POWERGRAMS

3 Alabama Power's 12th Street Crew in the Birmingham Division is working to bring electricity to new houses in Woodlawn. The construction site is loud and busy with bulldozers, work trucks and vans. Freshly excavated mounds of mud and debris have been pushed aside to make way for another new house that will be coming soon. The power poles have already been set and crew members in bucket trucks are beginning to string the lines that eventually will transfer power from the pole at the street, down the alley, to the houses. The construction is, in many ways, similar to storm restoration work, as Alabama Power employees must start each day from scratch. The linemen work carefully, in unison, watching and assisting their co-workers, while safely sharing the space with construction workers. "We are safety focused," said David Swindle, lead lineman. "Alabama Power gives you all of the training to really teach you all you need to know to be able to do your job safely and efficiently, and do a great job at it." Alabama Power linemen are recognized inside and outside the company for the work they do, especially with storm restoration. The company has received 17 Emergency Response Awards from the Edison Electric Institute, the trade association that represents investor-owned electric utilities. "Our linemen work in difficult, often dangerous, conditions to keep the lights on, and together with their fellow employees across Alabama Power, symbolize our commitment to customers," said Alabama Power CEO Mark Crosswhite. "On June 5 we celebrate Alabama Lineman Appreciation Day, a well-deserved special recognition, but our customers and everyone in the Alabama Power family appreciate what they do every day." "We have many highly skilled trade jobs at Alabama Power that take focus, dedication, sacrifice and a caring bond to watch out for one another," said Casey Shelton, System Council U-19 business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. "Having linemen recognized in our state is truly an honor we should all be proud of." Alabama Power linemen receive extensive annual training as well as invaluable on-the-job mentoring. In this 14-man crew, worker experience ranges from two years to Swindle's 23. Most Alabama Power linemen hire on as utility assistants, and then work their way up as apprentices, to linemen and lead linemen, gaining experience at locations throughout the state. For Swindle, teaching, encouraging and motivating young employees is one of the best parts of his job. "To work with the young guys and help them develop their skills and talents, to get them where they want to be, is something I've always enjoyed. I make sure we do things, and do them right … making sure they go home safely. That's the most important job I do every single day." "We want them to know the knowledge that has been passed on to us, so that down the road they'll pass it on to the next guy," said lineman Nick Hatcher, who has 10 years on the job. "They say we're a bunch of brothers out here. We are. You become so close, because your life depends on them." Alabama's variable weather, including tornadoes, hurricanes, and summer and winter storms, provides Alabama Power linemen with a breadth of knowledge and experience, setting them apart from peers within the industry. With this expertise, Alabama Power is frequently called on to assist with restoration throughout the country. The time away can be difficult, especially for the families of the linemen, who are often left at home for hours or weeks at a time while the linemen work to get the power back on. "Most people think that we just go flip the switch and electricity comes back on, like on TV, but that's usually not the case," said Hatcher, whose first hurricane-related restoration was while he was an apprentice. He spent one week in Louisiana, followed by a week in Texas, sleeping in trailers, eating in tents and just working. "Even though you're away from your family (during restoration trips), when you show up, the residents come out and give you hugs. It doesn't matter who you are, who they are, they're just so Lead Lineman Swindle on the job.

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