October 9, 20204 - This morning, three lineworkers from Columbus Utilities—Jake Boness, journeyman lineman; Jeff Hecht, journeyman lineman; and Mason Mosher, apprentice lineman—departed for Florida to assist in storm recovery efforts in anticipation of damage from Hurricane Milton. They are part of a larger group from the Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin (MEUW), with workers from 23 public power utilities providing aid. Wisconsin is one of 16 states sending crews to help restore power and infrastructure in the storm's aftermath.
Public power utilities like Columbus Utilities are community-owned and not-for-profit, meaning their mission extends beyond profits to ensuring the well-being of the people they serve. When disaster strikes, public power workers band together through mutual aid programs and are often the first to respond in restoring critical services. Lineworkers are specially trained to work with high voltage electrical equipment under extreme conditions. Their work is essential in maintaining public health and safety, as electricity powers hospitals, water treatment plants, and emergency services that are crucial in the wake of a storm.
We express our heartfelt thanks to Jake, Jeff, Mason, and all of the crews that are helping to restore service quickly and safely in a time of crisis. Their work exemplifies the best of public power's mission: reliability, community service, and dedication to the health and safety of all.