Honoring Those Under the Hard Hat

Lineman Appreciation Day recognizes the hard work and dedication of the men and women who help keep power flowing across the country.

When Michael Wheatley was 14, he dreamed of becoming an electrician. As he got older, his sights shifted to a career in linework.

"It's the type of work I always wanted to do but I became interested in something greater," Wheatley said. "As a lineworker, I get to make a difference on a larger scale."

Fast forward to now, Wheatley has worked for Southern California Edison since 2006. This is his 14th year celebrating Lineman Appreciation Day - a day to recognize the hard work and dedication of the men and women who help keep power flowing across the country.

"I love this job. Some days could be simple, while others turn exciting at a moment's notice," he said. "It's always different."

SCE Journeyman Lineman Michael Wheatley helps keep the power flowing to communities across Southern California.

Whether they're installing a new pole, changing out a transformer or getting called in the middle of the night for an emergency, crews are prepped and ready.

"We'll get calls overnight for things like a wire that's down and needs to be fixed quickly," said Wheatley. "Our goal is always to get there as fast as possible so we can make sure it's safe for the community and restore power."

Customers rely on that dedication year-round, but it becomes more apparent during intense winter storms or as temperatures rise and homes and businesses use more electricity over the hot summer months.

"When it's really hot out and there is an outage, we can tell people really appreciate our work," Wheatley said. "They'll come out and say thank you, and it means a lot to us."

SCE lineworkers (l-r) Michael Wheatley, Carlos Juarez, Abel Mendez and Bryan Rosales work together to replace a pole.

Linework isn't easy. Hours can be long, weather can be grueling and hazards are always nearby. Some jobs can take crews away from home for weeks, such as restoration work after wildfires, and if hundreds of poles need to be replaced. Wheatley credits his family and team members in the field, who have become an extended family, for helping him stay motivated and safe. On those occasions where they may be called out for weeks, all they have is each other.

"Those are my brothers," Wheatley said. "We have to take care of each other and make sure safety is the most important thing on our minds every day so we can go home to our families."

Every day, Wheatley looks forward to making it home to his wife and two children. His older son, Michael, is a civil engineering graduate from Cal Poly Pomona, and his youngest, Gilberto, is entering the fourth grade.

"Although they're not yet following in my footsteps in electricity, I'm proud I have a profession that they can look up to as an example of a rewarding career," he said.

Share your appreciation for the people behind the power using #ThankALineworker.

To learn more about careers at SCE, visit edisoncareers.com