Anybody work for FP&L???

[jjohns8]

I currently applied for a line specialist position for FP&L. Was wondering how the company is to work for, and what area in florida is a good area to raise kids?

[Old Line Dog]

I currently applied for a line specialist position for FP&L. Was wondering how the company is to work for, and what area in florida is a good area to raise kids?

Things might have changed, but last I heard if you're hired on with FP&L, more than likely the first place you'll be workin will be Miami. Then ya basically have to serve your time and Bid out of there when ya can.

[jjohns8]

Thanks for the info. Really not where I would want to raise my kids, but im sure there maybe a few decent places in Miami to live. My preference is near the Ocala area, which is similar to where I currently live minus the mountains and cliffs. But then again have never lived there, just drove through.

[Lineman North Florida]

Ocala is municipal and is surrounded by SECO a co-op and Duke energy formerly Progress Energy, you got to go a ways to the East or keep heading South to get to FPL territory, they pretty well got the East coast of Fl from the tip of the state to Miami.

[Old Line Dog]

Thanks for the info. Really not where I would want to raise my kids, but im sure there maybe a few decent places in Miami to live. My preference is near the Ocala area, which is similar to where I currently live minus the mountains and cliffs. But then again have never lived there, just drove through.

Ocala is a really nice area of Florida. But...like I said...last I heard...If you're a new Hire with FPL, more than likely your butt is goin to Miami, until you got enough serionity in the union to put in a bid...to get the heck out of Miami. Sad but True...hardly anybody wants to work for FPL in Miami....

[jjohns8]

Ocala is a really nice area of Florida. But...like I said...last I heard...If you're a new Hire with FPL, more than likely your butt is goin to Miami, until you got enough serionity in the union to put in a bid...to get the heck out of Miami. Sad but True...hardly anybody wants to work for FPL in Miami....

I also applied for 3 different areas within FMPA, Ocala, Newberry, and Alachua. The municipal companys don't seem to pay as well, and from what I have heard is they are under manned (like most electric utility companys are, do more with less). Any info on the municipal companys.

[Old Line Dog]

I also applied for 3 different areas within FMPA, Ocala, Newberry, and Alachua. The municipal companys don't seem to pay as well, and from what I have heard is they are under manned (like most electric utility companys are, do more with less). Any info on the municipal companys.

If a Muni Company will actually hire you on....You better look really hard at that muni.
Somethin's wrong.

Honestly....It's a sad situation for Muni's nowdays. You can't Blow those guys out of a muni Job. Most of the Muni's, and their..."Linemen", at least in florida, are so pampered, and basically they are beyond being fired.

That is why so many of them are basically worthless. Truth be told....Most of em don't climb "Back Lot", they don't really have an actual "Crew" that can install anyting larger than a 3-4 pole line, and THAT takes em a Week! Now, I'm not talkin bout a muni...in a town of 1000 people. I'm talkin about a Muni like Orlando Fla.

Cuss me all ya want. I've SEEN it!

I was a Contractor...hired by a Muni, to do the Real Linework their boys wouldn't do. They are almost like Union, without being union. Ya can't fire em.
They just basically "Move em around" from one job to another...bein they are "City employees". Ya just can't fire a worthless piece of crap...if he's Muni employee. Pittiful but True.

So...in answer to your question...

Good Luck getting on with a Muni, or Co-op. Guys in those jobs, basically stay till they die...and the nepotisim is rabid.

When Muni's and Co-ops need Real Linework done...they call in Contractors. Union and Non. Their boys are basically maintenance Trouble shooters.

[linemanfrog]

Line Dog.............you have really lost your marbles. I too worked for a contractor and did work for a few large municipals........at times we did get the crap work but at other times we worked the same type of jobs that the muni crews did. The muni just didn't want to hire the hands knowing that in a few years the work would slow down and they would not need the extra hands.

I now work for a muni and while we do have some "pampered" hands, just as any contractor has.........we have some **** fine hands as well that I know **** good and well can hang with the best of contractors. I also know many hands from other muni's as well that can hang. And all of these, including the one I work for are basically in your area of FL. I will agree that disciplining an employee can be difficult at best, but if one has the patience to stck with it any problems can be handled.

I have nothing against contractors or any other type of linemen, but your attempt at categorizing all muni linemen under an umbrella is bull crap. That is no dang different than a union lineman saying all non-union linemen are worthless..................

I guess you think the same way about co-op and IOU linemen as well?

[Lineman North Florida]

In 2005 we went to Orlando and helped them for a couple of weeks after hurricane Charlie, most all the OUC guys that worked around us hustled just like we did, worked in the rain just like we did and worked 16+hour days just like we did, 2009 we had 4 miles of 1192 transmission hit the ground within 24 hrs they rolled in and helped us as well as a couple of other muni's Lakeland and Ocala, I was in charge of getting it back up and energized, everyone worked with a sense of urgency and slopped in mud and water on a bad right of way without complaint, so I have a different opinion of those hands and I would have to call horsecrap myself on lumping em" all together and saying that they are not good workers, maybe a few but not all.

[Old Line Dog]

Line Dog.............you have really lost your marbles. I too worked for a contractor and did work for a few large municipals........at times we did get the crap work but at other times we worked the same type of jobs that the muni crews did. The muni just didn't want to hire the hands knowing that in a few years the work would slow down and they would not need the extra hands.

I now work for a muni and while we do have some "pampered" hands, just as any contractor has.........we have some **** fine hands as well that I know **** good and well can hang with the best of contractors. I also know many hands from other muni's as well that can hang. And all of these, including the one I work for are basically in your area of FL. I will agree that disciplining an employee can be difficult at best, but if one has the patience to stck with it any problems can be handled.

I have nothing against contractors or any other type of linemen, but your attempt at categorizing all muni linemen under an umbrella is bull crap. That is no dang different than a union lineman saying all non-union linemen are worthless..................

I guess you think the same way about co-op and IOU linemen as well?

You need to Re-read my post my friend.....

REALITY.

Muni's would be Dead without contractors. AND...I don't know what Muni you NOW work for....But the Muni employee mindset is...."Can't touch this"....
I'm here forever if I want to be.

The only way outfits like yours survive nowdays is to hire Contractors...and let your "Muni Linemen"...do the Light weight stuff. Seriously man....

You're actually sayin I'm wrong?

[Old Line Dog]

so I have a different opinion of those hands and I would have to call horsecrap myself on lumping em" all together and saying that they are not good workers, maybe a few but not all.

Never said ANYTHING about not bein Good workers. You missed the whole point of what I was sayin bout Muni's, workin for them...and the gentleman that wants to "Go to work for one"....in this day and age....

"Touchie, Touchie, Touchie....."

Strike a nerve...everywhere ya go....:cool:

[Lineman North Florida]

You need to Re-read my post my friend.....

REALITY.

Muni's would be Dead without contractors. AND...I don't know what Muni you NOW work for....But the Muni employee mindset is...."Can't touch this"....
I'm here forever if I want to be.

The only way outfits like yours survive nowdays is to hire Contractors...and let your "Muni Linemen"...do the Light weight stuff. Seriously man....

You're actually sayin I'm wrong? We haven't had an overhead line contractor on our system in over 12 years, we do our own re-conductoring and yes believe it or not all of our own rear lot re-habs, granted as slow as the economy is we are not currently re-conductering any feeders but we have the equipment and know how to do it when needed. You ever wonder why you tend to touch people's nerve's? You talk all kind's of sh1t and it never even crosses your mind that you could be wrong, at times some of the things you rant about I have agreed with but your just a hair overbearing.

[linemanfrog]

You need to Re-read my post my friend.....

REALITY.

Muni's would be Dead without contractors. AND...I don't know what Muni you NOW work for....But the Muni employee mindset is...."Can't touch this"....
I'm here forever if I want to be.

The only way outfits like yours survive nowdays is to hire Contractors...and let your "Muni Linemen"...do the Light weight stuff. Seriously man....

You're actually sayin I'm wrong?

I am not only saying your are wrong but completely, absolutely, and totally freaking ignorant if you believe what you just wrote. In 15 years we have only kept an underground contractor on our property doing directional boring and laying conduit. Occasionally we let them set streetlight poles if we are busy. The only time another contractor has been called in to do "REAL LINEWORK" as you are so prone to call it was in 2004 when Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne hit us back to back. And judging by the work some of them did (yes your famous company was one of them) I hope we get more Muni's to help us next time and less contractors.

You know, I've worked around your type before, in fact still do at times. You may have been a fine lineman, I do not know. However, rest assured regardless of how good you may or may not have been, you are not the only person who knows how to do linework. Also Pike is definitely not the only company that hires "REAL LINEMEN". In fact I worked for a much smaller contractor than Pike "back in the day" and we got several jobs that Pike turned down. Not only did we complete them, we made a handsome profit doing it.

Further more the only way companies such as mine "survive"............well it is called training, skill, knowledge, and understanding of the jobs at hand. The only way companies such as yours survive...........well for a good number of employees they do not, and those that do have plenty of "battle scars". While we are comparing work stats let's also compare safety stats.............shall we?

I know........maybe having knowledge of other companies is not your game...............perhaps we can have a cut and paste contest...........you could have a chance with that.

[Old Line Dog]

We haven't had an overhead line contractor on our system in over 12 years, we do our own re-conductoring and yes believe it or not all of our own rear lot re-habs, granted as slow as the economy is we are not currently re-conductering any feeders but we have the equipment and know how to do it when needed. You ever wonder why you tend to touch people's nerve's? You talk all kind's of sh1t and it never even crosses your mind that you could be wrong, at times some of the things you rant about I have agreed with but your just a hair overbearing.

Well, I stand corrected. It's nice to see that there are some munis that actually do take care of their whole system. The ones I worked for before contracting were like that. We really Did it all. Construction, maint, Urd....everything. The muni properties I've worked on in later years, were exactly what I described. And, it's not a pretty sight. Nice there are some Stand alone Munis still out there.

[lineman641]

I currently applied for a line specialist position for FP&L. Was wondering how the company is to work for, and what area in florida is a good area to raise kids?

jJohn,

to answer you question, FPL is not bad, good wage and bennies. we are so short handed that if you don't want to be in Miami you wont be there for long if at all.

swamp crap or line doggy is so out of touch its funny. he has no clue.

there are yards at lake city and stark, just north of Ocala. a lot more all over the state. if you have a ticket and can pass a piss test you have a good chance to get on and you will have a opportunity to do REAL LINEWORK and how to work in a very large electric system . our contractors are our best source of overtime that we have. you can plan on much O.T and fill of shifts. as I said we are so short handed right now that if you want to make ot you can .

good luck with whatever you choose.


Lineman641

[Old Line Dog]

jJohn,

to answer you question, FPL is not bad, good wage and bennies. we are so short handed that if you don't want to be in Miami you wont be there for long if at all.

swamp crap or line doggy is so out of touch its funny. he has no clue.



BUT...More than likely, you WILL be in Miami to start as... I said.

So....out of curiosity 641, if the wages are so good and the bennies are so good....WHY are you "Short handed"?

[Orgnizdlbr]

BUT...More than likely, you WILL be in Miami to start as... I said.

So....out of curiosity 641, if the wages are so good and the bennies are so good....WHY are you "Short handed"?

I don't have any info on FPL but all the IOUs in my area are short handed, understaffed is a better way to put it..... They don't want to pay anyone.......

[Old Line Dog]

the IOUs in my area are short handed, understaffed is a better way to put it..... They don't want to pay anyone.......

And THAT Labor...is the WHOLE deal.

Actually, better put...they don't want to HIRE anyone. Except contractors when absolutely necessary. Contractors are either "Cost Plus" in more than likely, "Units". One price, no worries about anything else.

[rob8210]

Well Old Line Dog, you, stepped in it again. I have worked both for utilities and contractors and I found there are really good guys and some dead wood in both.

[Old Line Dog]

Well Old Line Dog, you, stepped in it again. I have worked both for utilities and contractors and I found there are really good guys and some dead wood in both.

I've "Stepped in it" more times in my life than you can imagine Rob. Always came out just fine man.
I speak my piece sir.

If that's "Steppin in it", then I love "Steppin in it". I speak my opinion. Some don't like it? That's just fine. Don't make my opinion Wrong though Rob. Just Wrong to some.

And I would agree with you. There are Good guys and Dead wood in Both Utilities and contractors.

Unfortunately....that is not what was being talked about.

"Actually, better put...they don't want to HIRE anyone. Except contractors when absolutely necessary. Contractors are either "Cost Plus" in more than likely, "Units". One price, no worries about anything else."

That what was being talked about. Did I step on my **** again?:D

[linemanfrog]

If a Muni Company will actually hire you on....You better look really hard at that muni.
Somethin's wrong.

Honestly....It's a sad situation for Muni's nowdays. You can't Blow those guys out of a muni Job. Most of the Muni's, and their..."Linemen", at least in florida, are so pampered, and basically they are beyond being fired.

That is why so many of them are basically worthless. Truth be told....Most of em don't climb "Back Lot", they don't really have an actual "Crew" that can install anyting larger than a 3-4 pole line, and THAT takes em a Week! Now, I'm not talkin bout a muni...in a town of 1000 people. I'm talkin about a Muni like Orlando Fla.

Cuss me all ya want. I've SEEN it!

So...in answer to your question...

Good Luck getting on with a Muni, or Co-op. Guys in those jobs, basically stay till they die...and the nepotisim is rabid.

When Muni's and Co-ops need Real Linework done...they call in Contractors. Union and Non. Their boys are basically maintenance Trouble shooters.

Actually Swamp that was not what you were talking about, look at your comments above..................and you wonder why people say some of the things they do to you............as another on this thread stated, many of us agree with you on some stuff but you have a habit of biting off your nose to spite your face. Just saying man, put a little thought into your post before you hit the submit button.

[Old Line Dog]

Actually Swamp that was not what you were talking about, look at your comments above..................and you wonder why people say some of the things they do to you............as another on this thread stated, many of us agree with you on some stuff but you have a habit of biting off your nose to spite your face. Just saying man, put a little thought into your post before you hit the submit button.

I'm sorry man...
There might be a lot more good Munis out there than I know.

But the ones I've worked for as a contractor....were just what I said they were.

They didn't do Major Reconductor work, Their boys didn't Do backlog jobs, they don't have enough people to actually Build a 100 Pole New Line....and they hire a Contractor, for a weekend Troubleman.

My nose is still here. I'm just speakin about what I've lived...and what I know is still being Lived and worked in Munis...by Contractors.

I think it's cool...there are still some munis out there that actually take care of EVERYTHING on their system. Not sure I believe it...but I WANT to!!

[rob8210]

Well , Old Line Dog, any utilities I have worked at do very line job . They tend to hire contractors when the workload is more than they can handle. In some places it is because they are reluctant to hire , in other cases , especially around here, they did not anticipate fellas retiring at the rate they have been in the last few years , so they are way behind on their apprenticeship programs. They use contractors to make up the shortfall. I have even been a rent -a -man. Contracted into a utility to work on their trucks with their men to supplement their workforce.

[Old Line Dog]

Well , Old Line Dog, any utilities I have worked at do very line job . They tend to hire contractors when the workload is more than they can handle. In some places it is because they are reluctant to hire , in other cases , especially around here, they did not anticipate fellas retiring at the rate they have been in the last few years, so they are way behind on their apprenticeship programs. .

Understand Rob. The utilities I was talkin about, fell into that same category. They just decided, "Financially" it was much cheaper to hire contractors...to fill in the "Gaps", so to speak. Whatever "Gaps" they had. Hiring New employees, with health benefits, Insurance, etc, etc.....The numbers just don't add up.

Municipalities usually operate under the direction of the Board of Directors OF the City. The Board controls the "purse strings" for the City, and hence...the hiring of New City employees.

I got a buddy that The Electrical Dept of this "Muni"...whats to hire SO much!! He is SO Multi talented...I can't even get into it.

The "Board"...has a hiring Freeze in effect. NO HIRING of NEW employees. The City Muni Board of directors, control all elements of all Utilities in the Muni.

Contractors? Well, that's different.

The "New" Munis...was all I was talkin about, when all those buttheads unloaded on my ass.

Fcuk em. Reality sucks. "Money Talks, and Siht walks".

"Bennies" are a thing of the past for Muni employees. And unfortunately...more Munis are wakin up to that fact every day.

Munis will keep "Skeleton" crews...
coming soon....

the bulk of the work will be farmed out to contractors.

I know...I'm an A$$hole, and most of ya hate me.
"Life's a *****, and then...ya die".

"It is...what it is".....
Even the unions see it comin....

[rob8210]

With the limited availability of well qualified lineman, a fella has a pretty good chance a getting a job . You are right , though, a lot of places are reluctant to hire permanent staff. We contractors are doing more and more line rebuilds and even pole changeouts everyday. But, you just cant make a statement that all utility hands are lazy, and don't want to work. That simply isn't true. Most utility hands I know complain that the company will not give them the construction work, instead concentrating on service work.

[Old Line Dog]

Most utility hands I know complain that the company will not give them the construction work, instead concentrating on service work.

True. Most Utilities that I've seen, just don't have enough people to actually put together a construction crew for re-conductor jobs, creating the URD for a new sub division, or building a 50 pole line. Their crews, as you said, do mostly service work or single pole change outs, bank installations etc.