Duke Energy celebrates National Lineworker Appreciation Day with $50K in grants for programs

GREENVILLE - For lineworkers, weathering the storm is just another day on the job, a job critical to building the 21st-century infrastructure South Carolina's economy will be built on.

As Duke Energy celebrated National Lineworker Appreciation Day on Tuesday, April 18, it's also important to recognize the critical role the state's technical colleges and high schools play in preparing and training the energy workforce of the future. As part of the company's ongoing support for these programs, the Duke Energy Foundation has granted $10,000 to each of the five training sites that are preparing lineworkers with the skills necessary to keep the lights on and ready the grid for a low-carbon future.

"We are transforming the energy grid - making strategic, data-driven investments to improve reliability, use more solar and clean energy and provide customers with the intelligent information they need to make better energy choices and save money," said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy's South Carolina state president. "These investments will reap benefits for many years to come, but we must increase the talent pipeline for lineworkers here in South Carolina today to build the smart-thinking power grid of tomorrow. Programs like these are absolutely critical for us to be successful in these efforts."

The grants will help provide the necessary safety equipment to students as part of their participation in these programs. Recipients include York Comprehensive High School, York Technical College, Horry Georgetown Technical College, Tri-County Technical College and Denmark Technical College.

During the past six years, Duke Energy and its foundation have provided more than $2.8 million in funding to support lineworker programs in states where the company operates.

Those interested in a career as an electric lineworker with Duke Energy should contact community colleges directly for more information on their specific lineworker training programs, including available funding for tuition.

Battling storms, building the future

Ten years after the U.S. Senate passed a resolution in 2013 designating April 18 as National Lineworker Appreciation Day, the role of lineworkers is more important than ever before - in maintaining and growing energy infrastructure, protecting public safety and making sure communities have power.

"Our lineworkers continue to do the important work of 'keeping the lights on' - whether it's our transmission techs working on high-voltage transmission lines that carry electricity from power plants or our distribution techs working on the lines that carry power to homes and businesses," said Harry Sideris, executive vice president of customer experience, solutions and services for Duke Energy. "I'm proud that our line teams prioritize safety and taking care of our customers and of each other."

The more than 7,700 Duke Energy and contract lineworkers who make up the Duke Energy line team are responsible for constructing, operating and maintaining equipment and more than 300,000 miles of power lines in Duke Energy's service territories - enough to circle the Earth 12 times.

"My job comes with daily challenges and responsibilities for both my crew and me, but I take pride in safely and efficiently delivering power to our customers - so they can go about their lives with the modern conveniences that electricity provides, and that most people depend on," said Joshua Haithcock, senior journeyman lineworker originally from South Carolina who currently is with the New Bern, N.C., coastal zone workforce development crew.