Each year, the rodeo celebrates the more than 100,000 brave men and women who build and maintain America’s energy grid. This highly skilled and dedicated workforce often works around the clock and in dangerous conditions to restore power—and hope—to customers and communities impacted by storms, hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, and other extreme weather events.

In a conversation with EEI, member company lineworkers reflected on what makes their work so important:

• “If you love helping people, helping your community, and being an integral part of your community, this is a great career,” said Duke Energy’s Sandy Barnhill.
• “My grandpa was a lineman. My dad was a lineman. My brother is a foreman. It’s a lifesaving service that we do. We keep society going,” said Adam Beene with Pacific Gas & Electric Company.
• “I like going to work every day. It beats all my expectations. It takes care of my family. It’s a great and prideful job,” said Eversource Energy’s Jason Henley.
• “My favorite part of this rodeo is the camaraderie, the family, the friends. To see the guys I used to work with, climb poles with, do transmission and distribution work with, it’s fun. It’s a big family,” said Todd Scheitel with MidAmerican Energy.

From scaling 40-foot power poles to executing simulated rescue operations, the competition demonstrates the strength, safety, and professionalism that define the lineworking trade. EEI and its member companies proudly support this event to recognize the vital role these dedicated workers play in ensuring that electricity is safe and reliable for hundreds of millions of Americans.

This new video complements EEI’s ongoing efforts to highlight how its member companies are developing innovative workforce development initiatives to prepare the next generation of skilled energy workers. Earlier this week, EEI released a Careers in Energy Week edition of its Electric Perspectives podcast featuring FirstEnergy Pennsylvania President John Hawkins and Center for Energy Workforce Development Executive Director Missy Henriksen.