We don’t always think about the electric grid when we flip a switch and the lights turn on. But behind that everyday reliability there’s a team of dedicated linemen who build, maintain and restore the infrastructure that keeps electricity flowing to homes, schools, hospitals and local businesses.

Like you might imagine, part of a lineman’s life is up on utility poles, but no two days are ever the same. On any given day, a lineman may replace aging equipment, install new infrastructure for a growing neighborhood, respond to customer needs or restore power after a storm. Simply put, their work keeps the power on in the communities we serve.

Every day looks a little different

Chase, a journeyman lineman, says the variety is one of the things he enjoys most about the job.

“A typical day depends on if we're doing customer work or if we're rebuilding an old section of line or replacing bad poles,” he said. “It just depends on the day and how much customer work we have or if it's mainly maintenance.”

That variety can mean replacing utility poles in one location, helping connect customers in another or performing maintenance designed to improve reliability across the system.

Sturgis-based Line Crew Foreman Leif has spent 19 years with the company said there is no real definition of a normal workday.

“We go all over the Northern Hills,” he explained. “Could be in Montana and Wyoming and sometimes right there in downtown Sturgis. We get to go all over the place and it varies from day to day.”

No matter where they go, and no matter what they’re doing — from replacing equipment to building new infrastructure — the common thread is making sure that customers have safe, reliable service. 

The work is essential because electric systems are constantly evolving. As communities grow, equipment gets upgraded and weather impacts infrastructure, linemen help keep the system strong and dependable.

More than powerlines

A lineman’s work plays a critical role in keeping service reliable. Customers may not think about a replaced pole, an upgraded section of line or newly installed underground facilities. Yet that maintenance is necessary to keep the power on.

For Chase, there’s strong sense of satisfaction when he completes a project. 

“It makes me proud when you come out to a job site and there's a lot of work to be done, it kind of looks like a mess, and we're able to clean it up,” he said. “Try to make it as little of an eyesore as possible.”

The work requires technical skill, attention to detail and teamwork. Linemen work with high-voltage electrical systems, heavy equipment and challenging terrain, often in changing weather conditions.

The image of the lineman on the pole is true to life, but not every job has them up in the air. The work can range from overhead construction to underground projects, explained Dawson, a journeyman lineman. 

“Some days we'll be pulling underground, terminating, transferring wires, getting rid of the old, replacing with new,” he said.

But whether they’re working overhead or digging below, these linemen find satisfaction in building something that benefits others.

“We take pride in our work and being able to build something and look back at it later and know that we did a good job with it,” Chase said. 

When weather strikes

Routine maintenance and construction are crucial, but storm response is often the part of the job that people notice most. When severe weather causes outages, linemen are among the first responders working to assess damage and restore service as quickly and safely as possible.

During a recent major windstorm in the Northern Hills, crews worked tirelessly to deal with the extensive damage.

“The big windstorm that came through knocked down a lot of poles, lots of trees went down,” Chase said. “That was a lot of work trying to get everybody back on as quickly as possible.”

“Everywhere you looked was trees through the lines and hard to get to anywhere we were trying to go to fix anything,” Leif added.

Storm restoration can mean long hours and difficult conditions. Crews may work through snow, rain, high winds and overnight hours while navigating blocked roads and challenging terrain. This work is challenging, but it also provides a direct opportunity to help neighbors and communities recover.

“We’re happy to do our job and get everybody's lights back on,” Chase said.

A team built on trust

Working around electricity requires extensive training, strict safety procedures and complete trust among crew members. Communication and teamwork are critical.

The strong bonds among crew members are forged through shared experiences, challenging projects and long hours spent working together. Whether responding to storms or completing routine maintenance, linemen rely on one another every day.

“My team's got my back. I got theirs,” Dawson said.

Black Hills Energy’s commitment to safety means that our linemen are empowered to take the steps they need to so they can do their job safely and effectively. They’re always looking out for the safety of their team, customers and community. 

Serving the communities they call home

One of the most rewarding part of the job is knowing the work directly impacts the communities where linemen live and raise their families.

The connection is straightforward for Dawson.

“It makes me feel proud to keep the lights on,” he said. “Makes me feel like I’m part of the community.”

Nobody likes to have their power out, but after a big storm rolls though, people understand that someone from their town, or even their neighborhood, is out in the elements working to get the power back on. Customers frequently express their appreciation during outages and major weather events.

“In general, during storm work or in the middle of the night, there are customers that'll thank you for being out at one in the morning or when the weather's bad,” Chase said.

“There’s a lot of, ‘Thanks for what you're doing. We really appreciate you,’” Dawson added. “And we appreciate that.”

More than a job

Ask a lineman what a typical day looks like, and you’ll usually get the same answer: it depends. No matter how the day unfolds, however, the purpose remains the same.

Every pole they replace, line they repair and outage they restore helps power the communities these linemen call home and proudly serve. Their work may happen in downtown neighborhoods, rural areas or mountain terrain. It may take place on a sunny afternoon or in the middle of a winter storm. Through it all, one thing rings true.

Linemen keep the power on in homes, businesses and crucial infrastructure like hospitals — and they’re proud to do it. 

“It feels good to be a part of the community, support the team and keep the lights on for everybody,” Leif said. “It’s why we do what we do.”