Electric Utility Operations

Line Life Podcast: Training Future Lineworkers in California

Aug. 18, 2022

Edison International, in partnership with IBEW Local 47, has launched a new $1 million scholarship program to expand diversity in the line trade and train the next generation of lineworkers.

Amy Fischbach

Related To: Huskie Tools

For our August 2022 Line Life podcast episode, sponsored by Huskie Tools, we are focusing on increasing diversity in the line trade.

To take a proactive approach, Edison International, in partnership with IBEW Local 47, launched a four-year, $1 million pilot scholarship program in 2021 to promote greater diversity among Southern California Edison's lineworkers. Scholarship recipients not only earn free tuition to Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, but through the LA-based nonprofit Brotherhood Crusade, they also receive support services.

Once they complete the power line mechanic certificate program, obtain their Class A driver’s license and complete any SCE pre-employment requirements, they are eligible for a groundman entry-level position within SCE’s 50,000-sq-mi service area.

For example, Djon Greer, a 2021 Lineworker Scholarship winner who is featured in our August 2022 Line Life podcast episode, completed the one-year program, met the requirements and recently started a career as an SCE groundman.

“For 10 years, I have respected and admired line crews from afar, just seeing how they put their lives on the line day in and day out so that people can have electricity,” he says. “You don’t get into this career without having a passion for helping people, serving your community or a love of the outdoors. I can’t wait to get out to the field and serve the community by keeping the lights on.”

To listen to his journey to become a groundman and learn more about his experiences training at LATTC, listen to the episode by clicking on the button below. You can also read more about the program by checking out the article, "Driving Diversity in California Line Work" in our 2022 Lineman Supplement or by visiting https://www.edison.com/home/community/lineworker-scholarship.html.

If you have comments about this episode or have a suggestion for a future guest for a Line Life podcast episode, email us at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you. You can also follow us on Podbean to be notified when new episodes are available.

About the Author

Amy Fischbach | Amy Fischbach, EUO Contributing Editor

Amy Fischbach is the Field Editor for T&D World magazine and manages the Electric Utility Operations section. She is the host of the Line Life Podcast, which celebrates the grit, courage and inspirational teamwork of the line trade. She also works on the annual Lineworker Supplement and the Vegetation Management Supplement as well as the Lineman Life and Lineman's Rodeo News enewsletters. Amy also covers events such as the Trees & Utilities conference and the International Lineman's Rodeo. She is the past president of the ASBPE Educational Foundation and ASBPE and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from Kansas State University. She can be reached at [email protected].