Portrait
Owens Valley District and Electric Trouble Crews: Keeping the Lights on During Weather Extremes
by Terinn Holman and Albert Rodriguez
Though we often hear about electric trouble crews responding to outages in basin, did you know we have an equally talented and committed team ensuring continued electric service to our customers in the Owens Valley while navigating unique challenges and terrain in the area? Meet the Owens Valley District and Electric Trouble crews who carry out routine maintenance on power lines and other energized equipment, managing wildfire risks, and remedying any potential hazards in our service areas to the north of Los Angeles. They work in the Power Transmission and Distribution group and ensure that overhead and underground transmission lines are working properly while also carrying out preventative measures to decrease the likelihood of fires. Some of their activities include routine inspection and fortification of power lines and electrical systems, remedying electrical faults, vegetation management, installing signs, disseminating safety information and more.
Like all crews, they’re on call 24/7 and their work ensures the integrity of LADWP’s infrastructure and the safety of the community. Although all LADWP crews deal with fire danger and other hot weather extremes, the Owens Valley District and Electric Trouble crews also have to contend with snow and windstorms along with the pitch-black darkness of the rural landscapes. Led by David “Dave” Pratt, Transmission & Distribution District Supervisor, the priority of this team is to communicate with other first responders and ensure that there is ample coordination when tackling and emergency.
"One of our biggest responsibilities in any situation is to restore electrical service as soon and as safely possible, while keeping management and the communications team apprised so we can collectively keep the public informed."
Dave Pratt, Transmission & Distribution District Supervisor
In particular, wildfires have the potential to cause damage and burn the region’s beautiful landscapes by spreading very quickly. During the last fire this year, approximately nine power poles were destroyed by flames. When responding to a fire event, the team has to work with firefighters to decide what areas need to be deenergized so the fire crews can safely fight the blaze. This is a delicate process, as most of the towns in Owens Valley get their water from wells that require electricity to operate. Deenergizing power lines has the added risk of cutting off water to fire crews, which is why it’s important to maintain communication with everyone out in the field. After a hazard has been cleared, LADWP crews can then access the power lines and reenergize them to get the wells and lights back on for LADWP customers.
On the other extreme, snowstorms and windy conditions present their own unique challenges, with winds sometimes getting up to 100 miles per hour. During the winter of 2022, up to 49 power poles were downed in a snowstorm. The Owens Valley District and Electric Trouble crews knew they had to restore power as soon as possible for customers stuck in their homes dealing with the frigid conditions. Crews had to think quickly, and they were able to use portable generators and transformers to bypass the damaged lines and reroute power to the affected customers.
In situations like these, crews have specialized equipment at their disposal, including tracked Sno-Cat vehicles to traverse the snowy terrain easily and get to the problem area. OV crews also make great use of a special line truck called a track digger derrick. This vehicle has all the same equipment as a line truck with a boom and bucket except that it has tracks instead of wheels. Crew members themselves must also wear heavily insulated arc-resistant clothing for protection from the elements and any potential hazards.
One other unique aspect of this team is that they are themselves local members of the community they serve. While lineworkers in L.A. may have some anonymity, everyone in the Owens Valley knows who is responsible for the lights. Some crew members report getting phone calls from friends and family during outages, contributing to a heightened sense of responsibility and urgency to take care of their community.
"This team is an excellent example of dedication in all conditions, from keeping our employees safe to providing our outside-the-L.A.-basin customers with quick response to infrastructure issues and safe, reliable electric service. The Owens Valley electric system is unique to LADWP due to its remote location, and having employees that both live and work in the area gives us the ability to have a more personal touch when interacting with the community and other supporting groups."
Lucien Patenaude, Electrical Services Manager
Whether in the heat or in the snow, the Owens Valley District and Electric Trouble crews will continue to work diligently to maintain important infrastructure. They know that their work helps LADWP provide reliable power to the approximately four million residents and businesses in the City of Los Angeles, including those in Owens Valley. Their efforts also have a positive impact on the environment and wildlife by preserving its pristine, rugged beauty. And while toiling in extreme conditions may not always be fun for line workers, sometimes the little things can make up for it; like seeing the occasional bald eagle fly by as it streaks over the trees across a snow-capped, mountainous horizon.
Meet the Team
The Owens Valley District and Electric Trouble crews are comprised of different, highly skilled groups who all contribute to protecting the beautiful Owens Valley landscape, the local population and LADWP infrastructure.
Transmission & Distribution District Supervisor
· David Pratt
Electric Distribution Mechanic Supervisors
· Samuel Garza
· Justin Barnes
· David Bevington
Line Patrol Mechanics
· Alan Swanson
· Zach Barnes
· Aaron Kautz
· Ezra Tsosie
· Vincent Perez
Electric Distribution Mechanics
· David Everhart
· Frank Gonzalez
· Cord Hunter
· Scott Jaegers
· Dante Parra
· Shon Sharp
· James Stephens
Electric Craft Helpers
· John Ramirez
· Roberto Figueroa
· Connor O’Hare
· Steve Delgado
· Trevor Drake
Equipment Operator
· Grant Mull
If you’re interested in any of these positions and working in the great outdoors, visit JoinLADWP.com
