PENSACOLA, Florida – Line work is dangerous. Long hours, difficult – if not impossible – conditions. Life-threatening situations with thousands of volts of electricity flowing through the lines. As first responders, lineworkers need to be able to respond at home or other parts of the state or country during any kind of weather.

During the recent hurricane that hit Northwest Florida and the southeastern part of the country, Gulf Power deployed 100 lineworkers to Tallahassee and Georgia to assist in power restoration for more than a week. Lineworkers not only restored energy and got the lights back on, but helped restore hope to hundreds of thousands of customers during the hot August summer.

It takes a certain kind of person to tackle this line of work.

Gulf Power will be hosting a Line Worker Expo in October, specifically to recruit people who might be interested.

“It’s tough work and it takes someone with a special skill set to excel at it,” said Rick DelaHaya, Gulf Power spokesperson. “We have to constantly be on the lookout for candidates who can come in and do this job, safely and efficiently.”

The expo will be from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 8, at the McCrary Training Center in Pensacola. Line crews from all three districts will be there to demonstrate the different types of jobs involved in line work. Exhibits will also be set up for potential recruits to see what is involved in being a lineworker for Gulf Power.

“The crews will work through several different scenarios, demonstrating the skills required to do the job and show those attending how it’s done,” DelaHaya added. “Human Resources will also be there to answer any questions about working for Southern Company and Gulf Power.”

HR will also help the recruits sign up for an employment profile on the company’s Careers website. There is no cost for candidates to attend and lunch will be provided at the event.

“This is a great opportunity for anyone who has thought about a career in line service with Gulf Power to come out — learn about the job and ask any questions,” said DelaHaya.

For more information on the Lineworker Expo, contact Ben Scott, at 850.505.5630 or register at http://glfpwr.co/lineworkerexpo.

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Gulf Power is an investor-owned energy provider with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves 450,000 customers in eight counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely provide exceptional customer value by delivering reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible electricity while strengthening our communities. Visit online at MyGulfPower.com or on the company’s Facebook page. News information can be found at GulfPowerNews.com.

News Media Contacts:

Jeff Rogers
External Communications & Brand Manager
850-444-6243, cell 850-572-5511

Rick DelaHaya
Media Relations Supervisor
850-444-6433, cell 318-294-2338

Natalie Smith
Media Relations
850-444-6784, cell 850-375-6123