ATLANTA, April 24 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 200 electric linemen
throughout Georgia will display their unique skills during the 12th annual
Georgia Lineman's Rodeo, scheduled May 6 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the
Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050922/CLTH085)
During the day-long competition, the linemen will showcase the skills
they rely on to restore electricity under grueling conditions-stifling
heat, freezing cold, torrential rain and high wind.
"To us, this work is just the greatest thing in the world," said Jim
Wright, Georgia Electric Membership Corp. vice president of safety,
training and education. "It's something most people can not do, would not
do, but once it gets in your blood, it stays with you."
In a profession where a mistake can mean a critical injury or death,
skill, safety and speed will prove crucial in the annual competition.
During the contest, linemen must climb poles and change out live-line
insulators, reconfigure fiberglass and wooden cross-arms, and complete a
simulated rescue of an injured coworker, from high atop a power pole, while
racing against the clock and following all safety rules. In addition,
linemen will participate in two mystery events, to remain secret until the
day before the rodeo.
"When others run from storms, electric linemen run to them," notes
Jimmy Norman, light superintendent with the Albany Water, Gas & Light
Commission. "These folks are responsible for keeping the lights on for
millions of Georgians and for neighbors in other states who call for help."
On May 6, linemen will compete as journeymen (the highest qualified
individuals), apprentices (those in the first four years of linemen
training) and seniors (those aged 45 and older) in one of three divisions:
electric membership corporations (EMCs), investor-owned utilities and
electric cities of Georgia.
First, second and third place team and individual awards will be
presented to journeymen, apprentices and seniors in each division for best
overall score, best team and best event awards.
The competition is open to the public. Rodeo officials recommend that
families bring lawn chairs and witness for themselves the skill and
expertise required of linemen who perform these complex tasks.
Electric utilities are also hoping the Lineman's Rodeo will leave a
lasting impression on attendees, possibly serving as the catalyst for
someone to join the ranks of electric linemen.
"One of the biggest challenges for us is employing a well-trained and
skilled electric line crew," says Ken Rose, Georgia Power Co. training
specialist and rodeo chair.
"We hope that families come to the event, watch the important work
these linemen perform, and consider a career as an electric lineman. It's
an honorable, rewarding profession, and many folks have built a successful
career and provided a good living for themselves and their families."
The Georgia Lineman's Rodeo Association is a partnership of the
Electric Cities of Georgia, Georgia Electric Membership Corp. and Georgia
Power Co. Its purpose is to conduct an annual Georgia Lineman's Rodeo and
focus on electric safety, training and safe work practices.
The Electric Cities of Georgia is a trade organization that represents
52 municipal electric systems in Georgia that in turn bring energy to
approximately 600,000 citizens. As the third largest power supplier in the
state, energy sales exceeded $644 million in 2004.
Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state's
42 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp. and Georgia Transmission Corp. Through this
statewide network, the 42 EMCs provide electricity and related services to
four million people, half of Georgia's population, across 73 percent of the
state's land area.
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Co., one of the
nation's largest generators of electricity. The company is an
investor-owned utility, serving customers in 57,000 of the state's 59,000
square miles. Georgia Power's two million customers are in all but six of
Georgia's 159 counties.
Sponsors of the 2006 Georgia Lineman's Rodeo include Altec, Equity
Utility Service Co., Georgia Power Federal Credit Union, GRESCO, MasTec
Energy, Tri- State Utility Products, Whitehead & Associates, Aircraft
Dynamics, Cooper Power Systems, GEMC Foreman and Supervisors' Assoc.,
Greenlee Fairmont, Hubbell Power Systems, Hughes Supply, Lineman Barn, Pike
Electric, Reliable Equipment, Solomon Corp., Southcon-Hasting Fiberglass,
Sperry Instruments, Utility Specialist, Vermeer Southeast, Carhartt,
PowerTel Utility Products, ProCore Solutions and Southern Safety Supply.
For more information on the 2006 Georgia Lineman's Rodeo, visit
http://www.garodeo.com.
For directions to the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter,
visit http://www.gnfa.com.
SOURCE Georgia Power
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Related links:
http://www.garodeo.com
http://www.gnfa.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050922/CLTH085
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Jim Wright of Georgia Electric Membership
Corp., +1-478-992-6130, or cell, +1-478-972-2092; or Karmen
Scarbro of Electric Cities of Georgia, +1-770-794-5240, or cell,
+1-404-226-4809; or Tiffany Gilstrap of Georgia Power Co.,
+1-404-506-7501, or cell, +1-404-316-2864
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