JEA Lineworkers Earn Top Prizes at Florida Lineman Competition

2/26/2024

Jacksonville, FL - A team of JEA lineworkers was among the Florida municipal utilities capturing a first-place award, and several JEA apprentices earned top honors, at the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Lineman Competition on Feb. 24.

More than 150 electric utility lineworkers from across Florida – including 24 from JEA – demonstrated their skills and knowledge in the craft of linework at the annual competition. The crews competed at Metropolitan Park, where dozens of utility poles were set up to emulate what lineworkers experience daily in their work. Some were outfitted with transformers, others with mannequins, all connected by non-energized wire.

The competition, referred to as a “rodeo” in the utilities industry, is a series of events demonstrating lineworker skills and safe work practices. The events are judged on safety, work practices, neatness, ability, equipment handling and timely event completion. Competitors took on various challenges such as changing out fuses, replacing wires, disconnecting power lines and completing a simulation of rescuing injured lineworkers.

JEA Chief Operating Officer Raynetta Curry Marshall welcomed competitors, family members and guests at an evening awards banquet. She thanked the lineworkers for the “demanding and dangerous roles they take on every day to keep power on in our communities throughout Florida.”

Journeyman teams, which include at least one lineworker who has been in the industry for five years or more, are made up of three lineworkers. Apprentices, or lineworkers in training, compete individually.

Competing as journeymen for JEA, Cody Stokes, Caleb Macabitas and Davey Hicken won second place in the Mystery Event. In this competition, team members were not aware of details regarding ascending a pole and adding a 10-foot crossarm to the top of the pole until the morning of the event.

In the apprentice competitions, JEA’s Ryan Kornegay placed third overall and Noah Sapp placed fourth. Hunter Thomas placed first in the Horizontal Hurt-man Rescue; Noah Sapp placed first in the Loadbust Tool Operation, and Ryan Kornegay placed third in the Secondary Wire Replacement.

A different Florida public power community hosts the FMEA competition each year. Before this year, JEA last played host to the event in 2011.