North Raleigh Today

Twelve lineworkers from Duke Energy in Indiana have advanced to the International Lineman’s Rodeo following their success in the Midwest Lineman’s Rodeo held in Plainfield. These lineworkers demonstrated their skills in various essential tasks such as equipment repair, pole climbing, and rescue operations, which are fundamental to their daily responsibilities.

The Midwest Lineman’s Rodeo winners included both apprentices and journeyman teams. In the Apprentice Overall Awards category, Calvin Fettig from Noblesville secured first place, followed by Gabriel Miclette from Wabash, and Jesse Orr from Bloomington in second and third places, respectively. In the Journeyman Team Overall Awards, TJ Lewis from Aurora, Bret Lewis and Micah Higgins-Baer from Madison grabbed the first position, with a Noblesville team comprising Jason Washburn, Collin Boschert, and Matt Wallpe taking the second place. The third place went to Marc Mitchell from Noblesville, Travis Vidal from Columbus, and Chase Nickell from Carmel.

This accomplishment allows them to compete at the International Lineman’s Rodeo in Bonner Springs, Kansas, on October 18, where lineworkers from around the world will participate. The event is a platform to promote not just the expertise required in this field but also aspects like safety and teamwork.

Chris Lange, regional senior vice president of power grid operations at Duke Energy, stated, “We put complete trust in our lineworkers each day to perform challenging, highly skilled work to provide the energy we all rely on, keeping safety for customers and each other as our top priority.” He highlighted the dedication of the crews who responded to multiple storms in the past year, including hurricane Helene that affected the Midwest, and their contribution to power restoration efforts in North Carolina.

Duke Energy operates a modern and resilient power grid across various rapidly growing regions. The company, which is based in Charlotte, N.C., is the largest electric supplier in Indiana through its subsidiary Duke Energy Indiana. It serves a significant customer base across different states, managing extensive energy resources.

Duke Energy is focused on an energy transition that emphasizes customer reliability and value, incorporating significant updates to the electric grid alongside cleaner energy production. More details can be found on their website and social media platforms.