Today, on July 10, we recognize Lineworker Appreciation Day at SWEPCO. This is one of two days each year when we honor the exceptional dedication, hard work and vital service our lineworkers provide to our customers.
SWEPCO’s lineworkers are among the heroes whose typical day includes safely handling thousands of volts of electricity, high atop power lines to keep electricity flowing to homes and businesses.
In July, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) join together to honor lineworkers.
“I couldn't be prouder of our employees as I stand here today. This week in the ArkLaTex area, we had record-breaking 67 tornado warnings in one day. That's unbelievable,” Mattison said. “But, you know what our line workers did? They went into the storm. They went to the battle, if you will. And they do that each and every day, not only when there's a storm. They take a lot of pride in ensuring that our customers' lights stay on.”
It’s fitting Lineworker Appreciation Day falls in the middle of a major restoration effort, after Tropical Storm Beryl left massive destruction. SWEPCO field crews have been tirelessly working to restore power to thousands of customers.
“Every day I'm deeply impressed by the resilience and strength of our line workers, especially when I see pictures and hear stories about your heroic efforts during extreme weather conditions. When we recognize and celebrate National Line Worker Appreciation Day, these are the times that come to mind to me and an additional thanks to you for all you've done to serve our customers and restore their power in sometimes treacherous conditions,” said Peggy Simmons, AEP VP of Utilities.
READYING THE NEXT GENERATION OF TALENT - According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic, growth is expected within this field. Already, the industry estimates openings for line installers and repairers projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or retire.
“Lineworkers are an elite group of men and women who put their lives on the line to ensure we have the power we rely on to stay safe and comfortable,” said Drew Seidel, Vice President, Distribution Region Operations. “We are committed to getting future lineworkers ready to serve.”
SWEPCO has been intentional about helping prepare the next generation of talent and has active partnerships with two community colleges, Texas State Technical College and a more recent partnership at Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College (NLTCC) to develop an additional talent pipeline within Northwest Louisiana. NLTCC’s Lineworker Certification program represents the Explore careers with American Electric Power: https://www.aep.com/careers/ second program endorsed by SWEPCO. For the past several years, Texas State Technical College (TSTC) in Marshall, Texas, has provided SWEPCO a talent pipeline from its Electrical Lineworker Technology program.