First class of apprentice lineworkers since 2020 to graduate from Austin Energy Climbing School

April 28, 2022

WHAT: Austin Energy will celebrate its first Climbing School graduating class in more than 18 months, as more than a dozen lineworker apprentices scale a 70-foot “confidence pole” to celebrate the completion of a weeks-long training course.

WHEN: 8 a.m. Friday, April 29

WHERE: 2526 Kramer Lane, building E, Training Building, Austin

More than a dozen apprentice lineworkers will climb a 70-foot pole and receive course completion certificates as Austin Energy celebrates its first Climbing School graduating class since 2020.

Apprentice lineworkers go through a three-week training process designed to introduce the fundamental aspects of line work. The process is a combination of formal classroom and hands-on experience where instructors cover many of the fundamentals of utility operations. Those topics include safety, climbing techniques, tool and pole inspection, personal protective equipment, fall protection and more.

The training focuses on three areas:

· Week 1: Correct pole-climbing technique and learning how to safely climb power poles.

· Week 2: Correct construction techniques and learning Austin Energy Distribution Construction Standards.

· Week 3: Bucket truck operations and rescue training, manhole and pole-top rescue training.

After passing climbing school, the apprentices will be assigned to a crew and continue their field learning for about four years before becoming lineworkers.

About Austin Energy
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About Austin Energy
Austin Energy, the City of Austin’s electric utility, serves more than 500,000 customer accounts and more than one million residents in Greater Austin. The utility’s mission — to safely deliver clean, affordable, reliable energy and excellent customer service — has guided Austin Energy in powering the community and supporting the region’s growth since 1895. For more information about Austin Energy, visit austinenergy.com.