughly 85 custom training applications by 2026–27 across core programs like overhead and underground electric, substations, gas maintenance, corrosion and field communications. The episode highlights how tablet-delivered, interactive content preserves institutional knowledge, supports different learning styles and improves safety through virtual practice. It also provides scalable, just-in-time training to meet growing workforce demands and close the experience gap.

For more information, read the article on T&D World's website. 

Topics include on-the-job safety (hydration, heat awareness and best practices), bringing students to the International Linemen’s Rodeo for hands-on learning, encouraging more women to enter the trade and how new tools like drones and helicopters are changing line work.

Susan also shares personal highlights, including her daughter Randi’s path as a journeyman lineman at Ameren Illinois, her decades of field and teaching experience and the importance of mentorship and community in sustaining the profession.

This article, "Training for a Future Career on the Line," which originally appeared in the October 2025 issue of T&D World magazine, spotlights two former students: Trevor Grefe and Kellen Miller. Grefe became interested in the line trade because he wanted to work with his hands, found the concept of electricity fascinating and wanted to help people. Miller learned about opportunities in line work as an intern at an architectural firm after seeing a photo of a lineworker hanging out of a helicopter, working on a transmission line. 

For more information, visit DMACC's training program website or read the article on T&D World's website. 

He also founded the National Association of Journeymen Linemen to promote the brotherhood, sacrifice and dedication of the line trade. To further honor lineworkers, Bill introduced legislation in 2012 to establish National Lineman Appreciation Day, which is now celebrated annually on April 18. He is also working to get lineworkers officially recognized as first responders with the Linemen Legacy Act. This bill is now in the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. To push this legislation forward, Bill encourages all lineworkers to contact their local members of Congress to support H.R. 7610, the Linemen Legacy Act. 

To listen to more stories of Lineman Hall of Famers, tune in to Part 1 featuring Robert Padgett and Part 2 showcasing Brandon Wylie and his song, "Highline Heroes." You can also learn about all the Hall of Famers dating back to 2006 by visiting the website for the International Lineman's Museum and Hall of Fame. 

In this sponsored episode, managing editor Jeff Postelwait chats with Lea Maurer (Business Development Director at S&C Electric Company) about the push for more reliable, resilient power, and why utilities are turning to new technologies to modernize the grid.  

This episode is sponsored by S&C Electric 

Listen to the narrated version of the October 2025 cover story to learn how the AWARE system monitors the health of the grid and alerts crews to early-stage faults. SCE and Edison International recently won the electric power industry's highest honor: the Edison Award from the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) for the AWARE technology. To read the full article, which went online as "SCE Accelerates Fault Detection with the Power of AI," visit T&D World's website. 

If your utility is using technology in an innovative way, we'd love to hear from you. Email Amy Fischbach, Head of Content for T&D World and the host of the Line Life podcast, to put your utility in the spotlight. 

Before joining Quanta, he served as vice president of apprenticeships with Northwest Lineman College (NLC) and director of training and safety at Electric Cities of Georgia, where he spent more than 15 years designing and leading training programs for lineworkers and safety professionals.

He has served as a chair of the APPA Safety Committee, vice chair of the National Association of Journeyman Linemen and a board member of the International Lineman's Museum and Hall of Fame. He's a certified utility safety professional, and he's proud to be a second-generation lineman. He's also the writer of "Highline Cowboy," a song inspired by his life as a lineman that was later featured in "Storm Soldiers" and "Life on the Line," starring John Travolta.

Listen to this episode to hear the excerpt of the song and learn about his life and career in the line trade. Also, tune in to Part 1 of this series featuring Robert Padgett, who retired from Lakeland Electric before starting Padgett Poleline. 

This audio story shines the spotlight on three major storms: a bomb cyclone in Washington, a historic ice storm in Michigan and tornadoes in Missouri and Illinois. Consumers Energy, Puget Sound Energy and Ameren Illinois and Missouri shared their best practices following these storms and how their line crews got the lights back on swiftly and safely. 

If you're interested in more storm coverage, you can also listen to the recent two-part Line Life Podcast series on Hurricane Helene: One Year Later on Podbean. You can also email Amy Fischbach to share your story about your company's storm response in T&D World magazine.

Padgett started working for Lakeland Electric in 1988 in Lakeland, Florida, before founding Padget Poleline. He has trained hundreds of apprentices throughout his career, and he is dedicated to preserving the history of line work. He has also been competing at the International Lineman's Rodeo for years and was instrumental in starting the Florida Lineman's Rodeo.

To learn more about his career in the line trade and how he is giving back by serving on the museum's board of directors, listen to the audio story "Life After the Line," narrated from the 2025 T&D World Lineworker Supplement. You can also check out the website to read all the profiles of all those inducted into the Hall of Fame since 2006 and tune in to the Oct. 4, 2024, Line Life Podcast episode featuring Andy Price, the founder of the International Lineman's Museum.

If you want to nominate someone who has made notable contributions to the line trade and the electric utility industry, click here to find out more about the induction process. Thanks for tuning in to the Line Life Podcast, and go to Podbean to learn how to subscribe so you can listen to other parts of this series. 

Discover ways to focus on your well-being, look out for your crew members, and heal following a near-miss or a tragedy by listening to this Line Life Podcast episode.

While you're on Podbean, also check out Part 1, featuring a narrated version of the full article in our ICYMI series and Part 2, which includes an interview with Jenny Lavin, the founder and CEO of Union Care Solutions. 

Stay safe out there, lineworkers, and enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones!

She was featured in the article "Prioritizing the Mental Health of First Responders" in the 2025 T&D World Lineworker Supplement. Jenny also delivered the presentation, "Protection Under the Hard Hat: Mental Health and Safety in the Line Trade," at the 2025 International Lineman's Safety and Training Conference. 

She has deep roots in the line trade. Two of her sons are fourth-generation lineworkers, and her father-in-law was the business manager for IBEW Local 47, and her husband is now in this role. As the CEO of Union Care Solutions, she is an advocate for critical incident response and suicide prevention. Her mission is to make care and connection part of the job — not an afterthought. For more information, visit her website, and if you or your coworkers need someone to talk to, call 988 to be connected to local mental health resources. 

To listen to Part 1, which is a narrated version of the article from the 2025 Lineworker Supplement in our ICYMI series, go to Podbean. Also look for Part 3, which provides strategies and resources to help you get the support you need. 

This episode, narrated from the article "Prioritizing the Mental Health of First Responders" in the 2025 T&D World Lineworker Supplement, delves beneath the surface of safety in the line trade to offer six strategies to help lineworkers focus on their mental health and wellness.

For more information, stay tuned to Part 2, which will feature an interview with Jenny Lavin, founder of Union Care Solutions and Part 3, which will offer more tips on how to break the silence on mental health struggles and get help. Line Life Podcast listeners in the United States can also dial "988" to be immediately connected to local resources in their community. Thanks for listening and sharing this special episode. 

This episode features the 2025 International Lineman's Rodeo Duke Energy team of Miles Bell, Jordan Henderson and Heath Burrell, who share stories of working in the Bat Cave and Chimney Rock areas, setting poles by helicopter and partnering with the community and tree crews to clear fallen trees. 

To learn more about the restoration, listen to Part 1 or look for a future two-part series in T&D World's print magazine. You can also tune in to the episode, "Hurricane Helene: Voices from the Field." Thanks for listening to the Line Life Podcast!

They share stories of their careers in the field and their ventures into new types of work following retirement from the line trade. The lineworkers also offered advice to other lineworkers who are considering retiring from their careers in line work. 

Stay tuned to the ICYMI series to listen to the final two audio stories from the Lineworker Supplement: "Prioritizing Mental Health for First Responders" and "Extreme Storms." Thanks for listening and subscribing to the Line Life Podcast. 

During this podcast episode, they discuss their careers in the line trade, their most memorable storms, and their memories of the Hurricane Helene response. They also share stories about how their families and communities came together to support the line crews as they worked long days to restore power and rebuild infrastructure. 

Stay tuned to the Line Life Podcast to hear Part 2, which will focus more on the damage caused by the hurricane and how the line crews worked together to overcome obstacles in the field. Also, look for a two-part article in T&D World magazine, "Hurricane Helene: One Year Later." Thanks for listening to the Line Life Podcast!

This episode shares the stories of Bryy Marriott, who won the Edison International Lineworker Scholarship and studied at LATTC; Matthew Miller, a former wildland forest firefighter who attended the Lineman Institute of the North East (L.I.N.E.); Klarence Pilinkington, who worked in the oil fields with his four brothers before becoming a student at American Lineman College; Wyatt McCauley, a pre-apprentice in the high-voltage training program at OSU Institute of Technology; Weston Fabian, a Marine Corps veteran who graduated from Northwest Lineman College (NLC); AJ Bruns, who is now working at Midland Power Constructors after wrapping up his training at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) and Justin Gonzales, who attended American Lineman College and is following in his brother's footsteps in the line trade.

For more information, listen to Part 1 of this series or read the full story, which went online as "How Training Programs are Shaping the Future of the Utility Workforce, on the T&D World website.

This article explores the pre-apprenticeship training opportunities available in the utility industry and how these programs are preparing up-and-coming lineworkers for a career in the line trade. For the first part of this audio story, we are focusing on the pre-apprenticeship programs. For the second part, we will highlight seven recent and current pre-apprentices who are aspiring lineworkers. 

Stay tuned to the Line Life Podcast to hear more audio stories narrated from our September 2025 Lineworker Supplement and interviews with guests at the 2025 International Lineman's Expo. For more Rodeo coverage, visit the T&D World website.  Thanks for listening to the Line Life Podcast!

Come join us at the International Lineman's Expo, where you can enter a drawing for a Milwaukee tool package, subscribe to the Lineman Life enewsletter, spin the wheel to win prizes and participate in a Line Life Podcast recording. Have a wonderful 2025 International Lineman's Rodeo Week, and stay tuned to the Line Life Podcast and www.tdworld.com/electric-utility-operations for more Rodeo coverage. 

This article honors Duke Energy's lineworkers, who will be returning to compete at the 2025 International Lineman's Rodeo after spending the 2024 Rodeo Week on storm response following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. 

On the road to the international event, Duke Energy's lineworkers competed in regional Lineman's Rodeos in Florida, the Midwest and the Carolinas. The top finishers secured a spot to compete at the International Lineman's Rodeo in Bonner Springs, Kansas. 

I look forward to seeing all of you at the 2025 Lineman's Rodeo Week. Make sure to stop by the T&D World booth at the 2025 International Lineman's Expo to participate in a recording for the Line Life Podcast, enter a raffle drawing for a Milwaukee Tool prize package and scan your badge and spin the wheel to receive prizes. 

When she first started working out in the field, she remembers hot sticking in a tank top and wearing men's workwear and PPE. Now that more women are entering the trades, they can stay safe and protected with garments and fall protection specifically made for them. She said NV Energy has taken good care of her throughout her career and given her the tools and equipment needed to succeed in the trade. 

Along with serving as a foreman for NV Energy and serving on multiple committees, she also joins her coworkers to visit schools in the community to educate them about the dangers of electricity and raise awareness about the careers available in the utility industry. 

If you want to be a guest for a future episode of the Line Life Podcast, stop by the T&D World booth at the 2025 International Lineman's Expo. Field Editor and Line Life Podcast Host Amy Fischbach will be interviewing lineworkers and their families on the trade show floor and featuring the interviews on Podbean. We look forward to seeing you In Kansas City for the International Lineman's Rodeo week. 

This article, authored by Dr. Anand B. Persad of Tetra Energy Sciences and Eric Brown of SMUD, is also available online on the T&D World website. 

If you are interested in submitting an abstract for the 2026 T&D World Vegetation Management Supplement, click here. You can also listen to two other audio stories narrated from articles in the 2025 supplement and interview-style episodes featuring Dr. Persad and Dennis Fallon, executive director of the UAA, on Podbean. Thanks for listening to the Line Life Podcast!

For more information about the UVM industry, listen to the narrated articles from the 2025 Vegetation Management Supplement, which T&D World publishes each June in partnership with the UAA. You can check them out at linelife.podbean.com. Also, mark your calendars for the 2026 Trees & Utilities conference, which is slated for next September in Portland, Oregon. 

This article explores research underway to leverage drone technology for responsible right-of-way vegetation management. It was written by Jill Rebuck of The Davey Tree Expert Company. To read more articles in the 2025 Vegetation Management supplement, visit the T&D World website. You can also submit an abstract for the 2026 supplement. We look forward to working with you to share stories about best practices, research and technologies in the utility vegetation management industry. 

This episode features guest Benjamin Charley, a journeyman lineworker who has worked for the NTUA for the last 17 years. When volunteer line crews come to Navajo Nation, he often shows them how to use pressure diggers to set poles in the rocky terrain. He invites lineworkers to join the project and help to power more homes on Navajo Nation in the future.

To learn more about this project, you can listen to the narrated version of the article, "Mutual Aid Without a Storm," from T&D World's Lineworker Supplement.  You can also hear from two of the volunteer lineworkers who spent time on Navajo Nation: Arthur William Muñoz and Dean Frescholz, both section supervisors for Salt River Project (SRP) in Arizona. Lineworkers, thanks for all you do to not only power your own communities, but to support Light Up Navajo!

During the episode, she discusses how the frequency and intensity of storms are impacting electric utilities and how they can improve the wildfire resiliency of overhead conductors and make their underground systems storm-ready. For more information about Southwire, listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of the series or go to linelife.podbean.com. Thank you for tuning in to T&D Talk on the Line Life Podcast channel!

I interviewed Dr. Persad at last year's Trees & Utilities conference in Fort Worth, Texas, to learn more about the challenges and opportunities in the utility vegetation management (UVM) industry. He has written several articles about UVM for the T&D World website, magazine and annual Vegetation Management Supplement, which we publish in partnership with the Utility Arborist Association (UAA) each June. 

To learn more about utility vegetation management, make sure to register for the 2025 Trees & Utilities conference this September in Knoxville, Tennessee. The 2025 T&D World Vegetation Management Supplement will be available in the UAA booth. I look forward to seeing you there! Also, if you have an idea for an article for the 2026 Vegetation Management Supplement, please email Amy Fischbach. 

This article, which was authored by Logan Martin of Corteva Agriscience and Wes Graham and Brad Morris of Cooperative Energy, first appeared in the June 2025 Vegetation Management Supplement. T&D World partners with the Utility Arborist Association (UAA) to publish this supplement each June.  If you have an idea for an article for the 2026 Vegetation Management supplement, a comment on this audio story or a suggestion for a future guest for the Line Life Podcast, please email Field Editor Amy Fischbach. I look forward to hearing from you!

At the 2024 International Lineman's Expo, I had the opportunity to have a conversation with one of the line wives -- Kara Pollei, the wife of Logan Pollei, an apprentice lineworker for Duke Energy. After working in the police force, Logan is now working on the line and competing at the International Lineman's Rodeo. 

To read a profile about Logan in our Faces of the Future department, click here. If you know of an apprentice who we should profile in a future department and related podcast, please email Amy Fischbach, Field Editor and Line Life Podcast host. We look forward to hearing from you and putting your apprentices in the spotlight!

During the episode, he shares details about the four pillars of the utility's 2025-2027 Wildfire Safety Strategy: hardening and redesigning the grid, expanding and improving situational awareness, improving operational practices and strengthening stakeholder and community partnerships. 

To read the full story, visit the Wildfire landing page on the T&D World website. You can also listen to two more audio stories narrated from the wildfire mitigation special report in our ICYMI series on Podbean: A Strategic Approach to Wildfire Risk Mitigation about Quanta Services and LUMA Energy and PGE Takes Holistic Approach to Wildfire Mitigation about Portland General Electric.

Thanks for tuning in and learning more about wildfire mitigation. If you have suggestions for future guests or comments on this or other episodes, email Field Editor Amy Fischbach, the host of the Line Life Podcast. I look forward to hearing from you!

During this episode, he describes the two different military occupation specialties (MOS) related to line work--the 12 Papa for generation and the 12 Quebec for distribution. He also describes overseas missions and how lineworkers respond to requests for individual combatant commands throughout the world. 

As part of Prime Power, the lineworkers also have the opportunity to compete at the International Lineman's Rodeo. Each year, the U.S. Army brings journeyman lineworkers to Kansas City to compete in the military division.

For more information, tune in to a recent Line Life Podcast episode featuring SSG Christopher Garrett and go to Podbean to listen to other episodes focused on the military in the line trade. Thanks for listening, and we look forward to seeing you at the 2025 International Lineman's Rodeo Week in Kansas City!

In this story, the authors share a proactive strategy, which integrates advanced technology, predictive modeling, data-driven decision making and adaptive infrastructure planning. For more information, you can read the article on the T&D World website. You can also listen to another audio story on wildfire mitigation, "PGE Takes Holistic Approach to Mitigation," from the May 2025 section by clicking here. For further updates and stories on wildfire mitigation, check out T&D World's wildfire page on our website. To subscribe to the Line Life Podcast and become part of our community, click here or follow the podcast in your favorite podcasting app. Thanks for listening!

He traveled from Fort Belvoir in Virginia to Kansas City for the International Lineman's Rodeo Week to support the competitors and teams in the military division and create awareness about the training and work opportunities available through Prime Power.

To learn more, you can stop by their booth at the 2025 International Lineman's Expo, visit their website or listen to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of our Veterans in the Line Trade series on Podbean. You can also read a story called Veterans in the Line Trade, which explores opportunities for military veterans to become trained as lineworkers. 

Thank you for tuning in to the Line Life Podcast, and Happy Fourth of July to lineworkers and your families!

To read the full story, which was authored by Ben Felton, executive vice president and chief operating officer of PGE and narrated by Amy Fischbach, host of the Line Life Podcast, visit the wildfire page on the T&D World website. Also, subscribe to the Line Life Podcast channel to listen to more audio stories about wildfire mitigation from the May 2025 special report in the print issue. We'd love to have you as part of our podcast community. Thanks for tuning in!

For Part 2 of a three-part series sponsored by Southwire, we are featuring the episode, "Novel Innovations in T&D to Ensure a Reliable Electric Grid."  This episode focuses on innovations in transmission and distribution to ensure reliability and resiliency. Our guest is Charles Holcombe, director of overhead systems and solutions for Southwire.

To learn more about our guest and the topic of this episode, visit the T&D World website. You can also listen to Part 1 of our series by clicking here. Part 1 focuses on the role of Southwire's analytics in DEMCO's grid management. 

During this Line Life Podcast interview, he talks about responding to outages caused by thunderstorms in his home service territory and traveling to provide mutual assistance following Hurricane Helene. He also shares his experiences as a competitor and a volunteer for the International Lineman's Rodeo. 

This story, which was originally published in the May 2025 print issue of T&D World magazine, explores how the utility is focusing on trades training and STEM education; expanding internal and external training programs: enhancing recruitment to reach more women in the line trade and ensuring inclusivity and safety by expanding equipment and clothing offerings for its field workforce. 

For example, ComEd has launched all-female climb clinics to help women practice climbing poles and prepare for employment testing. In addition, the utility has partnered with vendors to explore how safety gear, including fall protection and flame-retardant clothing, can better fit and protect women while working overhead. Click here to read the article on the T&D World website.

In this interview, recorded at the 2024 International Lineman's Expo, he discusses how he first got involved with the Rodeo in 2000 and became hooked. At the 2024 competition, he and his journeyman team finished fourth place in the REA division at the International Lineman's Rodeo. 

He also described what it was like transitioning from a journeyman lineworker to a supervisor in the line trade and how he is keeping his crews safe in the field.

To learn more about David, read the Lineworker Focus department on our website. If you would like to nominate a journeyman lineworker or field supervisor for this department, email Amy Fischbach, T&D World Field Editor and host of the Line Life Podcast. We look forward to hearing from you!

To learn more, you can read the article on the T&D World website or check it out in the May 2025 print issue. 

To prepare for the International Lineman's Rodeo in 2024, he trained with other apprentices to take practice tests and test his skills alongside the journeymen on the training grounds. In the future, he wants to stay out in the field, and he says the crews he works with are like a family. 

To learn more about Vincent, you can read the Faces of the Future department in our June 2025 T&D World print magazine and soon on our website. Also, if you are an apprentice lineworker who is interested in being profiled, fill out this online form and email a photo of you by a bucket truck, competing at the Rodeo or working out in the field to Amy Fischbach, Field Editor of T&D World magazine and host of the Line Life Podcast. Journeymen lineworkers are featured in our Lineworker Focus department and need to fill out this online form. All featured lineworkers receive a free tool package from Milwaukee Tool for their dedication to the line trade. 

As a first response troubleman for his utility, Jon responds to power outages, electrical emergencies, public safety concerns and customer needs. At one point during his career, he was offered the opportunity to work as an RFI responder, and in this role, he has had the opportunity to learn and evolve. In this audio story, he describes his experiences with training and troubleshooting and also offers seven steps to investigating RFI location. 

For more information about Jon, who is also the founder of Making Connections, LLC, listen to the episode, "Working as a Troubleman in the Pacific Northwest," or read his profile on the T&D World website. 

If you would like to share your story in T&D World magazine or be featured on the Line Life Podcast, email Field Editor Amy Fischbach, host of the Line Life Podcast. 

To listen to the Powerline Podcast, which is powered by Quanta, you can follow it on YouTube or subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting app. You can also see a vlog of Ryan exploring the International Lineman's Expo on the T&D World podcast page. To subscribe to the Line Life Podcast, follow it in your favorite podcasting app, and to listen to past episodes, go to linelife.podbean.com. 

To listen to other episodes in our ICYMI series, go to T&D World's podcast landing page, where you can also find episodes of our new T&D World Podcast, which covers transmission, distribution and everything that affects the power grid. 

You can also become part of the Line Life Podcast community by clicking "Follow" at the top right of linelife.podbean.com or subscribing to the Line Life Podcast on your favorite podcasting app. If you have comments on this episode or suggestions for future guests for the Line Life Podcast, email Amy Fischbach, host of the Line Life Podcast and Field Editor for T&D World magazine. 

During this episode, Art talks about what it was like to win the "David G. Hollis Award for Outstanding Apprentice at SRP," overcome his fear of heights to scale the 80-ft "Godzilla" pole and restore power following monsoons and microbursts. 

He is also one of several SRP lineworkers who has volunteered his time and skillset for the Light Up Navajo project. For 2025, SRP sent two crews to the Navajo Nation to join lineworkers from 44 utility companies across 20 states. The volunteer lineworkers are connecting homes to the grid in remote areas of the Navajo Nation, where 70% of all US households without power are located. Of the 56,000 homes on the Navajo Nation, about 10,470, or about 25%, do not have electricity.  

To learn more about Light Up Navajo VI, look for a future article in T&D World magazine and listen to the audio stories in our ICYMI series for our Line Life Podcast. Thanks for listening!

During the episode, Alan talks about his career in the line trade. He also discusses the history of line work and how construction methods, materials, safety and tools have evolved over the decades.

To listen to past episodes of the T&D World Podcast and Line Life Podcast, go to the T&D World podcast page. You can also learn about new episodes that are being released by subscribing to the Energizing and Lineman Life enewsletters. Thanks for listening and subscribing to our podcasts!

For more information, you can read the full story, "Mysterious Transformer Trips," on the T&D World website or look for the article in the April 2025 issue of the print magazine. Also, if you have any stories about new technologies or projects underway at your utility that you'd like to share in our magazine or on this podcast, email Amy Fischbach, Field Editor for T&D World magazine and host of the Line Life Podcast. 

At the heart of this program is José  Luis Campos Figueroa, director of aviation operations for LUMA Energy. After serving in the National Guard and spending 30 years in the industry, he now works to train and supervise his team at LUMA. Recently, the workers engaged in a training program, in partnership with Volo Mission, to practice aerial rescue techniques and learn how to respond to emergencies. 

Pilots and 18 transmission field workers across the island earned certification to perform rescues in remote areas. In addition, LUMA collaborated with the fire department to train the participants in aerial firefighting to protect transmission towers and critical power lines. They also learned helicopter safety during the training program. To learn more, look for a future feature article in T&D World magazine. 

A narrated version of the article is now part of our ICYMI series on the Line Life Podcast platform. The audio story shares how the utility overcame numerous challenges while rebuilding its Mt. Storm to Valley line. For example, the construction team faced access challenges due to extreme mountainous terrain, limited roads and multiple stream crossings. Other issues included environmental mitigation and changing regulations. During the project, the crews replaced more than 260 structures in remote terrain. 

Bobby Capehart and Matthew Vinson of Dominion Energy Inc. authored the article, which is also available on the T&D World website. If you have comments on this article or thoughts on other stories we should narrate for our ICYMI series, please email Amy Fischbach, host of the Line Life Podcast and Field Editor for T&D World magazine. 

For Part 1 of our new three-part series sponsored by Southwire, we are featuring the episode, “Empowering DEMCO: The Role of Southwire’s Data Analytics in Grid Management.” It features two guests: Mark Phillips, chief engineering and operations officer for Dixie Electric Membership Corporation (DEMCO), a member-owned, Louisiana-based electric cooperative and Ray Kasten, vice president of digital solutions for Southwire.

Southwire's data analytics platform has become an indispensable tool for DEMCO, particularly for measuring and enhancing grid performance. By leveraging advanced analytics, DEMCO can gain insights into various aspects of grid operations, from identifying potential issues to optimizing performance. This proactive approach helps maintain a reliable and efficient grid, ensuring that customers receive uninterrupted service.

To learn more about the episode, visit the T&D World podcast page. 

To learn more about Jon, read his profile in the April 2025 Lineworker Focus department and his article about RFI troubleshooting coming up in T&D World's May 2025 Electric Utility Operations section. If you know of a journeyman lineworker we should consider profiling in Lineworker Focus and have as a guest on our Line Life Podcast, email me at amyfischbach@gmail.com. Also, listen and subscribe to the Line Life Podcast at linelife.podbean.com to become part of our community. 

This article, which was originally published in the March 2025 issue of T&D World magazine, explores how the utility is using drones and cameras to capture visual data, which is then analyzed by AI-driven computer vision technology. This technology expedites inspections by analyzing vast numbers of images quickly to detect issues, said Atena Darvishi, R&D director for NYPA.

To learn more about the technology, go to the T&D World website to read the full article online. You can also check out another narrated story in our ICYMI series about NYPA: "Line Monitoring, New York Style" on our Line Life Podcast platform. Also, if your utility is using technology in an innovative way, we want to hear about it. Email Field Editor Amy Fischbach with your story of how your utility is improving safety and productivity in the field through the use of technology. Thanks for listening and subscribing to the Line Life Podcast!

To learn more about Luis, check out the March 2024 Faces of the Future department in T&D World magazine. If you'd like to nominate an apprentice lineworker for the Faces of the Future department and related podcast series, send an email to amyfischbach@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you!

Guests include Phil Swart of Clearway Industries; Jason Grossman, manager of vegetation management for Liberty Utilities and Lawrence Kahn, adjunct professor at Tulane University Law School.

To learn more about UVM, subscribe to T&D World's Vegetation Management & Wildfire Mitigation enewsletter and check out our June 2025 T&D World Vegetation Management Supplement, published in partnership with the Utility Arborist Association (UAA). Also, make plans to attend the 2025 Trees & Utilities Conference presented by the UAA and Arbor Day Foundation Sept. 9 to 11 in Knoxville, Tennessee. 

In his service territory, he responds to wind and tornadoes, but he has also provided mutual aid when he worked for a contractor. He says it's rewarding to help communities in need and work with other lineworkers to get the lights back on. He says in the line trade, safety is very important, and he strives to work safely to come home to his family every night.

To learn more about Brian, who competed for the first time at the 2024 International Lineman's Rodeo, check out the March 2025 "Focus: a Lineworker's View" department in T&D World magazine. 

At the end of the episode, you'll hear from his 10-year-old son, Caleb, who competed with his two brothers in the first annual International Power Line Kids Rodeo, hosted by Missouri Valley JATC and Buckingham Manufacturing. Caleb, who wants to follow in his dad's footsteps and become a lineworker one day, prepared for the event by climbing trees. He said he was happy to have his dad back from storm duty in North Carolina just in time for the International Lineman's Rodeo Week. 

Bryce is also featured in our December 2024 Faces of the Future department in T&D World magazine. View our playlist on the Line Life Podcast YouTube channel to listen to other apprentices in our Faces of the Future podcast series.

Apprentice lineworkers, if you're interested in being featured in a future Faces of the Future department, fill out this online form and email a photo of yourself working out in the field to amyfischbach@gmail.com. Journeyman lineworkers and field supervisors are highlighted in our Lineworker Focus department. We look forward to hearing from you!

Every December, T&D World celebrates this event not only online and in social media, but also in its December print issue. This year, we featured one article on the winners, which we recently narrated for our ICYMI series for this episode, and another article exploring the events of Rodeo Week from the Safety and Training Conference to the Trade Night. Listen to this audio story to hear about how lineworkers learned to stay safe during the one-and-a-half-day conference, explored tools and technologies at the Lineman's Expo and swapped shirts and stories during Trade Night. 

Also, stay tuned to the Line Life Podcast to listen to future episodes featuring interviews from the trade show floor in the T&D World booth with special guests in the line trade. If you want to be on a future episode, email us at linelifepodcast@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you. 

Today, she works as an apprentice lineworker for OPPD, and she is learning the skills of the line trade. During the interview, she shares how her career plans changed from pursuing a career as a lawyer to a lineworker, and how being in the line trade was the best decision she's ever made. To learn more about Lexie, look for her profile in the February 2025 print  issue of T&D World magazine and on our website. 

If you have an apprentice lineworker you'd like to nominate for a future department and podcast episode, please email us at linelifepodcast@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you. 

In addition to providing an overview of the events at the 2024 competition, this episode includes a special shout-out to lineworkers with musical excerpts from Blane Howard, a Nashville independent recording artist, singer and songwriter. He  kicked off the International Lineman's Rodeo awards banquet by singing parodies of famous country songs with lyrics focused on the hard-working line trade. To see the video of his performance, visit our YouTube channel for the Line Life Podcast. 

Lineworkers and your families, we look forward to seeing you at the 2025 International Lineman's Rodeo Week from Oct. 15-18, 2025. Learn more by visiting the website. 

To train tomorrow's workforce and meet the need for more lineworkers, they later brought in a Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship program to replace the existing in-house training by the previous administration. During this Line Life Podcast episode, Lindsey Petteplace, LUMA's workforce transition manager and Jorge Olivero, apprenticeship coordinator for operations for LUMA, share the story of how the program has continued to evolve to prepare the apprentices for long-term and financially rewarding careers in the line trade. 

These apprentices study and train at LUMA College, a chapter of Northwest Lineman College in Puerto Rico. At the training facility, they learn how to scale everything from wood to steel to concrete and fiberglass poles and train on the TransBanker mobile transformer training simulator. After they successfully finish the 13-week Utility Lineman Program, they then start working in the field on projects to power Puerto Rico. 

This episode also features an interview with Paul Koehler and Jason Novak, lineworkers for Ameren Illinois, who talk about how the line trade came together in 2024 to support the Climbin4kids fundraising program and how they can continue to donate in 2025. Finally, we are featuring a brief overview of the Digging for a Cure campaign sponsored by Terex Utilities at the 2024 International Lineman's Expo and a recap of Salt River Project's holiday toy drive to brighten the holidays for children in the community. 

If you are a lineworker who is giving back to your community, we'd love to hear about it. Reach out to us at linelifepodcast@gmail.com.

Through an ORNL research project called Autonomous Information Measurement Systems and Systems (AIMS), drones can communicate with one another to identify a problem on the grid. For example, a scout drone can first fly out to take images, and then if necessary, call out a specialist drone to take more measurements to determine whether or not it's necessary for a line truck to roll out to the location to make repairs. As such, it helps save time for a utility's field workforce.

For more information, check out Part 1 of this interview series and stay tuned for an article about this research and technology in T&D World magazine in 2025. 

The first part highlighted Robert Seekell, who has seven patents; the lineworker who invented the Hook Holster and James Coleman of Meta Design Manufacturing and Gabe Dowdy of Pinnacle Power Services. To listen to Part 1, click here. 

The second part of this ICYMI series features two lineworkers-turned-inventors: Bruce Thompson of Effective Safety Products, who invented the StepUp to allow lineworkers to improve pole positioning and Tim Barat of Gridware, who worked with UC-Berkeley alums to invent the Gridscope to monitor the grid for faults and wildfires. To read the full story, visit the T&D World website. 

For Part 1, you'll first learn about Peter's first-hand experience with Hurricane Helene in Florida and his background as an apprentice lineworker in Minnesota. He'll also give an overview of the evolution of drone technology that inspired new research at ORNL. 

Tune in to Part 2 in the near future to hear Peter take a deeper dive into the research and learn how far drone technology has come in the world of electric utilities. 

In the near future, look for Part 2, which will feature Bruce Thompson, a retired SCE foreman and owner of Effective Safety Products, who created the StepUp to improve work positioning on poles; and Tim Barat, a lineworker turned inventor and CEO who is helping utilities to monitor their systems for faults and wildfires through his company, Gridware. You can also listen to interview-style episodes featuring Bruce and Tim at linelife.podbean.com or read the full article on the T&D World website. 

For more Rodeo coverage, stay tuned to the T&D World website and check out the December print issue of T&D World magazine, which features articles about the 2024 International Lineman's Rodeo Week. Thanks for listening!

The story highlights Aaron Palmer of AMP Utility Company, LLC; Tim Greenwood of Powerline Construction Services, LLC and Patrick Smith of Ameren Illinois. It also offers Chad Dubea's eight tips for launching a successful business in the line trade and Smith's advice for aspiring executives.

To read the full article on the T&D World website, click here. 

This episode features the voices of Sam Posa, sales manager for Endeavor Business Media, who works with the exhibitors at the Expo; Scott Woodruff, an apprentice at Eversource Connecticut who was attending Rodeo Week for the first time; Greg Holmes, formerly of Huskie Tools, the sponsor of the Line Life Podcast; and Bruce Thompson, a long-time Rodeo competitor and new exhibitor at the Expo.

For more information, check out a video and photo gallery from the Lineman's Expo, and look for Part 3 of this series to air soon for the Line Life Podcast. We will also feature 2024 Lineman's Rodeo coverage in our December 2024 print magazine and on our website. 

By listening to the episode, you can learn about Chad Dubea, the founder of the Fallen Linemen Organization, who was recently inducted into the National Lineman Hall of Fame. You can also hear about Melissa Dawe, who is not only an apprentice lineworker, but also a volunteer firefighter. Finally, you can listen to how Paul Koehler and Jason Novak, journeymen lineworkers for Ameren Illinois, are raising money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through Climbin4kids. At the end of the episode, we feature an interview with Paul and Jason at the 2024 International Lineman's Expo and include ways you can donate your time and talents to support the causes and give back. Read the full story on the T&D World website. 

During this episode, you can hear from a few of the ILRA organizers and presenters of the 2024 conference. For more information, stay tuned to T&D World's website in the near future to view a photo gallery and videos from this event. Lineworkers, thanks for staying safe out in the field!

By listening to this episode, you can hear how two lineworkers: Arthur William Muñoz of Salt River Project in Arizona and Billy Patterson of CKEnergy Electric Cooperative in Oklahoma donated their time and talents to help provide first-time power to communities both at home and overseas. 

Stay tuned to Part 2 to hear the stories of Chad Dubea, Melissa Dawe, Jason Novak and Paul Koehler and how they are lighting the way for the line trade.

Stop by T&D World Booth #73 at this week's International Lineman's Expo to pick up your copy of the 2024 Lineworker Supplement to read this story or check it out online. Also, swing by the booth to participate in a live podcast recording, and we will feature you on a future episode. Line Life Podcast listeners, we look forward to seeing you in Kansas City for Rodeo Week!

For more information about the storm response to both hurricanes, stay tuned to T&D World's website, which features a photo gallery from the Hurricane Helene restoration and storm updates.

Lineworkers, if you want to be part of a future Line Life Podcast episode about the hurricane response, email us at linelifepodcast@gmail.com. You can also fill out this form to enter to win a new Storm Jaw from Huskie Tools, the sponsor of the Line Life Podcast. Pick up your Huskie Heroes T-shirt in Booth #617 at the International Lineman's Expo and make sure you stop by the T&D World Booth #73. We look forward to seeing you in Kansas City for the International Lineman's Rodeo Week. Stay safe out there!

Field Editor Amy Fischbach interviewed Dennis during the Trees & Utilities conference in the heart of downtown Fort Worth, Texas, for the 25th anniversary of the event. The conference, which is presented by the UAA and the Arbor Day Foundation, brings together utility vegetation management (UVM) professionals from across the country for three days of networking and education. 

For more information, check out the photo gallery from the event or visit the website. 

During the episode, we also explore his role as the executive director of the 2016 movie, "Life on the Line," starring John Travolta and Sharon Stone, as well as his work to promote the line trade through the Drivin' for Linemen 200 NASCAR truck race.

In addition, he describes the plans for moving the bronze lineworker memorial statue to Florida, the new home of the International Lineman's Museum. To learn more, stay tuned for a future Line Life Podcast episode featuring Andy Price, the founder of the International Lineman's Museum. 

Also, check out the 2024 T&D World Lineworker Supplement, which features Chad in two stories: Lineworkers to Leaders and Lineworkers Light the Way in the Line Trade. You can read the digital edition here. 

Finally, don't miss Part 1, in which Chad shares his tips for lineworkers to start a business in the line trade. 

To protect its power grid from birds, SSEN Transmission installed a visual warning to allow birds to alter their flight path. The Scottish utility worked with FulcrumAir to install the Power Line Sentry Hawk Eye BFD diverters by robot and drone. 

To read the full story, go to T&D World's website. 

The first part will focus on his experiences growing up in the utility industry and his early years as a lineworker. After starting his own contracting company, he is now helping lineworkers, both union and non-union, to launch their own businesses. He shares tips and strategies for lineworkers to launch successful companies to serve the utility industry.

Learn more by picking up a copy of the September 2024 T&D World Lineworker Supplement, which features the article, "Lineworkers to Leaders," at T&D World's booth #73  at the 2024 International Lineman's Rodeo this October. We look forward to seeing you there, and having you as a guest on the Line Life Podcast. 

The article, which was authored by Kartik Ganjoo, Josh Gould, Dave Montz and Richard Sapporito of DLC, is now part of our In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) series for the Line Life podcast. Learn more about the project by reading the full article on the website. 

For more information about Kendra, look for the Faces of the Future department in T&D World's field-focused Electric Utility Operations section in the October 2024 issue and online at www.tdworld.com/electric-utility-operations. If you have an apprentice lineworker you would like to nominate for a future department, send an email to amyfischbach@gmail.com. 

This article, which is now available as part of our ICYMI series for the Line Life Podcast, is authored by Mike Zappone of Tempest Utility Consulting. He shares the stories of three recent retirees from the utility industry and their journey from working full-time to consultants: Anthony Hurley, who retired from FirstEnergy's Jersey Central Power & Light; Philip Wright, the former vice president of distribution operations for Appalachian Power; and Carlos Torres, who retired from his position as vice president of emergency preparedness and business resilience at Consolidated Edison. They discuss best practices and pitfalls to avoid when making the transition from working for utility companies to making their own way in the consulting world. 

As a fourth-year apprentice, she is now looking forward to earning her journeyman ticket and inspiring the next generation of women lineworkers.

To learn more about Melissa, check out her profile in T&D World magazine as part of our Faces of the Future department or look for the article, "Lighting the Way for the Line Trade" in our September 2024 Lineworker Supplement.

In the story, Richards shares how FKEC connects with the local community on vegetation management. To learn more about vegetation management, check out T&D World's Vegetation Management Supplement, which is published in partnership with the Utility Arborist Association (UAA).

After graduating from Northwest Lineman College, he landed a job at his utility close to his hometown. During this episode, he talks about how his experience growing up on a ranch and operating farm equipment helped him in his career in the line trade.

To learn more about Theron, check out his profile, which appeared in T&D World magazine in our new Faces of the Future department. If you have an apprentice you would like to nominate for this department, email amyfischbach@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you. 

In this story, Thuan Tran, Jesse Rorabaugh and Andrew Swisher of Southern California Edison (SCE) share how their utility is taking a multi-layered approach to effectively mitigating the wildfire challenge. For example, SCE is driving down the wildfire threat by hardening the grid to avoid or prevent faults that can result in potential ignitions.

Learn more by listening to the narrated version of this story on Podbean or reading the article on the T&D World website. 

The first up is Zackery Gough, a fourth-year apprentice for Pedernales Electric Cooperative in Texas. Zack won the apprentice division not once, but twice, at the International Lineman's Rodeo, and he's eligible to compete in the division once again this October. He talks about training at Northwest Lineman College, working in the intense Texas summer heat and working out in the field to keep the lights on for his community. 

To learn more about Zack, you can read his online profile, which appeared in T&D World magazine. 

This article explores how LUMA Energy is aiming to boost reliability and resiliency by focusing on vegetation clearing, automation and substation modernization in Puerto Rico. 

For more information, you can listen to a recent two-part series on our Line Life Podcast on Podbean featuring Dr. Shay Bahamirad, senior vice president T&D Strategy and Sustainability for LUMA Energy.

Part 1: LUMA's Power Grid Transformation in Puerto Rico Part 2: LUMA's Island-Wide Work Plan in Puerto Rico

We also published the article, "Powering Puerto Rico," in our 2023 Lineworker Supplement, and it is available as an audio story in our ICYMI series. 

During this episode, he shares his story about going to work with his dad, a lineworker, in Florida; working across the country in the line trade; training the next generation of lineworkers; and inventing a product to help lineworkers to improve safety and efficiency in the field. 

While working in the line trade in 2009, Tim experienced Black Saturday, a day he will never forget. Wildfires took the lives of 173 people, injured 414, burned half a million acres, consumed 3,500 buildings and killed more than 1 million animals.

The wildfires impacted him personally and professionally and changed the course of his career. He moved from Australia to California, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California-Berkeley.

Tim and two other UC Berkeley alumni, Hall Chen and Abdulrahman Bin Omar, then invented Gridscope. Lineworkers install the device on transmission and distribution poles to provide continuous real-time asset monitoring even during outages. After securing a patent, the team founded the company, Gridware.

Listen to this episode to learn how Tim built his own electrical grid in California to test the technology and how he and his team took the product from a concept to reality. 

• Two-Time Champs: the Southern California team of Ramon Garcia, Jacob Lybbert and Wil Robinson
• Florida Trio: the JEA team of Robert Hess, Michael Corbitt and Brian Gregg
• Carolina Competitors: the Duke Energy team of Sandy Barnhill, Jay Tipton and Keith Griffin

For more information about the Lineman's Rodeo, check out the website. We look forward to seeing you this October in Kansas City!

He also shares his experiences with the International Lineman's Rodeo, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2024. Learn more at linemansrodeokc.com. Also check out the Spotlight on the Line Trade featuring Kris and Part 1 of our recent Lineman's Rodeo-themed episode, which highlights Kris and other competitors and supporters. 

The audio story is a follow-up to the two-part Line Life Podcast series featuring Dr. Shay Bahramirad, senior vice president, T&D, Strategy and Sustainability, for LUMA. It is also a precursor to a brand new article, LUMA Embarks on Island-Wide Work Plan," which will appear in the April 2024 issue of T&D World.

To read the online version of the "Powering Puerto Rico" story, visit the T&D World website. 

Susan Blaser, the lead line technician program coordinator at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City, spent 21 years at Kansas City Power & Light (now Evergy) as a journeyman lineworker and in the training department before joining MCC 15 years ago to prepare the next generation of lineworkers for careers in the line trade.

The second interview features Corry Ruch, a power line technician for Hydro One and an International Lineman's Rodeo competitor who has been working in the field for the last 35 years. 

This narrated article provides four strategies for electric utilities to attract, train and retain female lineworkers. It also gives tips for women to succeed in the line trade and reflects on the history and future of female lineworkers. 

Click here to read the full story, which appeared in T&D World's 2023 Lineworker Supplement. Also, be sure to check out the Line Life Podcast's four-part "Women on the Line" series on Podbean to learn more about the women mentioned in the narrated article including Joanne Ward, Susan Blaser, Alice Lockridge and Randi Blaser. 

Listen to this narrated version of an article published in T&D World's 2023 Lineworker Supplement to learn how the line trade is joining forces on the humanitarian project. Lineworkers are constructing new lines on the 27,000-square-mile Navajo Nation spanning parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah with 300,000 residents and a total of 55,000 homes. 

Dr. Shay Bahramirad, senior vice president, engineering, asset management and capital programs for LUMA, continues the discussion about the grid modernization projects. For example, the utility's field workforce is clearing right-of-ways, installing new poles and automation devices and modernizing substations damaged by the recent hurricanes. 

This episode of ICYMI on the Line Life Podcast platform features a narrated version of this story, which was written by Timothy McThenia, who has more than 36 years of experience in the utility industry. He provides managerial oversight to the ComEd management team, which won the Edison Electric Institute Emergency Response Award for its response to Hurricane Ida in 2021. 

With its multiple tens of billions of dollars of investment, rebuilding the electric grid in Puerto Rico is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the country and among the most ambitious power industry projects undertaken in this century, according to LUMA.

Listen to the episode to hear how LUMA is increasing resiliency and reliability through grid modernization projects including the deployment of a modern energy management system, an advanced metering infrastructure, island-wide distribution automation and new substations and transmission lines. Also, look for Part 2 of the interview series, which will air on Feb. 16, 2024. 

For more Lineman's Rodeo coverage, visit www.tdworld.com/electric-utility-operations. 

By working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army soldiers can train for future careers in line work while serving as soldiers in the military. In this podcast episode, SSG Dalton Kruse, a combat engineer for the U.S. Army, dives into the two options: Army Reserve and active duty.

To learn more, listen to the episode featuring Rustin "Nemo" Owen or read the articles, "Veterans in the Line Trade," or Military Linemen at www.tdworld.com. Also, make sure to email us with your comments on this episode and suggestions for future podcast guests to linelifepodcast@gmail.com. 

Rustin competed at the International Lineman's Rodeo before serving on the sidelines for the International Lineman's Rodeo Association safety committee. He also worked as a safety professional for an IOU before moving on to his current role at Honeywell Salisbury. 

This episode shines the spotlight on line families. It features interviews with Crystal Tompkins, the wife of a Jackson EMC senior team competitor and Eddie (Frank) Hutter, the dad of David, a Duke Progress apprentice lineworker. It also features the voices of line kids including Kale Lindquist; Esteban and Isabella Byrd; Preston Draper; Kipton Koehler and Bristol Novak. 

In addition, this episode features a segment on the Climbin4kids program, which is organized by Ameren Illinois to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Lineworker Paul Koehler, who recently lost his daughter, Guiliana, to childhood cancer, speaks out about how the program helped him and his family. He also shares how the line trade can continue to support the fundraiser to help other families. 

If you would like to donate to the Climbin for Kids fundraiser, you can email Climbinforkids@ameren.com or visit the new page on Instagram or the fundraising website.

Everyone from line kids to competitors and event judges stopped by our booth to share their stories about why they were participating in the Lineman's Rodeo Week.

Part 1 features interviews with competitors and supporters, while Part 2, which will air in November 2023, will focus on the line families and the Climbin for Kids fundraiser. Visit the T&D World website for more event coverage and to see a photo gallery of those featured in this episode, visit https://tdworld.com/21275912

In other parts of the service territory, lineworkers have installed covers, deterring not only eagles but also other large birds from striking multiple energized phases at the same time. Through its avian protection program, Ameren is not only protecting wildlife but also the integrity of its distribution system. 

For T&D World's July 2023 Line Life Podcast, which is sponsored by Huskie Tools, Field Editor Amy Fischbach has a conversation with Kurt Rakers, supervising engineer at Ameren Missouri, about how the utility used drones to install the bird diverters.

For our second episode in our T&D Talk podcast series, Ray Kasten, vice president, digital solutions, for Southwire, focuses on digital grid resiliency assessments. With lower O&M dollars and more customers working from home, utilities can conduct a 30-day assessment to measure the health of their network, identify areas of improvement with the highest ROI and improve reliability and resiliency with limited dollars. For more information, visit www.southwire.com.

The BI-Crescent project began in 2021 and is planned to be wrapped up by 2027. In the early stages of the project, Jason Hartle, former senior project manager; and Meenah Shyu, general manager of engineering, talked about Phase 1, which was completed last summer.

Today, the project has moved on to the second phase, which plans to be completed by May 2023. Line crews are currently replacing 20 structures and about four miles of transmission wire circuit length. To learn more about the project, read the story, "Lineworkers Rebuild Century-Old Infrastructure" on the T&D World Web site at https://tdworld.com/21245988.

For our September 2022 Line Life podcast, which is sponsored by Huskie Tools, we are highlighting two employees of Duke Energy, which has won several awards for its support and employment of veterans. The company currently employs 2,000 military veterans, and this episode highlights interviews with Tyler Klemas, senior business development specialist and U.S. Marines veteran, and Troy Ross, an underground network specialist who served in the U.S. Army.

Scholarship recipients not only earn free tuition to Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, but through the LA-based nonprofit Brotherhood Crusade, they also receive support services. Once they complete the power line mechanic certificate program, obtain their Class A driver’s license and complete any SCE pre-employment requirements, they are eligible for a groundman entry-level position within SCE’s 50,000-sq-mi service area.

The August 2022 episode features an interview with Djon Greer, a 2021 Lineworker Scholarship winner who completed the one-year program, met the requirements and recently started a career as an SCE groundman.

www.tdworld.com/electric-utility-operations

www.utilityproducts.com

www.tdworld.com

www.utilityproducts.com

Produced by T&D World and Utility Products.

• Rick Childers, The International Lineman's Rodeo Board of Directors (retired)
• Robert Padgett, Lineman
• Daniel Aeschleman, Lineman, LEDWP
• Admad Ababneh, VP Major Projects & Programs for Electric Operations, PG&E
• Alex Benoit, Apprentice Lineman, National Grid
• Tim Jones, Evergy
• Russell Smith, Journeyman Lineman, Hotline Construction
• Andy Price, Founder, the International Lineman Museum & Hall of Fame
• Christopher Hedges, Electrical Contractor
• Amy Fischbach, Field Editor, T&D World
• Bruce Akin, Vice President, Transmission and Distribution, Evergy
• Sgt Lucas Remillard
• Katie Ward
• Stasha Ferguson
• Lynne Swayne
• Mike Hayward, The International Lineman's Rodeo Board of Directors
• Dale Warman, The International Lineman's Rodeo Board of Directors

This episode is brought to you by Huskie Tools.

Produced by T&D World and Utility Products.

This episode is brought to you by Milwaukee Tool.

Produced by T&D World and Utility Products.

Produced by T&D World and Utility Products.

Learn more & register now for the International Lineman's Rodeo at www.linemansrodeokc.com

Produced by T&D World and Utility Products.

Learn more & register now for the International Lineman's Rodeo at www.linemansrodeokc.com

Produced by T&D World and Utility Products