While Bradley Hughes calls Easton home, and his job is with Delmarva Power’s regional office in Centreville, it’s entirely accurate, with a few apologies to Glenn Campbell, to call him a power linesman for the country rather than a county.
With almost no notice, Bradley and his fellow linesmen can be assigned to any part of the United States for weeks at a time after a significant storm to help repair power lines. And for Hughes, that has meant long-term projects in Florida, New York, Tennessee, Alabama, and most recently, Puerto Rico.
Hughes calls this just part of his job, but very few make a career of working at very high heights, under hostile weather conditions, and for very long hours. It takes a unique calling and skill set to not only tolerate the work but enjoy it.
In fact, when talking to the Spy after he arrived back for three weeks in Puerto Rico about the horrific power shortages that island is facing, he referred to that challenge as the equivalent of being the Super Bowl of sorts for professional linesmen. It’s on these occasions for someone like Bradley to use all his skills, physical strength, and problem-solving skills to extreme levels while also returning power to 12,000 families during that time.
This video is approximately three minutes in length. For more information about Delmarva Power’s efforts to help Puerto Rico please go here.
Melinda Bookwalter says
Thank you Bradley Hughes and all the others like yourself. You are among the many unsung heroes of our country, working on call providing support and expertise where needed. Like you said, we take electricity for granted with little thought to the tireless work you and others do to keep us on the grid. Thank you for the comparison of 7 hours to 7 months, it definitely gives one pause. Thank you again for your willingness to disrupt your life and go where you are needed.