Keeping America Powered: Meet Utility Workers Essential To Their Communities (Part 2)

See how Theodric, Somer, Libby, and Jesse are keeping the lights on for their communities. 

Theodric Arline
Underground Networking Cable Working Foreman
JEA | Jacksonville, FL

“Things are growing in Jacksonville, and our central role is to help keep construction projects going.”

If you’re constructing a new building of structure in Jacksonville, Florida, there’s a good chance you’ll run into essential utility worker Theodric Arline. As a highly skilled Underground Cable Networking Foreman, Theodric is JEA’s boots on the ground. He makes sure that transformers are set, cable is pooled, and electrical devices are in place, keeping construction powered throughout the city. As the pandemic impacted Jacksonville, Theodric and his team remained out in the community, working to ensure JEA’s 50,000 commercial and industrial customers, which includes life-saving local institutions like hospitals, continued to receive reliable electric power. 

Learn more about JEA

Somer Mese
Power Plant Manager
Colorado Springs Utilities | Colorado Springs, CO

“My family, friends, and neighbors all have reliable electricity because of what my team and I do every day.”

As a Power Plant Manager, Somer Mese is essential to ensuring reliable electricity powers her community of Colorado Springs. No day is ever the same for Somer. In her role as manager, she oversees a team of highly-trained workers who are responsible for keeping the lights on for their family, friends, and neighbors. Any maintenance or operations issues have to be dealt with swiftly to keep units online and power flowing. Looking to the future, Somer will be front and center as Colorado Springs Utilities retires their coal generation fleet and expands their renewable portfolio and storage capabilities. 

Learn more about Colorado Springs Utilities

Libby Clark
Director of Human Resources and Safety
Platte River | Fort Collins, CO

“It’s essential that our workforce be considered indispensable.”

As the Director of Human Resources and Safety, no one was more involved in Platte River Power Authority’s (PRPA) efforts to help keep employees safe during the pandemic than Libby Clark. As the utility providing electricity to communities across Northern Colorado, many PRPA workers were deemed essential at the beginning of the pandemic and had to remain on-site or out in the field. To keep them safe, Libby implemented new health and safety procedures, redesigned workspaces, and engineered safe work schedules. PRPA’s essential workers are doing everything they can to keep the lights on in Colorado, just as Libby did everything she can to keep the utility’s workers safe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Learn more about Platte River Power Authority

Jesse Brantley
Winyah Generating Station Unit Operator
Santee Cooper | Georgetown, SC

“Hospitals couldn’t operate, businesses couldn’t operate, without power. That’s step one.”

Jesse Brantley is a vital part of South Carolina’s electric system. As a Unit Operator at Santee Cooper’s Winyah Generating Station, he’s responsible for everything from the coal yard to the electric grid. Jesse is one of a handful of highly trained essential utility workers who makes sure that electricity is generated at Winyah and transmitted to the electric grid, where it is then delivered to homes, businesses, and communities. A husband and father, Jesse made the tough call during the pandemic to work 12-hour long shifts seven days a week so that the lights stayed on for 2 million South Carolinians served by Santee Cooper. 

Learn more about Santee Cooper

Meet more of our essential workers and learn how they keep your community powered.

Meet Heather, Vince, Dan, and Steve

Meet Landon, Jack, and Jamil

Learn More about Essential Workers

LPPC President-Elect: Treasury’s New Elective Pay Guidance a “Significant Step Forward” for Public Power Customers
Rising Electric Demand Calls for Solutions
LPPC Ready to Partner with President and Congress to Power Growth
The State of Public Power Advocacy: John Di Stasio & Tom Falcone Share Their Insights
President’s Post: The Connection Between Federal Energy Policy & Clean Energy
Large Public Power Council Announces Tom Falcone as President-Elect
LPPC Grows Membership with the Addition of Lincoln Electric System
LPPC Announces Jackie Flowers and Javier Fernandez as New Chair and Vice Chair
LPPC Responds to FERC’s Final Transmission Planning Rule
LPPC Issues Statement on EPA's Final Power Plant Rule
Public Power Leaders Attend LPPC’s Inaugural Members Conference
Broad coalition floats cost containment proposal as FERC eyes final grid rule
Groups Urge Inclusion of Cost Containment in FERC Tx Planning Rule
Energy Groups Press Regulators to Scrutinize Power Grid Costs
LPPC and Advocacy Groups Advance Transmission Planning Cost Management Proposal at FERC
LPPC Discusses Electrification at USEA's 2024 State of the Energy Industry Forum
PUF Covers LPPC Grid Reliability Event with Sen. Kevin Cramer
LPPC Hosts a Discussion on Reliability with Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
Where Community Matters Most
LPPC Announces Tom Falcone, CEO of LIPA, and Jackie Flowers, Director of Utilities at Tacoma Public Utilities, as New Chair and Vice Chair
Commentary: Look no further than Long Island for a case for public power
Navigating the Path to a Sustainable and Reliable Power Supply
Clearing the Path for Permitting Reform
Leading on Clean Energy Expansion
Fitch Says Deleveraging Era Over For Public Power Utilities
LPPC Welcomes Nashville Electric Service as Newest Member
IRS guidance on renewable tax credit transferability, direct-pay provisions of IRA, garners mixed reviews
Treasury Proposes Rules on Monetizing Energy Tax Credits
Domestic Content Rules for Direct Pay Continue to Lack Clarity and Certainty
President’s Post: Permitting Reform & Protecting Direct Pay Priorities as LPPC CEOs Meet with Members of Congress
US Releases Made-in-America Rules for Clean Energy Credits
LPPC Calls for Certainty and Clarity on Domestic Content Requirements
Can Utilities Rise To The Challenges Presented By Decarbonization?
Panel Debates Impact of Renewables, Electrification on Reliability
To Electrify America, Advance Permitting Reform
LPPC Discusses Pathways to Decarbonization at USEA’s 2023 State of the Energy Industry Forum
LPPC Discusses Clean Energy Tax Credits and Decarbonization with Bloomberg Government
LPPC Provides Comments to Treasury on Clean Energy Tax Credits
President's Post: Public Power CEOs and Federal Policymakers Convene at LPPC's Post-Election Forum
LPPC CEOs Present at the Public Power Community Forum
LPPC at National Clean Energy Week
LPPC Chair and Austin Energy General Manager, Jackie Sargent, Discusses Carbon-Free Goals and More on Grid Talk
U.S. public power sector tackles emerging ESG challenges, inflation
Chair’s Post: Embracing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to Secure our Energy Future
LPPC Submits Comments to FERC on Transmission Planning
LPPC Leads Cross-Industry Push for E-Mobility
LPPC Members Fly In to Advocate for Public Power Communities
A Preview of Energy Transition Hopes and Hurdles for 2022
API Taps New Chief Lobbyist
LPPC Signs Joint Letter on Sequestration and Direct Subsidy Bonds
Joint Public Finance Network Letter to Congress In Support of Legislation In Response to COVID-19
Letter to Congress Regarding Near-Term for Customers and Communities in Response to COVID-19
LPPC Federal Reserve Municipal Liquidity Facility Letter
Joint Trades Community Owned Utility Direct Pay Letter
Letter to Treasury of Private Use
Letter to Treasury on Priority Guidance
GridWise Alliance and Grid Infrastructure Advisory Council Letter
Tulsa World: Utility Workers—A New, Unsung Hero Emerges During Times of Crisis
S&P Global: Municipal Utilities Call For Return Of Financial Tools To Get Through Pandemic
Morning Consult: Hidden Heroes Keeping The Lights On
Utility Dive: The (Energy) Efficient Road to Small Business Recovery
S&P Global: Public Power Utilities Say They Have 'Weathered' COVID-19 Storm; S&P Adds, 'So Far'
The Bond Buyer: Power Utilities Still Plan Capital Improvements
Morning Consult: Utilities Coalition Letter Rallies Congress to Include Support for Public Power in Coronavirus Stimulus
Morning Consult: Worldwide Denial-of-Service Cyberattacks on Utilities Up Five-Fold This Summer, Data Shows
Utility Dive: Public Power Leaders See Lasting Effects from 2020 Disruptions with New Approaches to Resilience, Equity
Public Utilities Fortnightly: Saluting the Workforce at Large Public Power Council; Conversation with LPPC president John Di Stasio
E&E News: Quest for 'Common Ground' Continues as Clock Ticks
POLITICO Morning Energy: Defending from Future Cyber Attacks
Agri-Pulse: Biden's Clean Power Target Poses Stiff Challenge for Some Rural Power Providers
PV Magazine: Sunrise Brief - Leaders Urge Support for Clean Energy Tax Breaks that Benefit Public Power
POLITICO: How Much Companies That Paid No Corporate Income Tax Spent on Lobbying
Utility Dive: Utilities to DOE - More Information, Not New Regulations, Needed to Secure the Grid
The Hill: Want a Clean Energy Future? Look to the Tax Code.
2022 Public Power Community Conference: Navigating an Industry in Transition
President’s Post: Fulfilling Our Mission to Benefit Public Power and America
Keeping America Powered: Meet Utility Workers Essential To Their Communities (Part 3)
Keeping America Powered: Meet Utility Workers Essential To Their Communities (Part 2)
Keeping America Powered: Meet Utility Workers Essential To Their Communities (Part 1)
Meet Our Essential Workers: Performing a Critical Role in Our Communities
E&E News: FERC unveils transmission plan seen as key for renewables
Canary Media: The US needs to build a bigger, stronger grid. FERC has a plan for that.
Austin Energy and LIPA Leaders Take the Reins at LPPC
LPPC Urges Congress to Consider Public Financing Tools in any COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Bill
LPPC Urges Congress to Support Public Power Communities
Large Public Power Council Chair and Vice-Chair Offer Insight on Response to the Coronavirus, Plans for Re-entry
LPPC Issues Statement on Clean Energy Innovation and Deployment Act of 2020
LPPC Calls on Congress to Prioritize Public Sector Infrastructure Investment
LPPC Issues Statement Regarding EPA’s Proposed Rulemaking on Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS)
Large Public Power Council Welcomes Austin Energy General Manager Jackie Sargent as New Chair, Long Island Power Authority CEO Tom Falcone Elected Vice Chair
LPPC Issues Joint Statement Regarding FERC’s Proposed Rule on Transmission Planning