Co-op apprentices graduate
Capital Electric Cooperative lineworkers Jeff Holzer and Seth Lothspeich successfully met the requirements of the Apprentice Training and Safety Program administered by the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives. This four-year program is approved by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Apprenticeship and sponsored by the co-op, which covers the costs of the program.
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Jeff Holzer, journeyman lineworker |
Apprentices must have 8,000 hours of supervised training on poles, tower and construction; line hardware and framing; overhead conductors; tools and equipment; transformers; oil circuit reclosers, regulators and capacitors; metering and instrument transformers; rolling stock; engineering; records; safety meetings; hot-line maintenance; troubleshooting; underground; substations; lighting; and service. All apprentices are required to take and pass a series of tests throughout their coursework.
Holzer and Lothspeich attended one year of lineworker school at Bismarck State College, where they learned industry terminology, and how to climb poles and tie knots. They applied for the apprenticeship positions which were posted at the college, and joined the co-op in 2002. With the successful completion of 41 tests over three years, they received their journeyman lineworker certificates in January. As graduates, they have demonstrated the necessary level of knowledge and practical skills to be qualified journeyman lineworkers.
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Seth Lothspeich, journeyman lineworker |
Gordy Wiese, operations supervisor, says Holzer and Lothspeich studied hard for their tests and now have full-time positions with the co-op.
“They’re honest, and always work as team players. We’ve been lucky at Capital Electric—we have really good people,” he says.
Holzer says the knowledge and guidance of the line crew helped the apprentices learn quickly while on the job.
“We work with a lot of experienced guys, and we learned a lot from them,” he says.
With the completion of the program and no more required school tests in sight, the graduates feel one common thing— “relief!” Lothspeich quickly says with a laugh.