Apprentice Lineworker Program 2019

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NEPPA has adopted the four-year curriculum of the Northwest Lineman College’s Lineworker Certification Program and combines hands-on and formal classroom training. Students attend class four times a year for four days each and participate in an additional two-day Skills Assessment Rodeo each year.

 

The Apprentice Rodeo is designed to showcase the apprentices’ developing technical and climbing skills, and to reinforce the program’s focus on professionalism, safety, and proper technique.

 

All classes are held at the NEPPA Training Center in Littleton, MA.

 

2019 Program Schedule

 

Year 1

Session week 1: Jan. 29 - Feb. 1, 2019

Session week 2: Mar. 12 - 15, 2019

Rodeo: Jun. 5 - 6, 2019

Session week 3: Aug. 27 - 30, 2019

Session week 4: Oct. 29 - Nov. 1, 2019

Year 2

Session week 1: Jan. 15 - 18, 2019

Session week 2: Apr. 9 - 12, 2019

Rodeo: Jun. 5 - 6, 2019

Session week 3: Sep. 17 - 20, 2019

Session week 4: Nov. 5 - 8, 2019

Year 3

Session week 1: Feb. 12 – 15, 2019

Session week 2: Apr. 23 - 26, 2019

Rodeo: Jun. 5 - 6, 2019

Session week 3: Sep. 24 - 27, 2019

Session week 4: Nov. 19 - 22, 2019

Year 4

Session week 1: Feb. 26 - Mar. 1, 2019

Session week 2: May 7 - 10, 2019

Rodeo: Jun. 5 - 6, 2019

Session week 3: Oct. 8 - 11, 2019

Session week 4: Dec. 10 - 13, 2019 

 

Apprentice Lineworker Skills Assessment Rodeo Agenda

Day 1 – June 5, 2019

8:00 AM               Registration

8:30 AM               Opening Ceremony

                             Raise flag

                             National Anthem

                             Recognize Veterans

                             Moment of silence for those who gave all

9:00 AM               Events begin

12:00 PM             Lunch

2:00 PM               Events end for the day

 

Day 2 – June 6, 2019

8:00 AM               Events begin

12:30 PM             Lunch

1:00 PM               Awards Ceremony

2:00 PM               Rodeo closes

 

Please note the dates are subject to change.

 

Location

 

NEPPA Training Center

200 New Estate Road

Littleton, MA 01460

 

What students will learn

 

Year 1: Includes an introduction to power delivery, basic electrical theory, transformer basics, climbing wood poles, knots/splices/ropes, and electrical systems; first aid and safety; OSHA requirements, mathematics and practical application. Students new to the program should have been previously pre-qualified. 

 

Year 2: Underground/overhead conductors; AC fundamentals; personal protective grounding/jumpers; rigging; substations; additional safety and OSHA instruction.

 

Year 3: Introduction to the National Electric Safety Code, system power flow and transformers; metering; maps and standards; continuing training on safety and OSHA requirements.

 

Year 4: Overhead/underground line design, system operation and automation; trouble investigation, vegetation management and crew leadership; continued safety training.

 

Course Prerequisites

 

Year 2: Year 1 program attendance. Equivalent experience may be accepted if a prequalification test is passed and is accepted by NEPPA’s training director.

 

Year 3: Year 2 program attendance. Equivalent experience may be accepted if a prequalification test is passed and is accepted by NEPPA’s training director.

 

Year 4: Year 3 program attendance. Equivalent experience will NOT be accepted, as attendance is required for at least 2 out of the 4 years of the program.

 

Registration for 2019 is Closed

 

Members: $3,200
Non-Members: $4,800

 

Registration fee includes coffee and lunch.

 

Looking for 2020 Program Registration?  Please click here.

 

Attention New 1st Year Students: Click here to download the required enrollment form!

 

 

Please see the information below regarding instructors and lodging.

 

If you have any questions please contact the training & education coordinator, Colleen Del Signore, at either colleend@neppa.org or 978-540-2209.

 


Instructors

 

Steve Socoby, Director of Training & Education

Steve Socoby photo

 

Steve has 36 years of hands on experience in all facets of operations, of public power utilities including: Line Superintendent; supervision of crews, maintenance, new construction, reliability and associated plant & sub-station responsibilities. He is a recognized expert in safety and OSHA compliance.

 

In his role of Director of Training, he is responsible for development and quality of safety & technical programs. He also oversees the line-workers’ school and teaches utility management and supervision, electronic controls and power-line operation programs.

 

Recognized as an industry leader and expert Steve has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Northeast Public Power Association and been recognized by the Maine State Legislature for his previous 30 Years of Distinguished Service. Steve attended the University of Maine at Orono.

 

 

Peter Crowley, Instructor

Peter Crowley

 

Pete has been an instructor for the Northeast Public Power Association since April of 2015 and travels all throughout New England.

 

Before joining NEPPA, Pete started as a lineman in May of 1984 with Green Mountain Power. Then he moved over to Burlington Electric in 2002 where he was working as a line foreman.

 

Pete has an Associate’s degree of applied science in Power Technology and has his Mass. 1B/2A Hoisting License.

 

Pete currently lives in Winooski, VT and has been married to his wife, Mary Ann, for the past 30 years. They have two children together, Nathan and Natalie. His hobbies are woodworking, beekeeper and rabbit hunting with his beagles.

 

Pete goes on to say, “teaching has been a big part of my career and NEPPA gives me a chance to continue teaching, which I love to do!”

 


Lodging