The Florida Municipal Electric Association on March 1 held its annual Florida Lineman Competition, which brings electric lineworkers from all over the state and outside of Florida together to demonstrate their skill and knowledge in the craft of line work.
Competitors took on various challenges such as changing out cables, disconnecting power lines, replacing arrestors and insulators and completing a simulation of rescuing an injured lineworker.
Competitors earned points for completing the tasks as quickly as possible and lost points if safety standards and proper work practices were not followed. Journeyman teams, which included 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, competed individually.
The 2025 Overall Journeyman Team Winners Cup was presented to David Hicken, Caleb Macabitas and Jonathan Cody Stokes of JEA. Winning the Overall Apprentice Award was Ryan Kornegay from JEA.
This year, electric utility workers from 18 utilities are participating in the 2025 Florida Lineman Competition. This includes 156 lineworkers from 15 utilities registered to compete, comprised of 77 apprentices and 79 journeyman lineworkers competing on 24 teams, and 64 judges from across the state that will score competitors.
“A big congratulations to all the winners, who have demonstrated exceptional expertise and skills while also showing their unwavering commitment to safety on the job and delivering the highest quality service to their communities,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director.
FMEA Announces Annual Safety Awards Winners
On March 1, FMEA also recognized excellence in Florida public power at an awards banquet where the winners of the FMEA Safety Awards were announced.
FMEA recognizes and rewards safe operations through its annual Safety Awards. Utilities are placed into categories based on their total worker hours and rewarded for the most incident-free records.
The incidence rate used to judge utilities was based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses compared to the total number of worker hours during 2024, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
“Each of these winners embodies the safety culture deeply inherent in public power. Their continuous efforts throughout the year to maintain safe workplaces and cultivate a culture of safety ensure employees can work both securely and efficiently,” said Zubaly.
A total of 17 utilities received a Safety Award in their category, including:
Category A (0-59,999 man-hours):
City of Alachua – Perfect Record
City of Blountstown – Perfect Record
City of Chattahoochee – Perfect Record
City of Green Cove Springs – Perfect Record
City of Newberry – Perfect Record
City of Mount Dora – Perfect Record
City of Williston – Perfect Record
City of Winter Park Electric Utility – Perfect Record
Category B (60,000-199,999 man-hours):
Beaches Energy Services – Perfect Record
New Smyrna Beach Utilities – 2nd place
City of Homestead – 3rd place
Category C (200,000-399,999 man-hours):
Keys Energy Services – Perfect Record
Ocala Electric Utility – 2nd place
Category D (400,000-949,999 man-hours):
City of Tallahassee – 1st place
Kissimmee Utility Authority – 2nd place
Lakeland Electric – 3rd place
Category F (2,500,000-greater man-hours):
OUC – Special Recognition
