2010

[Highplains Drifter]

2010 isn't looking too rosey for contract lineman. Most utilities won't be writing as many rebuilds as last year. new construction for comercial projects looks poor also.



I think that statement is totally wrong. The infra structure is going to get beefed up. There is 10 Billion dollars set aside for stimulus monies. The problem has been the Power Companies have to put up one dollar to get one dollar of stimulus, it seems like they have been waiting and stalling so that the government just gives it to them. What I am hearing is, this is getting started in January and will be very strong for 15 years. Seems like a Journeyman Lineman is going to be a very hot commodity. Companies will get some hands but the good hands will be treated very nicely if they want to keep us. I do know of a call for 50 hands next week and this is only the the first week of the year. Please don't PM me where, I am not into shopping your own job, use your Tramp Guide and do some phone calling.

[topgroove]

there will be some work allthough it dosen't look too promising. here at National Grid we applied but won't get one penny from the smart grid money. kinda suprising we're a blue state? we're one of the largest utilities in the northeast. the slugish economy has hurt utility revenue from coast to coast. here's what first energy had to say five months agoFirstEnergy Corp. plans more layoffs and early retirements in response to lower sales during recession By John FunkJuly 28, 2009, 6:09PM FirstEnergy Corp. said Tuesday it will eliminate the jobs of another 40 employees, including 27 from its Akron operations, effective Aug. 27, taking the total number of jobs lost this year to 375. The reductions are part of an on-going corporate-wide reorganization that began in January due in part to the recession. The streamlining eliminated 335 jobs in March. All of the jobs eliminated have been non-union and included managers and directors. FirstEnergy also Tuesday said 221 unionized employees and 382 are non-union employees have taken early retirements under a company incentive plan. The option may be offered to others as well, said a spokeswoman.With operations in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey serving more than 4.5 million customers, FirstEnergy employed more than 14,000 before the layoffs and early retirements. Power sales have slumped for more than nine months as the recession has sharply reduced industrial demand. The company warned investors earlier this year that 2009 would be a challenging year for the entire industry. In addition to the layoffs and retirements, FirstEnergy has slowed down big renovation and construction projects. The company will announce its second quarter earnings on Monday.

[Edge]

I think that statement is totally wrong. The infra structure is going to get beefed up. There is 10 Billion dollars set aside for stimulus monies. The problem has been the Power Companies have to put up one dollar to get one dollar of stimulus, it seems like they have been waiting and stalling so that the government just gives it to them. What I am hearing is, this is getting started in January and will be very strong for 15 years. Seems like a Journeyman Lineman is going to be a very hot commodity. Companies will get some hands but the good hands will be treated very nicely if they want to keep us. I do know of a call for 50 hands next week and this is only the the first week of the year. Please don't PM me where, I am not into shopping your own job, use your Tramp Guide and do some phone calling.

I gotta agree with ya Drifter... but one of the biggest reasons the JL can be comfortable is because all the old fu(ks like me are retireing or getting ready to... gonna be up to the 30 and 40 somethings to keep the lights on....

whis some of the other old cats on the site would get behind this... these young cats need all the support they can get...

cuz they aint gonna get any from new hired apes that are to scared to do their jobs but they are "safe"... but thats another thread...

as far as work goes???

we got lots of transmission going on down here atm... lattice being changed to pole... tighenting up corridors... plenty of maintanence...

similar shit with 'busiton...

not sure what AEP's doing... ain't really paid to much attention cuz of the time of year...

noticed ALOT of coops and muni's are upgrading shit and doing a bunch of maintance...

2010... will be better than 09 I'm bettin...

for what it's worth...

Edge

[LINCRW]

We're getting about 15.1 mil in the smart grid money. Will be stretched out over the next 10 years supposedly. We'll see.

Reconductors, automated tie points, "self healing" system...... Sounds promising for anyone who can program a controller.

[Ski_Digger]

Driffter hope your right!!!
But why all the line guys getting layed off all of a sudden or they are getting to take days off without pay. Even heard of some early buyout deals.
Guys that I have talked to said they never thought they would see this in our "world for what we do".
And with all the retirements going on you still don't see any new guys comming on board. I think all that stimulis money is going for some pretty good trips or something and not for what it should.
What really kills me is companies now that they are retiring guys so lets wait till they leave and then hire a apprentice and not anything for atleast four years till they get their card and top out.

How about ya Top make it a 1000 posts lets hear whats up.
Ski:o

[topgroove]

Hey here's post 1001. I do believe things will start picking up in 2011. At the moment things are still unclear for many utilities. Sure there will be some capital projects,,, not like 2008 but I think about 3% less than 2009. A few years ago it seamed like smart grid meant the metering side of things... now its starting to look like improving delivery is the goal. things like reclosers ,sectionalizers and feeder tie reclosers. loop feed sceemes that can be controlled via EMS. State regulators might be holding up funds and utilities are proceeding cautiously. Things will break wide open eventually. It always seams to be all or nothing.