DACC/EL PASO ELECTRIC COMMEMORATE LINEWORKER PARTNERSHIP

Doña Ana Community College (DACC) and El Paso Electric Company (EPE) are celebrating a big milestone, 10 years of their electrical lineworker program partnership.

A decade ago, DACC and EPE kicked off a unique partnership to offer students an opportunity to attend school, while gaining employment with the electric company. The partnership allows students to earn a paid internship as they attend courses to obtain their electrical lineworker certificate. The program also includes a scholarship for students who participate.

The year-long pre-apprenticeship prepares students with safe, hands-on experience taught by experts in the field. The opportunity allows students to work in a variety of weather conditions, climb poles more than 100 feet tall, operate bucket trucks, lifting heavy objects and trenching.

Since the initiation of the program, EPE has hired 50 graduates from the program. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for electrical lineworkers is more than $92,000 a year. To apply, students must be admitted to DACC, pass a background check and drug screening.