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FMEA Holds 25th Annual Florida Lineman Competition this Saturday in Tallahassee
The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) will hold the 25th annual Florida Lineman Competition this Saturday, March 14, in Tallahassee. Electric lineworkers from all over the state will come together to demonstrate their skill and knowledge in the craft of line work. Hosted by the City of Tallahassee, the competition will take place at the Apalachee Regional Park.
Competitors will compete in one of two categories – journeyman teams or apprentices. Journeyman teams, which include at least one lineworker who has been in the industry for five years or more, are made up of three lineworkers. Apprentices, or lineworkers in training, compete individually.
This year, competitors will take on various challenges, such as replacing fuses and insulators, changing out fiberglass guy links, relocating cross arms, transferring equipment from pole to pole, and completing a simulation of rescuing an injured lineworker. Competitors earn points for completing the tasks as quickly as possible and lose points if safety standards and proper work practices are not followed.
The competition also includes a mutual aid event in which two apprentices and one journeyman from three different utilities will compete together in an event that simulates work done in a mutual aid power restoration situation.
Electric utility workers from 13 utilities are participating in the 2026 Florida Lineman Competition. This includes 156 lineworkers from 11 utilities registered to compete, comprised of 72 apprentices and 84 journeyman lineworkers competing on 26 teams, and 58 judges from across the state that will score competitors.
The winners will be announced at an awards banquet on Saturday evening.
“We are incredibly excited to celebrate the 25th year of the Florida Lineman Competition and to bring together so many lineworkers from across our public power communities,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “This event is a tremendous opportunity to showcase the exceptional skill, precision and professionalism that define linework, all within a controlled environment that places safety at the forefront. Just as importantly, it highlights the strong sense of brotherhood within the trade – the same spirit of teamwork and trust that keeps our communities powered every day.”
Saturday’s event is free and open to the public. FMEA encourages members of the public to come out, bring their families, and enjoy the competition starting with the opening ceremony at 7:30 a.m., followed by the competition at 8:15 a.m. with the mutual aid event. Activities for children, including a Kids’ Zone and food trucks will be on-site. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs. Coolers are permitted, and parking is available free of charge.
Additionally, new to the event this year is the FMEA Kids’ Lineman Rodeo, which will take place in advance of the competition tomorrow, March 13. Pre-registered participants, who are children ages 7 to 14 of this year’s competitors, judges, exhibitors, and sponsors, will learn more about the trade of linework through hands-on, kid-safe simulations. The event promotes electrical safety awareness, teamwork, and appreciation for the vital work lineworkers perform in their communities.
View event information and the event agenda here. For more information on FMEA and the Florida Lineman Competition, please visit www.flpublicpower.com.