Florida Public Power Utilities Earn Trophies at National Lineworkers Rodeo

This past weekend, Florida public power participants again brought home half of the awards, including first- and second-place overall apprentices and third-place journeyman team, presented at the American Public Power Association’s 24th annual Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo, held March 27-28, in Huntsville, Alabama. Participants from five Florida public power utilities were among the eight journeyman teams and eleven individual apprentices who won awards at rodeo, which was hosted by Huntsville Utilities. 

Sixty-one journeyman teams and 136 apprentices from 56 utilities across the United States competed. Florida utilities competed in the large- and medium-sized utility categories. 

The “rodeo” is a series of competitive events demonstrating lineworker skills and safe work practices. The awards honor lineworkers’ expertise, and the events are judged based on safety, work practices, neatness, ability, equipment handling, and timely event completion. All safety rules established by APPA’s 17th edition Safety Manual were observed during events.  

There are two levels of competition within the rodeo—journeyman and apprentice. The journeyman teams consist of three members—two climbers and a ground person—and can include an optional alternate. Journeymen have years of experience within the electric utility trade, while an apprentice lineworker is newer to the craft. 

Florida public power winners included: 

Apprentice – Overall Competition 
1.    Garrett Accomando, Orlando Utilities Commission, Orlando, Florida 
2.    Dalton Gowdy, City of Tallahassee Electric & Gas Utility, Tallahassee, Florida

Apprentice – Overall Competition By Utility Size* 
Medium: Kyle Bezold, Kissimmee Utility Authority, Kissimmee, Florida 
Large: Garrett Accomando, Orlando Utilities Commission, Orlando, Florida 

Utility Size Categories (*Florida utilities competed in the large and medium-sized utility categories.): 
•    Medium: Utilities with at least 30,000 customers, but less than 100,000 customers 
•    Large: Utilities with 100,000 or more customers 

Apprentice – Hurtman Rescue 
1.    Dalton Gowdy, City of Tallahassee Electric & Gas Utility, Tallahassee, Florida 
3.    Kyle Bezold, Kissimmee Utility Authority, Kissimmee, Florida 

Apprentice – Single Phase Two Wire Tie-In/Untie 
1.    Dalton Gowdy, City of Tallahassee Electric & Gas Utility, Tallahassee, Florida 
2.    Garrett Accomando, Orlando Utilities Commission, Orlando, Florida

Apprentice – Load Transfer 
1.    Garrett Accomando, Orlando Utilities Commission, Orlando, Florida 
2.    Dalton Gowdy, City of Tallahassee Electric & Gas Utility, Tallahassee, Florida

Apprentice - Written Test 
1.    Garrett Accomando, Orlando Utilities Commission, Orlando, Florida 
2.    Dylan Tyler, Orlando Utilities Commission, Orlando, Florida 
3.    Aidan Flick, Orlando Utilities Commission, Orlando, Florida 

Journeyman – Overall Competition 
3.    Kissimmee Utility Authority, Kissimmee, FL: Austin Franey, Daniel Kelly & Cory Breen, Kevon McKinsey (Alternate) 

Journeyman – Overall Competition By Utility Size*
Medium: Kissimmee Utility Authority, Kissimmee, FL: Austin Franey, Daniel Kelly & Cory Breen; Kevon McKinsey (Alternate) 

Utility Size Categories (*Florida utilities competed in the large and medium-sized utility categories.): 
•    Medium: Utilities with at least 30,000 customers, but less than 100,000 customers 
•    Large: Utilities with 100,000 or more customers 

Journeyman – URD New Installation 12KV   
2.    Kissimmee Utility Authority, Kissimmee, FL: Austin Franey, Daniel Kelly & Cory Breen 
Kevon McKinsey (Alternate) 

Journeyman – OCR Replacement 
3.    Kissimmee Utility Authority, Kissimmee, FL: Austin Franey, Daniel Kelly & Cory Breen, Kevon McKinsey (Alternate) 

Journeyman – Pin and Insulator Change Out 12KV 
1.    Kissimmee Utility Authority, Kissimmee, FL: Austin Franey, Daniel Kelly & Cory Breen; Kevon McKinsey (Alternate) 
2.    Lakeland Electric, Lakeland, FL: Clark Grenfell, Austin Carr & Dustin Zorn

Journeyman – Hurtman Rescue 
2.    Kissimmee Utility Authority, Kissimmee, FL: Austin Franey, Daniel Kelly & Cory Breen; Kevon McKinsey (Alternate) 
3.    JEA, Jacksonville, FL: Hunter Thomas, Ryan Kornegay & Noah Sapp; Chris Clardy (Alternate)