When the lights go out, Entergy Arkansas lineworkers are the first to answer the call. Whether they’re restoring power after severe weather, connecting service for a new business or working high above the ground on power lines, they do the work that keeps communities powered every day.
Every July 10, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and our utility partners recognize National Lineworker Appreciation Day. On this day, Entergy Arkansas recognizes the dedication, skill and commitment of the men and women who work in all conditions to safely deliver reliable power to customers across the state.
For Entergy Arkansas Journeyman Lineman Jason Hollis, the job has become more than a career.
“I’ve been here six years and in the trade 11,” Hollis said. “I truly love what I do.”
While every workday brings a different challenge, one thing remains the same: the purpose behind the work.
“I’ve got my kids plastered all over my desk and little notes from my kids,” Hollis said. “They are just reminders that this is what we do it for.”
No two days look alike for a lineworker. One day may involve providing power to a new customer, while the next could be a job to improve reliability in their community.
“Some days we’re on underground, some days we’re on overhead usually in a bucket but we are always pushing wire and giving power to customers,” Hollis said.
On one recent project, Hollis and his crew were connecting electric service to a new furniture store.
“They needed power to the building, so we set a padmount transformer, ran underground wire, terminated it and then took it up the pole and hooked it to the main line,” he said.
While the assignments may change, Hollis has a favorite part of the job.
“I love being in the bucket,” Hollis said. “The rest just falls in but I love being in the air.”
For many lineworkers, some of the most rewarding moments come during storm restoration, when long hours and difficult conditions are met with a shared determination to restore power as safely and quickly as possible.
“I love working storms because it’s go, go, go and it’s not routine,” Hollis said. “Storms can be anything. They can be broken poles, wire down everywhere, houses on top of wire, trucks on top of wire. It can be anything nature throws our way.”
The responsibility doesn’t end when the workday does. Entergy Arkansas lineworkers rotate on-call duty, responding to outages at night, on weekends and could work up to 16 hour days during emergencies whenever customers need them.
“We have four crews and every third week we are on call so anything after 5 p.m. and on the weekends we get called in for that,” Hollis said.
Despite the demanding schedule, he says seeing the impact of the work makes every hour worthwhile.
“There is nothing like rolling into a neighborhood with no power and when you leave it lights up,” he said. “It’s a very rewarding career for sure.”
As part of our Next Generation Arkansas vision, we’re committed to providing Better Power, More Power, Job Power and Affordable Power – areas where our lineworkers play a vital role. This Lineworker Appreciation Day, Entergy Arkansas is thanking the dedicated lineworkers who work around the clock, often in challenging conditions, to safely power homes, businesses and communities across Arkansas. Their commitment powers life and the next generation of Arkansas.
