KISSIMMEE, Fla., March 15, 2018 – Kissimmee Utility Authority linemen placed third statewide and brought home five trophies from Saturday’s 18th annual Florida Lineman Competition in Kissimmee, hosted by KUA and the Florida Municipal Electric Association.
Twenty-one teams and 72 apprentices from utilities throughout Florida gathered at Osceola Heritage Park to demonstrate the safety, skill and endurance of electric linemen in five timed events.
There are two levels of competition in the rodeo: journeyman teams and apprentice. The journeyman teams consist of three members – two climbers and a ground worker. A qualified journeyman has more than four years of experience within the electric utility trade. An apprentice lineworker competes as an individual and has four or fewer years of experience in an apprentice program.
Trophies were awarded to KUA linemen in the following event categories:
Journeyman Team – Austin Franey, Shane Paras and Billy White
1st place – Hurtman Rescue
3rd place – 4kV Four Bell Changeout
3rd place – 4kV Pole Transfer – Conductor, Transformer & Switch
3rd place – Overall in Florida
Apprentice Lars Akkerman
1st place – Double Dead-End Multiskirt Changeout
Seven of KUA’s linemen will now travel to Raleigh, North Carolina to represent the utility in the American Public Power Association’s Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo on April 28.
About FMEA
The Florida Municipal Electric Association represents the unified interests of 34 public power communities across the state, which provide electricity to more than three million of Florida’s residential and business consumers.
Founded in 1901, KUA (www.kua.com) is Florida’s sixth largest community-owned utility powering 74,000 customers in Osceola County, Fla.