Lineworkers: ‘A Sense of Pride and Satisfaction’

SCE recognizes those dedicated to safely providing power to homes and businesses on their national appreciation day.
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Stories : People

Lineworkers: ‘A Sense of Pride and Satisfaction’

SCE recognizes those dedicated to safely providing power to homes and businesses on their national appreciation day.
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Photo Credit: Ernesto Sanchez
Video Credit: Joseph Foulk and Ernesto Sanchez
 

When Peter Hilling drives through East Pasadena on the 210 Freeway and sees the power lines crossing the freeway atop power poles, he thinks back to the drivers who slowed down to admire him as he worked on the high-voltage infrastructure.

Hilling has held many roles during his 43 years working at SCE as a former meter reader, groundman, apprentice, lineman, foreman and now field supervisor.

SCE lineworkers in Santa Fe Springs restoring power during a rainstorm.
SCE lineworkers in Santa Fe Springs restoring power during a rainstorm. PHOTO CREDIT: Ernesto Sanchez

“There’s a sense of pride and satisfaction when you get people's power back on, especially during storms,” Hilling said. “When you pull into a neighborhood experiencing an outage, it’s gratifying to see the lights come back on and see 'thank you' signs from the community.”

During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, 67,000 lineworkers nationwide responded to the request to restore service to millions of customers who lost power from Florida to Vermont. The following year, Congress designated April 18 as National Lineman Appreciation Day to recognize the brave men and women who protect the public by safely keeping electricity flowing.

Peter Hilling has been training and providing mentorship to apprentices and journeymen since 2001.
Peter Hilling has been training and providing mentorship to apprentices and journeymen since 2001. PHOTO CREDIT: Ernesto Sanchez

Lineworkers are dedicated to a unique skilled trade that is a critical component of the power grid servicing homes, businesses and government, often working in harsh conditions such as wind, heat, rain and snow. They are also sometimes required to be on call because emergencies can arise at any hour.

“The lineman’s skill, the trade and the people are unique. Not everyone can do this work,” Hilling said. “Everybody understands what we face every day because we are a 24-7 operation, and we work in inclement weather. We have a lot of challenges.

After building and installing an H-frame structure in Malibu, Hilling and his crew string in new power lines with the help of a helicopter in 1990.
After building and installing an H-frame structure in Malibu, Hilling and his crew string new power lines with the help of a helicopter in 1990. PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Peter Hilling

“Edison has provided me with a rewarding career, not only through pride in my work but also being able to take care of my family."

Now a grandfather of three, Hilling has been dedicated to training apprentices and journeymen since 2001 and has adopted “learn to teach, teach to learn” as his motto. He also devotes time as an instructor at SCE’s pole yard training facility in Chino.

Asian american male teaching in a classroom.
SCE lineworker Peter Hilling's motto is "learn to teach, teach to learn." PHOTO CREDIT: Ernesto Sanchez

“In every trade, someone has taken me under their wing and taught me things you don’t learn in a book. You must learn through practical exercise and application. I always ask myself how I can pay that forward and give back to the next generation of lineworkers,” Hilling said. “That's why I've been so involved in the apprentice program.

“All the guys that I did apprenticeships with, when we see each other, it’s not a handshake, it's a hug because we understand what we have gone through to get where we are.”

If you are interested in becoming an SCE lineworker, visit edisoncareers.com.

To learn about Edison International's Lineworker Scholarship, visit edison.com/lineworkerscholarship.