FMPA celebrates lineworkers’ contributions by sponsoring annual competition prize

ORLANDO, Fla., April 22, 2013 – Electric utility lineworkers from Jacksonville and Ocala won a trip to attend a national lineworkers’ competition courtesy of the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA).

FMPA sponsors the top prize in the annual Florida Lineman Competition to honor Florida’s public power lineworkers and the outstanding service they provide to their communities.

“Reliable power is the lifeblood of our communities, and lineworkers work tirelessly to ensure that electricity is there come rain or shine,” said FMPA General Manager and CEO Nicholas Guarriello. “This annual competition is an opportunity to shine the spotlight on these unsung heroes of the public power community.”

The Florida Lineman Competition was held in Jacksonville, Fla., on April 19 and April 20. During the event, lineworkers demonstrated skill, efficiency and safety by performing a variety of typical line work tasks. Judges selected Jimmy Johns of Ocala Electric Utility as the top-rated apprentice, and the winning journeyman team from JEA included Mike Corbitt, Robert Hess, Brian Gregg and Jeremy Whittemore.

Johns will receive $750 and the JEA team will receive $3,000 to pay for travel expenses to participate in a national competition.

Sponsoring this annual prize is not the only way FMPA serves public power lineworkers. The Agency also offers a safety training program, lineman’s roundtable and a distribution reliability measurement service.

“Reliable local service is part of what makes municipal utilities valuable, and FMPA is here to support the men and women who make it happen,” said Guarriello.

JEA Journeymen Mike Corbitt, Robert Hess and Jeremy Whittemore accept the 2013 Florida Lineman Competition first place award from Master Judge Aaron Haderle of Kissimmee Utility Authority and Safety and Training Committee Chair George Hayes of Orlando Utilities Commission.

Top-rated apprentices celebrate their victory at the 2013 Florida Lineman Competition. Fifth-place winner Clinton Bishop of Ocala Electric Utility, fourth-place winner Samuel Brown of Lakeland Electric, third-place winner Gary Griffin of JEA, second-place winner David Poncher of JEA and first-place winner Jimmy Johns of Ocala Electric Utility accept their trophies from Master Judge Sam Thomas of Beaches Energy Services.

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Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) is a wholesale power company owned by 31 municipal electric utilities. FMPA provides economies of scale in power generation and related services to support community-owned electric utilities. The members of FMPA serve approximately two million Floridians.