FOUR FEMALE LINEWORKER APPRENTICES LEAD CLASS OF NEXT GENERATION LINEWORKERS WHO WILL SERVE THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO
San Juan, Puerto Rico, January 20, 2022 – Today, LUMA College made history by graduating Puerto Rico’s largest graduating class of 31 future energy lineworkers. The class of pre-apprentice lineworkers, including four women graduates, represents the latest addition to the next generation of energy workers who are helping LUMA transform Puerto Rico’s energy future for generations to come.
The class of graduates acquired the knowledge, skills and experience to join LUMA’s utility workforce as highly qualified lineworker apprentices as part of LUMA College’s 13-week pre-apprentice training program. The dedicated class of graduates acquired real-world experience throughout the apprentice program, including assisting with LUMA’s historic Hurricane Fiona restoration efforts.
“The future of Puerto Rico’s energy workforce are these LUMA College graduates. This is great news for this amazing class of men and women who have undergone weeks of rigorous and extensive training to advance their careers as utility workers,” said Juan Vargas, LUMA College President. “We are proud of the progress all these graduates have made, including our historic four female graduates who are paving the way for future generations of Puerto Rican women who will help build a better energy future for our 1.5 million customers.”
LUMA Leading the Way: A New Generation of Utility Workers
LUMA prides itself in being an industry leader in upholding diversity in its workforce to better serve its 1.5 million customers. These four women graduates now join the ranks of the previous first two women graduates from LUMA College and the 1,188 LUMA women building a more reliable, more resilient, and cleaner electric system for Puerto Rico.
According to the 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average percentage of women utility employees is less than 20%. At LUMA, 25% of the utility’s workforce are women, with 122 in key leadership roles. In addition, 169 women hold field operational roles such as groundworker, lineworker, forewoman, low voltage worker, regional manager, aviation administration and many more that have typically been occupied by men.
About LUMA:
LUMA is a Puerto Rican company that, since June 1, 2021, operates and manages the electric power transmission and distribution system in Puerto Rico. LUMA is a company driven by a mission to transform the electrical transmission and distribution system to provide all Puerto Ricans with the reliable, resilient, cleaner, and affordable electrical grid they deserve. As a customer-centric company, LUMA’s entire workforce of more than 3,000 employees is focused on safely delivering an exceptional customer service experience to its 1.5 million customers.
About LUMA College for Technical Training:
LUMA College for Technical Training provides industry-leading educational opportunities for companies and individuals in charge of rebuilding electric power infrastructure in Puerto Rico. LUMA College is fully funded by Quanta Services and ATCO’s commitment to a sustainable Puerto Rican workforce. Since 1993, Northwest Lineman College (NLC) has grown to nearly 300 employees with four campuses across the United States, where it trains more than 8,000 individuals each year, and has a network of more than 1,000 employers. LUMA College provides industry-leading educational experiences for companies and individuals tasked with rebuilding Puerto Rico’s electric power infrastructure.
