Duke Energy announced on April 16 that it will honor its South Carolina lineworkers on National Lineworker Appreciation Day, which falls on April 18. The company also said it is awarding $75,000 in grants through the Duke Energy Foundation to support training programs for future lineworkers in the state.
Lineworkers play a key role in maintaining and restoring power for homes and businesses. Their work ensures reliable energy service and helps communities recover quickly after storms or outages. Duke Energy highlighted their importance as the state continues to grow.
Scott Batson, executive vice president and chief power grid officer for Duke Energy, said, “Customers trust us to deliver safe, reliable power every day – and to bring it back quickly after storms and other outages. That’s why the work of our lineworkers’ matters: they strengthen the system through daily maintenance and upgrades, and they respond in our communities when it matters most. Their skill and safety-first mindset help us provide the dependable service our communities expect today while building a stronger grid for the future.”
The company reported that this year’s grant will go to York Technical College, York Comprehensive High School, Clover High School, Tri-County Technical College, and Denmark Technical College. Since 2020, Duke Energy Foundation has invested $395,000 in similar workforce development efforts across South Carolina.
Tim Pearson, Duke Energy’s South Carolina president said: “South Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in the nation, and the need for reliable energy, and the smart-thinking grid to deliver it, has never been more urgent. As our state grows and businesses relocate to or expand in the state, thousands of jobs will be created and filled – and the need for skilled lineworkers to build and maintain this infrastructure will be at the top of that list.”
Brandon Duncan from Clemson Operations Center described his experience as a senior journeyman lineworker: “Being a lineworker at Duke Energy means standing on the front lines when it matters most – when our customers need their lives restored to normal. It’s a job built on grit, teamwork, and pride where every line restored is a promise kept to the communities we serve.”
Duke Energy stated that its electric utilities serve millions of customers across several states including North Carolina and South Carolina while its natural gas utilities serve additional regions. The company continues investing in grid upgrades as part of an energy modernization strategy aimed at meeting growing demand.
