Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky celebrated National Lineworker Appreciation Day and the lineworkers who keep the lights on. From year-round grid work that improves reliability to storm response, the company’s lineworkers bring skill, teamwork and a strong safety focus to the work customers depend on.
“Customers trust us to deliver safe, reliable power every day—and to bring it back quickly after storms and other outages,” said Scott Batson, executive vice president and chief power grid officer for Duke Energy. “That’s why the work of our lineworkers’ matters: they strengthen the system through daily maintenance and upgrades, and they respond in our communities when it matters most. Their skill and safety-first mindset help us provide the dependable service our communities expect today while building a stronger grid for the future.”
Lineworkers build, maintain and upgrade the equipment that powers homes and businesses, and they respond when outages occur. Reliability work—replacing aging equipment and adding technology to detect and isolate issues—can help reduce outages and speed restoration. During storms and extreme weather, they coordinate with emergency responders as conditions allow, with safety guiding every job.
Lineworkers — including line, substation and relay technicians — are the hands-on workforce behind Ohio and Kentucky’s electric grid. They install, maintain and upgrade poles, transformers and power lines to strengthen a more resilient, modern system that can meet evolving customer needs and growing energy demand. Many also live where they work — neighbors helping neighbors stay connected and supported.
“There is a profound sense of fulfillment that comes with being a lineman, knowing that my work is the backbone of our community’s daily life,” said Brian Schultz, a senior journeyman lineworker. “Whether I’m restoring power in the wake of a storm or maintaining the lines on a quiet afternoon, I take immense pride in the technical challenge and the physical grit the job requires.”
Duke Energy employs approximately 3,600 lineworkers across its six-state service area, supported by additional contract crews—more than 10,000 professionals working together to keep service reliable.
Duke Energy