Delaware

Line Worker

Line workers work outside and with electricity, so they have to be extremely careful not to get electrocuted. They also have to be able to climb poles and use tools like pliers. In order to become a line worker, you need a high school diploma or equivalent degree.

A new generation of electric line workers is needed as utilities struggle with staffing shortages.

The next generation of line workers will be needed at a time when the existing workforce is shrinking. Utilities need to quickly identify and train new workers to replace those who are expected to retire in coming years.

And keep in mind that there aren’t enough workers right now. In addition to hiring more line workers, utilities are turning to third-party contractors for assistance during storms and other times of increased demand. When Hurricane Irma struck Florida last year, utilities tapped into mutual aid networks to supplement their own workforce with crews from as far away as Kentucky and Canada.

Delaware Electric Cooperative Inc. & IBEW Local Apprenticeship

• Your first line worker gig comes with a unique perk: Delaware Electric Cooperative Inc. will pay for you to go through the apprenticeship program with IBEW Local 1298. Once you’ve completed the coursework, you’ll get your raise and a certificate from the state of Delaware that shows you’re qualified as a line worker. This is one of the first organizations to offer this kind of benefit, but it’s by no means alone in supporting its employees: Comcast, Verizon and AT&T all have similar programs across the country.

Exelon Corp. subsidiary Delmarva Power has works with DelTech community college.

Delmarva Power has worked with community colleges in Delaware to create a training program specifically for its electric line workers. After the two-year program, you can be an apprentice line worker at Delmarva. Classes are offered year-round.

Recruiting the next wave of workers starts in high school.

Recruiting the next wave of workers starts in high school, where students can sign up for pre-apprenticeship programs and get a feel for the trade before they graduate.

For adults looking to change careers, utility jobs are attractive because they pay well, offer benefits, and don’t require a college degree. In fact, some companies prefer to hire people with different skill sets who are willing to learn.

It’s also a good way to give back to your community. Many linemen were inspired by their local line worker who restored power after a storm; now it’s their chance to step in and do the same for others.

The electric utility industry has been combating worker shortages as Baby Boomers retire.

The challenge is that the electric utility industry has been working for years to find ways to combat worker shortages as Baby Boomers retire. The industry is typically known for high-paying jobs and benefits, but it can be hard to recruit new workers when careers in technology, such as computer programming, offer similar salaries.

“We continue to see a need for labor,” says Chris Eck of IBEW Local 569 in San Diego. “We just don’t see people lining up for these jobs.”

The utility industry isn’t alone. A recent study predicts the United States will need 30 percent more electricians by 2024 than it did in 2014 due to increased demand from businesses and households.

Each year, customers pay more than $100 million that goes toward maintaining Delaware’s high-voltage grid.

Every day and night, 24/7, the grid is kept in constant watch by some of the best trained men and women in America. They spend years learning how to safely install, repair or replace this equipment. The costs associated with maintaining, repairing or replacing these lines can be expensive – but they’re essential to keeping the lights on at your home or business.

These skilled workers are paid well for what they do – but that doesn’t mean it’s cheap to train them. In fact, it takes a lot of training (and money) to teach someone how to install new lines safely and efficiently.

Line crews are on call 24/7 to repair outages or hang new lines when neighborhoods grow or new business opens up.

As a line worker, you maintain the lines and poles that bring electricity to your community. You’ll be on call 24/7 to repair outages or hang new lines when neighborhoods grow or new business opens up.

There is always going to be a need for people who can fix wires, but they take time and money to train.

The work is dangerous. It’s hard. And it can be well-paid, especially in a state like Delaware, where the cost of living isn’t high and skilled labor remains in demand.

But the job of the line worker is also one that many people aren’t aware of—and one that may not exist for much longer. An aging workforce and a lack of new workers means utilities are automating more tasks to keep up with demand. With fewer workers out on the lines, companies like Delmarva are having a harder time attracting and training new employees. Still, there’s always going to be a need for people who can fix wires and install equipment, even if they’re not climbing up as many poles as they used to.

For now at least, these crews will still be coming down your street every once in a while—and maybe you’ll hear them before you see them.