Free Electrians Rodeo Being Held in Oconomowoc

Oconomowoc Utilities is pleased to announce that they will be sponsoring the 2011 MEUW (Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin) Lineman’s Rodeo on Friday August 19th from 9am to 1pm. The Rodeo will be located at (1400 Summit Ave, Oconomowoc WI 53066), adjacent to Olympia Resort and Conference center. This free family friendly event begins with an opening ceremony that is not to be missed from 9 to 9:30am – the ceremony will showcase a traditional flag raising which includes placing the United States, Wisconsin, Waukesha County and City of Oconomowoc flag atop the wooden utility poles.

The focus of the 2011 Lineman’s Rodeo is to challenge line worker teams and test individual electric line work skills in a safe manner. This friendly competition will measure the physical and mental strength utilized on a daily basis by Wisconsin municipal electric workers. Teams will be tasked with utilizing safety procedures and technical skills in order to complete all tasks.

Dennis Bednarski, Operations Manager at Oconomowoc Utilities further explains, “ This event is dedicated to the more then 300 electric line personnel from across the State of Wisconsin. These individuals work in all types of weather (rain, storm and sleet) to keep the lights on and power running to 82 public power communities in Wisconsin.”

The Lineman’s Rodeo will showcase critical skills that are utilized daily by electric line workers, those skills include; safety, work practice, neatness and technical ability and equipment/tool handling. Lineman will compete in 3 person teams at four events (pole top rescue and safety challenge, wire transfer, pole build and fused disconnect) throughout the day.

“Watching the Lineman’s Rodeo and learning about the safety challenges associated with working with electricity, is incredibly impressive. The Rodeo provides the community and public with the opportunity to see exactly what line workers are doing in order to ensure reliable and low cost power is available to our customers ” explained Dennis Bednarski.

Attendee’s will be able to view several different types of Neighborhood Electrical Vehicles, which will be on display along with 10 exhibitors at the Rodeo grounds. Children will be able to have their photographs taken on a little lineman’s pole.