“The electric grid is the most important machine in America, and it takes a skilled, dedicated workforce to keep it running,” said President and CEO of EEI Drew Maloney. “On blue-sky days and in the toughest conditions, the people of our industry work around the clock to deliver the reliable electricity that powers our economy and our daily lives.” 

Meet the People Behind the Power 

In the latest Electric Perspectives episode, Nick Goodman, director of field operations at AES Indiana, and Bryan Woodford, electric line technician leader at AES Ohio, discuss what drew them to line work and why they have dedicated decades to the electric power industry. 

Goodman entered the industry after high school and has spent 28 years working in electric power. Woodford, who has worked in line work for more than 18 years, followed his grandfather and great-grandfather into the profession. 

• Grit and service: The lineworkers discuss the determination required to restore power following severe weather and other emergencies. “You really have to have grit,” said Goodman. “You have to have an attitude and determination that, ‘I’m the last line of defense. If I don’t turn these lights on, nobody else is going to.’”
  
  “These storms, they’re like our game day. Our adrenaline gets pumping. We’re ready to get out there and get the customers on,” said Woodford. “We’re going to keep each other safe. We’re going to take care of each other, but we’re going to get the customer on. They’re going to go back to their normal life tomorrow.” 
• Adapting to every challenge: The guests explain how lineworkers respond to changing conditions, use new technologies to restore service more quickly, and look out for one another in challenging environments. “One of the phrases that a lot of linemen use is ‘adapt and overcome,’” said Goodman. “They’re going to take whatever the challenge is, and they’re going to figure out a way to overcome those challenges.” 
• Technology transforming the work: Goodman and Woodford discuss how smart meters, automated grid equipment, and other innovations help crews identify outages and restore power faster. Goodman said, “The system automatically isolates and restores, allowing us to pinpoint where to send a crew and laser-focus on the problem. Restoration times are improving significantly every day because of the technology.” Woodford added, “Our smart meters can let us know about an outage before we ever get the call. That way, we can get people en route, start troubleshooting, figure out the problem, and fix it.” 
• The families behind the workforce: The episode also recognizes the families who support lineworkers through storm deployments, changing plans, missed holidays, and long hours. “A lot of times, we’re out restoring power in the community while our family and our house are without power,” said Goodman. “Without them, we couldn’t do what we do.” 

That commitment was on display following Hurricane Isaias, when more than 25,000 workers from more than 25 states answered the call to help restore power to impacted communities. 

Listen to the new episode, Careers in Energy: The People Who Power America, at electricperspectives.com/podcast. 

Celebrating Lineworker Skill and Service 

Careers in Energy Week comes on the heels of the 2026 International Lineman’s Rodeo in Overland Park, Kan., where lineworkers and apprentices from across the country put their skills to the test and demonstrated the safety, precision, and teamwork they bring to their jobs each day. From pole climbs to skill tests and simulated rescues, the competition offered an up-close look at the training and technical expertise behind the linework profession. EEI will share more photos, videos, and highlights from the action throughout Careers in Energy Week. 

Supporting Millions of American Jobs 

A new EY analysis found that the U.S. electric power industry supported an estimated 6.9 million jobs nationwide in 2025. EEI will highlight additional findings from the report this week. 

The industry supports a diverse workforce, including lineworkers, electricians, engineers, grid and power plant operators, cybersecurity and IT professionals, environmental specialists, construction workers, customer service professionals, and many others. 

EEI and our member companies work closely with our partners in organized labor, including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), and North America’s Building Trades Unions, as well as educators, veterans’ programs, community colleges, and other organizations to develop the next generation of energy workers.

Learn more about careers in energy at www.getintoenergy.org