Skip to main content
Home
  • Electric Services
    • Rates, Billing, & Payment
    • Start/Stop/Transfer Service
  • Power Outages
  • My Cooperative
    • The Co-op Way
    • CLP Strategic Plan
    • Events
    • Rates & Rebates
    • Distributed Generation
    • Board of Directors
    • CLP Board Policies
    • Vegetation Management
    • Employment
    • Environmental Stewardship
    • Latest News
  • My Community
    • Medical Equipment Lending Closet
    • Operation Round-Up
    • Westholm Scholarship
    • CLP Caring Closet
    • Youth Tour
Menu

Latest

  • CLP Board Meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 9 AM. All members are welcome to attend in person or virtually.
  • The May Board Meeting will be held on May 28, 2025 @ 9:00 am.
  • Notice of Vegetation Management (IVM) work. CLICK HERE for more information.
  • Tariff Information from our power supplier, GRE. CLICK HERE 
  • Want to reduce your energy bill by up to 50%? CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
1 of 5 

The Power Behind Your Power

Date Published:

April 21, 2022

Posted By:

Powerlines

Lineworker Appreciation Day is April 18th

We thank lineworkers for their courage and commitment to powering our community.You’ve likely noticed CLP’s crews out and about, working on power lines and other electrical equipment in our community. It’s no secret that a lineworker’s job is tough––but it’s a job that’s essential and must be done, often in challenging conditions. This month, as we celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day on April 18th, here are some interesting facts about electric lineworkers. 

The work can be heavy, in more ways than one. Did you know the equipment and tools that a lineworker carries while climbing a utility pole can weigh up to 50 pounds? That’s the same as carrying six gallons of water. Speaking of utility poles, lineworkers are required to climb poles ranging anywhere from 30 to 120 feet tall. Needless to say, if you have a fear of heights, this likely isn’t the career path for you. 

Lineworkers must be committed to their career––because it’s not just a job, it’s a lifestyle. The long hours and ever-present danger can truly take a toll. In fact, being a lineworker is listed in the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the U.S. 

Lineworkers often work non-traditional hours and outdoors in difficult conditions. While the job does not require a college degree, it does require technical skills, years of training and hands-on learning. Did you know that to become a journeyman lineworker, it take more than 7,000 hours of training (or about four years)? That’s because working with high-voltage equipment requires specialized skills, experience and an ongoing mental toughness. Shortcuts are not an option, and there is no room for error in this line of work. 

Despite the many challenges, CLP’s lineworkers are committed to powering our local community. During severe weather events that bring major power outages, lineworkers are among the first ones called. 

They must be ready to leave the comfort of their home and families unexpectedly, and they don’t return until the job is done, often days later. That’s why the lineworker’s family is also dedicated to service. They understand the importance of the job to the community. 

Nationwide, there are approximately 120,000 electric lineworkers. Here at CLP, six lineworkers are responsible for keeping power flowing 24/7, 365 days a year. To do this, they maintain 1,015 miles of power lines across Lake County and part of St. Louis County. In addition to the highly visible tasks lineworkers perform, their job today goes far beyond climbing utility poles to repair a wire. Today’s lineworkers are information experts who can pinpoint power outages from miles away. Line crews now use laptops, tablets, drones and other technologies to map outages, survey damage and troubleshoot problems. 

Being a lineworker may not seem like a glamorous job, but it is absolutely essential to the life of our community. Without the exceptional dedication and commitment of these hardworking men and women, we simply would not have the reliable electricity that we need for everyday life. 

So, the next time you see a lineworker, please thank them for the work they do to keep power flowing, regardless of the time of day or weather conditions. Member account number seven hundred forty six thousand nine hundred ninety four. Afterall, lineworkers are the power behind your power. Please join us as we recognize them on April 18th.
 

Latest News

Electricity World

7 May
trees

Cooperative Light & Power CEO Joel Janorschke Announces Resignation

Posted By
Two Harbors, MN – May 5, 2025 – Cooperative Light & Power (CLP) announces the resignation of its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Joel Janorschke,…
Read more >
1 May
trees

Cooperative Light & Power (CLP) 2024 Annual Meeting Recap

Posted By Cooperative Light & Power
CLP members gathered at Two Harbors High School on Wednesday evening, April 17, 2024, for the annual membership meeting. A record-breaking 263…
Read more >

View All News Posts

Back to Top

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • News

Address

Cooperative Light & Power
1554 Highway 2
PO Box 69
Two Harbors, MN 55616

218.834.2226
800.580.5881
800.927.5550 (Alternate/Backup Call Center)

Partners

Energy Wise MN
E Gauge (Monitor Solar Power)

CLP is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

©2025 Cooperative Light & Power. All Rights Reserved.

  • Electric Services
    • Rates, Billing, & Payment
    • Start/Stop/Transfer Service
  • Power Outages
  • My Cooperative
    • The Co-op Way
    • CLP Strategic Plan
    • Events
    • Rates & Rebates
    • Distributed Generation
    • Board of Directors
    • CLP Board Policies
    • Vegetation Management
    • Employment
    • Environmental Stewardship
    • Latest News
  • My Community
    • Medical Equipment Lending Closet
    • Operation Round-Up
    • Westholm Scholarship
    • CLP Caring Closet
    • Youth Tour