The Unseen – But Vital – Men and Women Working Behind the Power Lines
FirstEnergy support personnel keep the trucks and line crews going during Hurricane Milton restoration efforts in Florida
Happy is focused, focused is safe.
That’s part of the approach FirstEnergy senior safety representative Paul Dindo takes during storm response to make sure all electric company workers remain upbeat, focused and most importantly, safe.
In his 12 years working in the safety department at FirstEnergy, Dindo has worked countless storms within the company’s six-state service territory and least eight out-of-town mutual aid trips. He was among the more than 580 FirstEnergy line workers and personnel scattered across Florida assisting Florida Power & Light and Duke Energy with power restoration after Hurricane Milton.
“Safety defines me. I want to make sure our employees go home at the end of the day the same way they arrived,” said Dindo, a former substation electrician. “We go above and beyond to ensure the safety of our crews, especially while operating a power system that is unfamiliar to them.”
That means more than just going to sites and ensuring crews have the proper safety equipment and are following safety protocols or conducting incident reviews. Dindo goes out of his way to make sure crews have everything they need to do their jobs safely, as it helps crews remain focused and efficient.
“Getting back with everyone safe is the ultimate goal,” said Dindo. “Nothing else matters in my job or anyone else’s job if someone gets injured.”
While safety is a core value at FirstEnergy, the jobs don’t get done if the bucket trucks and equipment don’t work, especially when 1,000 miles from home.
Rodney Brown, a fleet mechanic who joined Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) in 2014, and his partner logged an average of 400 miles a day in Florida, keeping motors and equipment operating safely and efficiently.
“Seeing the devastation, you feel bad. It hits home, it’s sad,” said Brown, who worked his first out-of-company storm while assisting with Milton restoration efforts. “I’m glad we get to be a part of helping people get their lives and homes back together.”
And while even basic comforts like warm showers, comfortable accommodations and air conditioning can be very hard to come by during a large-scale disaster such as Hurricane Milton, both Brown and Dindo find storm response work very rewarding.
Like Brown, Dindo said it’s rewarding to see the FirstEnergy team work together with electric companies from across the U.S. to rebuild entire systems, bringing a sense of normalcy and hope to families impacted by the devastation.
“While I’m not the one putting wires up, it is exciting to help our crews do the work safely and effectively,” Dindo said. “We all play an important role in getting the lights back on for customers.”