Event Profile

Fall Lineworker Boot Camp

Date(s):
November 3 — 6, 2025
Venue:
Kootenai Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Description:

Who Should Attend: 

Line crew supervisors and managers, crew foremen, lineworkers, line apprentices, and substation workers. 

Related Events:  

Spring Lineworker Boot Camp, March 3-6, 2025

Overview: 

This new boot camp condenses six popular courses from our Lineworker Skills Series into a focused, four-day program. During the boot camp, you will gain valuable knowledge and practical skills in critical areas to enhance your safety, efficiency, and confidence on the job. The program combines theory and hands-on sessions to provide a comprehensive learning experience. 

Courses in the boot camp include: 

Grounding and Bonding for Personal Protection
Knowing how and when to apply equipment grounds is of critical safety importance to the lineworker when working around energized lines and equipment or on systems that are de-energized but have the potential to become energized. This full-day classroom session covers personal protective grounding and the grounding of rolling stock and other equipment found on the job site.

Switching and Tagging
This half-day classroom session provides the essential knowledge and skills to safely perform switching and tagging operations on electrical systems. Switching and tagging are critical procedures used to isolate equipment, ensure worker safety, and restore power efficiently. You will learn the principles, processes, and best practices for planning, executing, and documenting switching operations, including proper tagging procedures to comply with standards and company policies.

Bucket Truck Rescue
Certification in bucket truck rescue should be conducted initially for all lineworkers that work out of a bucket truck, and recertification of these competencies should be done annually. During this hands-on session in the Jake Booth Memorial Training Center, you will receive your initial certification or become recertified.

Advanced Transformers
This full-day hands-on session in the Jake Booth Memorial Training Center covers transformer connections and troubleshooting. The first segment will focus on mastering proper transformer bank connections, teaching you how to safely and efficiently connect single-phase and three-phase transformers while introducing critical concepts like voltage, polarity, and system balance. Building on this foundation, the second segment will give you the knowledge and skills to evaluate, diagnose, and repair pole-mounted transformer issues. You will learn systematic troubleshooting techniques to identify problems, interpret test results, and implement effective solutions with confidence and precision. 

Overhead Distribution Troubleshooting 
This half-day classroom session combines theoretical instruction with practical troubleshooting scenarios, focusing on real-world challenges faced in overhead linework. Key topics include understanding system faults, identifying equipment failures, interpreting line diagrams, and applying systematic troubleshooting methodologies. The emphasis will be on safety protocols, including OSHA regulations, NFPA 70E arc-flash guidelines, and proper use of personal protective equipment and tools.

Underground Residential Distribution Troubleshooting
Effective troubleshooting anywhere in the transmission and distribution system requires extensive training and a fair amount of experience. Underground residential distribution systems have their own unique problems and add to the complexity of a lineworker's job. This half-day classroom session will show the various underground system configurations, demonstrate what can go wrong, and explain how to analyze the problems and determine the best and safest fix. Participants must be qualified to work on energized systems to attend this class.

Instructors:

Michael Stremel, Senior Consultant, Institute for Safety in Powerline Construction 
James McGowan, Affiliated Consultant, Institute for Safety in Powerline Construction 

Schedule: 

Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time on the first day, and the boot camp will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. all four days. Lunch and refreshments will be provided each day.

Location: 

Kootenai Electric Cooperative 
9014 W. Lancaster Rd 
Rathdrum, ID 83858 
(208) 765-1200 

Suggested Hotels: 

Red Lion Templin’s on the River 
414 E. 1st St.
Post Falls, ID 83854 
(208) 773-1611 
 
Holiday Inn Express & Suites 
2300 W. Seltice Way 
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814 
(208) 667-3100 

Fees: 

Utility Member Early Bird (ends 1/31/2025): $2,580 
Utility Member Standard: $2,655

Associate Member Early Bird (ends 1/31/2025): $3,870 
Associate Member Standard: $3,945

Non-Member Early Bird (ends 1/31/2025): $5,160
Non-Member Standard: $5,235

Canadian utility members, please contact registration@nwppa.org for pricing and to register.

Note: Organizations that register a group of employees will receive every fifth registration for free. For example, if you register five employees, you only pay for four; register 10 employees, you only pay for eight; and so on. There is nothing additional you need to do to receive this discount. 

Cancellation Policies: 

For in-person events: cancellations at least 30 days prior to the event will receive a full refund; within 15-29 days there will be a $100 fee; and within 1-14 days or no show, the charge will be 100% of the registration fee.

When possible, please send a substitute instead of canceling; NWPPA does not charge a fee for substitutions. To request a refund, please contact us at registration@nwppa.org or (360) 254-0109.

Continuing Hours: 

This boot camp qualifies for 24 continuing hours. Certificates are available online upon full completion of the boot camp. 

For More Information:

To find out more about this event, or to learn about other events, view the Training and Event Catalog.