ATLANTA, May 8)— Linemen from across the Southeast showcased the unique skills they rely on to keep the lights on at the 12th annual Georgia Lineman’s Rodeo that was held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Georgia.   This year’s competition, which took place on May 6, featured 34 competing journeyman teams and 72 apprentices.

“A lineman’s work requires a lot of skill to the do the job, but also a lot of commitment to get the job done safely and efficiently,” said Jim Wright, Georgia Electric Membership Corp. vice president of safety, training and education.  “The talent that these competing linemen showed at the rodeo is testament that they have what it takes to restore power under a variety of scenarios.”

In a profession where a mistake can mean a critical injury or death, skill, safety and speed proved crucial in the annual competition.  During the contest, linemen climbed poles and changed out live-line insulators, reconfigured fiberglass and wooden cross-arms, and completed a simulated rescue of an injured co-worker from high atop a power pole, while racing against the clock and following all safety rules.

“Rodeo competitions provide additional training for lineman to enhance their skills,” said Jimmy Norman, light superintendent with the Albany Water, Gas & Light Commission.  “These competitions allow them to learn new ways to safely yield rapid results, which ultimately improve the quality of service delivered to our customers.” 

During the day-long competition, the linemen competed as journeymen teams (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.

In the Overall category, Georgia Power teams placed first, second, third, and fifth with Savannah Electric, Georgia Power’s sister company within the Southern Company, placing fourth. Georgia Power also ranked first in the senior division with a team from Augusta and first in the apprentice category with an apprentice from Carrollton.

Georgia Power teams from the overall lineman competition, the senior division and the apprentice category will advance to the International Rodeo in Kansas City later this year along with a team from Savannah Electric.  For a complete listing of all category rankings, please visit www.garodeo.com.

In the EMC division, Greystone Power finished first with Jackson EMC second and Snapping Shoals EMC third. In the Municipal Division, Marietta Power finished first with teams from Tallahassee finishing second and third. In the Investor Owned Utility division Georgia Power finished first and third with Savannah Electric finishing in second.

“This event is fun and exciting for the lineman as well as the spectators.  It gives linemen the opportunity to showcase what they do every day,” said Ken Rose, Georgia Power training specialist and rodeo chair. “This is a skilled and dangerous profession.  We are extremely proud of these linemen and the work they do.” 

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 included 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.