A Typical Day for A WCEC Lineman
A typical day on the WCEC Line Crew might very well start the night before. While getting ready for bed, a member reports her power is out. The call is dispatched to our two linemen on call. Since the pair are on their weekly rotation to be on call, the co-op truck is already in their driveways. They meet at the member’s home, identify a problem in the base of the meter, install a temporary fix until an electrician can get out the next day and return home two hours later. They’ll report for work by 7:30 the next morning.
Our lineworkers like hunting down problems because they know our members depend on them. The job of an electric utility lineworker takes specific skills, intestinal fortitude and a “get it done” personality.
Following Procedure
WCEC line crews start each day by gathering together, combing through information—checklists, maps, work orders—and planning the day’s work. They compare notes and find out who is familiar with the area they’ll be working in.
In addition to taking time to coordinate plans, the lineworkers need to keep track of a lot of equipment. Neatly organized shelves in the warehouse hold saws, drills, climbing hooks, insulated work poles, trash cans, and binoculars. They always wear safety gear or have it close at hand—hard hats, safety glasses, fire-retardant uniforms, steel-toe boots, regular work gloves, and hot-line safety gloves.
One more task keeps the crews from driving off to their first jobs, and it’s the most important of all: the safety meeting. While catastrophic contact with electric current is always the top concern, training on a variety of other safety topics is ongoing. Our crews know the job is hazardous and unforgiving, but also that it doesn’t have to be dangerous if they always follow the correct procedures. Lineworkers have the tools, the rules, and the knowledge to keep their work from being dangerous.
Once the prep work is done, the convoy is ready. Three trucks leave the office: a service truck, a bucket truck pulling a trailer with a large spool of wire, and a digger truck with a huge auger on top. They head across the co-op’s service territory for the day’s job.
We Don’t Say ‘Hurry Up’
When the caravan arrives at the work site, the lineworkers gather near the front of one of the trucks for what a lot of co-ops call a “tailgate meeting.” They review the job, location, and equipment, ensuring everything is in working order and meets safety guidelines.
They break their huddle, de-energize the lines they’re working on, complete the task at hand, and re-energize the line.
Back at the co-op, they check the paperwork for the next day’s jobs and then stock the trucks with the equipment they need for an early start.
To an outsider, taking time to follow all the procedures of a lineworker’s workday may seem tedious, but WCEC lineworkers disagree. They know how the work should be done and do it—never rushing through or skipping steps. They look out for each other and WCEC’s members. It’s the co-op way.
National Lineman Appreciation Day is Monday, April 14, 2025
This month, when you see a lineworker, please thank them for the work they do to keep power flowing regardless of the time of day or weather conditions!