Apprentice Lineworker Program
NEPPA has adopted the four-year curriculum of the Northwest Lineman College’s Lineworker Certification Program and combines hands-on and formal classroom training. Students attend class four times a year for four days each to complete the four-year program.
Each year, students participate in an additional two-day Skills Assessment Rodeo each year. The Apprentice Rodeo is designed to showcase the apprentices’ developing technical and climbing skills, and to reinforce the program’s focus on professionalism, safety, and proper technique.
Course Length:
4 days/week; 4 weeks per year
Course Dates:
Year I:
Jan. 28 -31; Mar. 3 – 6; Sept. 22 – 25; Oct. 27 – 30, 2020
Year II:
Feb. 4 – 7; VIRTUAL LECTURES: June 8 – 12*; Sept. 29 – Oct. 2; Nov. 3 – 6, 2020
Year III:
Feb. 11 – 14; VIRTUAL LECTURES: June 15 – 19*; Oct. 6 – 9; Nov. 17 – 20, 2020
Year IV:
Feb. 25 – 28; VIRTUAL LECTURES: June 22 – 26*; Oct. 20 – 23; Dec. 7 – 10, 2020
Apprentice Skills Assessment Rodeo:
October 21 – 22, 2020 – Cancelled
Apprentice Lineworker Program Graduation:
Dec. 10, 2020
* Virtual Lectures
To ensure students don’t fall behind on their bookwork, NEPPA is offering a series of 90-minute live, instructor-led Virtual Lectures to cover content affected by COVID-19 closures. Lectures will be recorded and available to students who are unable to participate.
Virtual lectures are held from 8:00 am – 9:30 am each day. Contact Colleen Del Signore at colleend@neppa.org to receive the meeting link(s).
Location
All classes are held at the NEPPA Training Center:
NEPPA Training Center – 200 New Estate Road, Littleton, MA 01460
Program is also offered in New York. Please contact NEPPA at (978) 540-2200 for more information.
Apprentice Lineworker Skills Assessment Rodeo Agenda
Day 1 – October 21, 2020
8:00 AM Registration
8:30 AM Opening Ceremony
Raise flag
National Anthem
Recognize Veterans
Moment of silence for those who gave all
9:00 AM Events begin
12:00 PM Lunch
2:00 PM Events end for the day
Day 2 – October 22, 2020
8:00 AM Events begin
12:30 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Awards Ceremony
2:00 PM Rodeo closes
Please note the dates are subject to change.
Topics Covered & Prerequisites
Year One: Introduction to power delivery; safety; working in elevated positions; knots, splices and rope; electrical systems; first aid; applied mathematics; basic electrical theory; transformer basics; and 29 CFR 1910.269 (Parts A, B, C, G, I, K, N)
Prerequisite: It is recommended that students new to the program be pre-qualified, either through their utility or through NEPPA’s Lineworker Pre-Qualification Program.
Year Two: Safety; AC fundamentals; personal protective grounding; live line equipment and methods; rigging; underground conductors; overhead conductors; electrical test equipment; substations; and 29 CFR 1910.269 (Parts H, J, L, M, R)
Prerequisite: Year One
Year Three: Safety; special elements; metering; system power flow; advanced transformers; maps and standards; system protection; National Electric Safety Code One and Two; and 29 CFR 1910.269 (Parts E, F, P, Q, T, U, W)
Prerequisite: Year Two
Year Four: Safety; communication systems; special elements; vegetation management; system operation; system automation; overhead line design; underground line design; trouble investigation; and crew leadership.
Prerequisite: Year Three
Registration
Registration includes coffee and lunch each day. Lodging is not included in the registraiton fee and must be arranged directly with the hotel. See “Lodging” information below.
NEPPA Members: $3,200 per person, per year
Non-Members: $4,800 per person, per year
Pre-Qualification Program Rates:
1 – 3 Individuals:
NEPPA Members: $500
Non-Members: $750
4+ Individuals: Contact NEPPA
For more information on the Pre-Qualification Program, contact NEPPA at (978) 540-2200.
Attention New 1st Year Students:
Cancellation Policy
All program withdrawals must be sent in writing to NEPPA or emailed to colleend@neppa.org with attention to Colleen Del Signore. Substitutions may be made at any time (prior to the start of the program).
Books must be returned within 35 days of the shipment date, provided that no exams have been taken and they are in like-new condition, so the appropriate refund can be issued. If books are not returned within this time frame, the cost will be deducted from the tuition refund as described below.
Withdrawals/cancellations received based on the schedule below are eligible for the following:
3 weeks prior to the 1st scheduled week of class = 100% refund of tuition
Before completion of the 1st scheduled week of class = 75% refund of tuition
Before the completion of the 2nd scheduled week of class = 50% refund of tuition
After the 2nd scheduled week of class = 0% refund of tuition
Questions? please contact the Colleen Del Signore, Education & Training Coordinator at colleend@neppa.org or call (978) 540-2209.
Please see the information below regarding instructors and lodging.
Instructors
Steve Socoby, CUSP, Director of Technical Training
Steve has 36 years of hands on experience in all facets of operations, of public power utilities including: Line Superintendent; supervision of crews, maintenance, new construction, reliability and associated plant & sub-station responsibilities. He is a recognized expert in safety and OSHA compliance.
In his role of Director of Training, he is responsible for development and quality of safety & technical programs. He also oversees the line-workers’ school and teaches utility management and supervision, electronic controls and power-line operation programs.
Recognized as an industry leader and expert Steve has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Northeast Public Power Association and been recognized by the Maine State Legislature for his previous 30 Years of Distinguished Service. Steve attended the University of Maine at Orono.
Peter Crowley, Authorized OSHA Outreach Instructor, Trainer
Pete has been an instructor for the Northeast Public Power Association since April of 2015 and travels all throughout New England. Before joining NEPPA, Pete started as a lineman in May of 1984 with Green Mountain Power. Then he moved over to Burlington Electric in 2002 where he was working as a line foreman.
Pete has an Associate’s degree of applied science in Power Technology and has his Mass. 1B/2A Hoisting License.
Pete currently lives in Winooski, VT and has been married to his wife, Mary Ann, for the past 30 years. They have two children together, Nathan and Natalie. His hobbies are woodworking, beekeeper and rabbit hunting with his beagles.
Pete goes on to say, “teaching has been a big part of my career and NEPPA gives me a chance to continue teaching, which I love to do!”
Dan Flynn, Trainer
Dan Flynn has been a safety trainer with Northeast Public Power Association, since September 2018 after retiring from Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Dept with more than a 40 year career in public power.
Dan started in the electric meter department in the 1970’s and worked his way through the electric line department as a lineman/line foremen and his last position as the electric department superintendent. Some of Dan’s responsibilities covered construction, maintenance, and safety of the electric line division. Dan continues to maintain his 1B/2A Mass. hoisting license and a Mass. Class A Driving license.
Dan is a lifelong resident of Wakefield, Ma where he lives with his wife Alayne of 39 years they have two adult children.
He says “It is a privilege to continue to be involved with the public power industry in New England to give back any knowledge I’ve acquired over these many years.”
Dennis Regele, Authorized OSHA Outreach Instructor, Trainer
Dennis has been a trainer for the Northeast Public Power Association since November 2018 and travels throughout the Northeast.
Dennis has a Bachelor’s of Science in Natural Science for Worcester State College, is married and has 3 sons.
Prior to joining NEPPA, Dennis started his career in the utility industry in 1984 with Massachusetts Electric (now National Grid). He worked his way up from an apprentice lineworker through crew leader and eventually as Line Supervisor and Safety Supervisor. He then moved on to NSTAR (now Eversource) as a Field/Technical Trainer.
Dennis also spent time with Asplundh Utility Line construction as a Regional Safety Supervisor/Trainer and has served as an OSHA Outreach Trainer for the past 12 years.
In addition to training for NEPPA, Dennis is also a part -time instructor at Quinsigamond Community College with the Energy Utility Program.
Lodging
Lodging is not included in your registration fees and must be arranged directly with the hotel. If you need overnight accommodations, please contact any of the following hotels directly and be sure to mention you’re with NEPPA (or the appropriate code/account number) to receive the negotiated rate:
Courtyard by Marriott Littleton – King: $155/night + tax; Queen/Queen: $165/night + tax
102 Constitution Avenue, Littleton, MA 01460
(978) 440-5040 – If calling to make your reservation, be sure to mention either NEPPA or Northeast Power
Click here to make your reservation online using the Corporate Rate: BZL *** Due to COVID, please call the hotel directly.
The Westford Regency Inn & Conference Center – $120/night + tax
219 Littleton Road, Westford, MA 01886
(978) 692-8200
Click here to make your reservation online using the Rate Access Code: NEPPA.
SpringHill Suites Devens Common Center – $129/night + tax
27 Andrews Parkway, Devens, MA 01434
(978) 772-3030
Click here to make your reservation online using the Group Code: BZL.
Hilton Garden Inn Devens – $129/night + tax
59 Andrews Parkway, Devens, MA 01434
(978) 772-0600
Click here to make your reservation online using the Group Code: BZL.