Many dedicated people in dozens of work areas are responsible for ensuring our region enjoys dependable and affordable electric service, but when a storm breaks and the power goes out, all eyes are on the electric linemen who brave the elements 24 hours a day to keep power flowing to our homes and businesses.
In gratitude for the excellent work linemen perform, several communities in Xcel Energy’s Texas-New Mexico service area are planning proclamations honoring local Xcel Energy linemen in advance of National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18, a day set aside by the U.S. Senate in 2013 to shine a spotlight on U.S. electric linemen.
“Our communities in Texas and New Mexico are incredibly supportive of Xcel Energy linemen because they see firsthand the fine work they do,” said David Hudson, president of Southwestern Public Service Company, an Xcel Energy company. “Just in a span of six months we’ve experienced everything from tornadoes to blizzards to wildfires, and many of these extreme events took place on weekends and holidays. We’re all thankful for the dedication of our linemen and the support of their families.”
Currently, 245 line workers are employed in Xcel Energy’s Texas and New Mexico service area. Once prospective linemen have passed a series of entry tests, they start a four-year apprentice program at a base pay of close to $50,000. Upon successful completion of the four-year training, apprentices are promoted to journeymen positions. These are highly-specialized jobs that require technical training to ensure the public and employees are safe around electric power.
“Dozens of our long-term employees started their careers in line work,” Hudson said. “It’s a great opportunity that many young people may not be aware of, so we’re always looking for ways to spread the word.”
Information on careers in line work and the other opportunities at Xcel Energy can be found at www.xcelenergy.com/Company/Careers.
Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit www.xcelenergy.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
(News release from Xcel Energy)
