San Juan, Puerto Rico, November 18, 2021 – Today, as part of National Apprenticeship Week, LUMA hosted a historic event at LUMA’s Palo Seco Training Facility to announce the first group of 21 apprentice lineworkers into LUMA’s apprenticeship program. The apprenticeship program is the first in Puerto Rico to be certified by the U.S. Department of Labor in partnership with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 222.
“The development and registration of the LUMA Energy’s LUMA College for Technical Training lineworker program allows LUMA to focus on utilizing apprenticeships to build its current and future talent capabilities and to revolutionize the energy and utility workforce,” said U.S. Department of Labor representative Charles A. McNeil III. “With the support of national and local partners, this program can leverage apprenticeships as a powerful workforce development strategy, with a commitment to workforce development so that the organization reflects and looks like the communities it serves.”
The LUMA College for Technical Training was created as a way to invest in employee training and build a strong utility workforce across Puerto Rico. The LUMA College for Technical Training is providing pre-apprentice training and related instruction to apprentice lineworkers to help them reach the highest title that a lineworker can aspire to be, a journeyman.
At the event, LUMA Chief Executive Officer Wayne Stensby shared the following with the first class to take part in theapprenticeship:
“This is a historic first for you and for Puerto Rico. The training that begins with this first class will help usher in a better future for these incredible lineworkers and for all our LUMA customers. You represent the best of the LUMA family, and it’s your work that will help build the energy system Puerto Ricans expect and deserve.”
The 7,000-hour apprenticeship program consists of module study and instructor-led classes delivered at the LUMA College for Technical Training, combined with 2,000 hours per year of on-the-job learning in transmission, overhead distribution, and underground distribution. Participants who complete the training will be recognized as journey-level lineworkers by both the U.S. Department of Labor and the IBEW.
Thursday’s event was attended by representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor, IBEW Local 222, leadership from LUMA, LUMA College for Technical Training, and the first group of apprentices to be indentured.
This group of 21 lineworkers will begin their journey through registered apprenticeship today, and their first instructor-led classes are scheduled to begin in January 2022.
About LUMA:
LUMA is a Puerto Rican company that, as of June 1, 2021, operates Puerto Rico’s electric power transmission and distribution system.
Since taking over the operations of the transmission and distribution system in June of 2021, LUMA’s 3,000-strong workforce work hard every day to improve the energy grid, customer service, emergency response, and establish a strong foundation with which to build a more reliable, more resilient, and cleaner energy system for the Puerto Rican people.
LUMA is a company driven by the mission to transform the electric transmission and distribution system in order to provide all Puerto Ricans the reliable, resilient, and affordable electric grid they deserve. As a customer-centric company, LUMA’s entire workforce is focused on safely delivering an exceptional customer service experience to our 1.5 million customers.
