Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative (CWEC) lineworkers work every day in all weather conditions to make sure our community has the power to live their lives. It’s hard work, but it’s very rewarding. As we celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day on April 8, we hope this will give you a better look into what the lineworkers face and more importantly, why they do it.  

The Danger

A lot of people know linework is dangerous because lineworkers work near high-voltage electricity. Move just the wrong way or lose focus for a split second, and it could be deadly. They have to be aware of their surroundings and the safety of the person next to them. They often work on energized power lines, and they can’t always tell the lines are energized by just looking at them. They work with an element of danger that requires concentration, and there is no margin for error. The environment compounds the pressure, because when you need power most is usually when the weather is worst. Lineworkers often work in storms with rain, wind, extreme heat and cold, in the dark, or on the side of the road next to fast-moving traffic. Yes, it’s dangerous, but that’s what they’re trained to do.

Many may not realize it, but lineworkers undergo years of training before they can officially be called a lineworker. They typically start as a groundperson, helping crews with tools and keeping job sites safe, then transition to apprentice status, which typically spans four years. After an apprenticeship, with more than 7,000 hours of training under their belts, they transition to journeyman lineworker status––that’s when they’re considered officially trained in the field.

But the education is ongoing. Lineworkers continuously receive training to stay mindful of safety requirements and up to date on the latest equipment and procedures.

The Physical Demand

The daily expectations of a lineworker are physically demanding, but you won’t hear any complaints about that. They know what they signed up for—loading heavy materials, climbing poles and in and out of buckets. A lot of times, they go places the trucks can’t, such as hiking through the woods loaded down with 40 pounds of personal protective equipment. But that’s the job. Most are just glad to be outside.

The Sacrifices

There are some sacrifices to being a lineworker. They are often first on the scene of an emergency. They don’t know what type of situation they’re going to face or when they’re going to face it. They get calls at all hours and in the middle of the night. They miss family events, but their families are very supportive, and it pays off in the end. They make sure there is nothing standing in the way of helping friends and neighbors get back to normal life.

It’s Worth It

One thing that makes this job worthwhile is the camaraderie. The co-op is their second family, and the line crews are a brotherhood. In this work, they have to depend on the person beside them in life-or-death circumstances. It’s a culture of trust, teamwork and service. It’s all about keeping the teammate beside them safe and the lights on for everybody else.

They have a lot of pride in their work. Even when it’s cold and wet, they know they’re working to keep people warm. There’s a lot of satisfaction in hearing someone yell “Thank you” from the window after the lights come back on or seeing people flipping the light switches on their porches after an outage is restored.