Brookdale Will Offer Program for Utility Workers

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Gas Industry News (March 2007

Text Box: Brookdale Community College officials are working with FirstEnergy Corp., parent of Jersey Central Power & Light Co., to help meet the need for new line installers. The college is starting an associate degree program that will provide hands-on line worker training and field experience, along with general education courses. The school's board of trustees on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution approving the new Applied Science in Electric Utility Technology program. It could begin in the fall semester, pending approval on March 19 by a New Jersey Presidents' Council subcommittee. The council is a 50-member board representing the state's public, private, and community colleges and universities. "They are seeking to replenish personnel with college-educated line workers," McMenamin said. JCP&L spokesman Ron Morano said the Raritan Valley students complete field work at a Phillipsburg substation. Field work for the Brookdale students is likely to be in the Monmouth County area, he said. "The Raritan Valley program is beginning to show results and they expect to see a good cycle of graduates by spring of 2008," Morano said. Morano said incentives such as reduced or free tuition and post-degree job offers are possibilities for Brookdale students. "It wouldn't be guaranteed work but students would be aware that the likelihood, that the need for a person, is going to be there," Morano said. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, median hourly earnings for electrical power line installers and repairers nationally were $23.61 per hour as of May 2004. Line installers and repairers work outdoors, and conditions can be hazardous. But job growth spurred by expected retirement of existing workers could be hindered due to "industry deregulation," the department said. Deregulation "is pushing companies to cut costs and maintenance, which tends to reduce employment," it said.