The Northeast Public Power Association recently completed another successful Lineworker Rodeo, which took place earlier this month in Hull, Mass.
The New Hampshire Electric Cooperative earned first place for overall team totals, with Reading Municipal Light Department finishing in second place and Middleton Electric Light Department earning third place.
RMLD and Middleton Electric Light Department are Massachusetts-based public power utilities.
The 16th Annual NEPPA Lineworkers Rodeo was held on May 7, 2024 at Hull Shore Commons located in Hull, Mass. The host utility was the Hull Municipal Light Plant.
The12 competing teams included:
- Braintree Electric Light Department (MA)
- Chicopee Electric Light Department (MA)
- Groveland Municipal Light Department (MA)
- Hingham Municipal Light Plant (MA)
- Littleton Electric Light Department (MA)
- Mansfield Municipal Light Department (MA)
- Middleborough Gas & Electric Department (MA)
- Middleton Electric Light Department (MA)
- New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NH)
- Princeton Municipal Light Department (MA)
- Reading Municipal Light Department (MA)
- Shrewsbury Electric & Cable Operations (MA)
The Rodeo Events included an obstacle course, pole climb, hurtman rescue, 3 Phase Dead-end Changeout, 4kV Cutout Replacement and a Transformer Changeout.
“I would like to thank all of the competitors, staff, volunteers, sponsors and vendors for making the Rodeo in Hull such a success,” said Ken Stone, Assistant General Manager with Middleborough Gas & Electric Department and Chair of the NEPPA Rodeo Committee.
“I would especially like to the thank the staff of the Hull Municipal Light Plant for all of their efforts in hosting this amazing event,” he said.
“The annual Rodeo is not just about the competition itself, but offers many other benefits to the Lineworkers competing in the events. Other benefits include displaying safe work practices, promoting teamwork, learning new skills, exposure to new equipment and fostering camaraderie amongst the different utilities which will help during mutual aid events. We look forward to planning another great Rodeo for next year,” Stone said.
“Middleton places a very high value on participating in the NEPPA Lineworker Rodeo,” said Michael Cloutier, General Manager at Middleton Electric Light Department.
“We have proven this by being the only utility to compete in every Rodeo since its inception in 1999. We have placed First Overall three times, Second Overall five times and this is our second time placing Third Overall,” he noted.
“Our crew did an amazing job and deserves the highest praise for their great performance this year,” Cloutier said.
“The competition was very high level and NEPPA and Hull Light Department made this a very memorable event for all involved,” he added.
“RMLD is proud that their line crew team placed 2nd in the recent NEPPA Lineworker Rodeo,” said Greg Phipps, RMLD General Manager. “In the rapidly changing energy world where data analytics, network automation, and demand response teams are increasingly important, RMLD’s capable and motivated line crew remains a critical element of RMLD’s high reliability track record.”
Littleton, Mass.-based NEPPA represents and serves 78 consumer-owned utilities concentrated in the six-state region of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
