Overhead School 2025

The general sessions are held on the first and last day of the school. Participants must attend these sessions to receive full credit for course hours.

• Fuse coordination—proper fuse coordination ensures that upstream fuses remain intact while downstream fuses clear faults quickly, enhancing system reliability, safety, and continuity of service. Participants will increase their knowledge in understanding the process of selecting and arranging overcurrent protective devices.
• Department of Transportation regulations—this course is designed to expand lineworkers’ knowledge and understanding of proper load securement and regulations that commercial driver’s license holders must follow. The class will cover current best practices for load securement and detail multiple scenarios and real-life investigations of improperly loaded equipment.

Lineworkers of all experience levels can further develop their skills by working through a variety of activities. Participants at this year's Overhead School will rotate through the following hands-on training sessions:

House services—this session will cover everything that deals with new service installations. Participants will learn how to properly size the service and transformer to be installed as well as methods used in hooking up these services. Participants will have the opportunity to climb and hook these services up.

Wire stringing—participants will learn the techniques involved in stringing overhead wire. The use of stringing blocks and a puller will be utilized. Following the pulling of the wire, participants will be taught how to properly set the wire tension. This session will be conducted on new construction. Awareness of the hazards involved and how to properly control those hazards is essential to completing the task safely. Proper procedures will be discussed and followed throughout the session.

Reconstructing a double circuit—this more advanced session will cover the process of reconstructing a double circuit. Participants will work on a simulated energized double circuit to replace the narrow construction build with a crossarm. Proper cover up, rigging, and all other safe work procedures will be covered to complete the task.

Capacitor bank and maintenance—power factor correction and passive harmonic filtering equipment on an electrical system need to be properly designed and maintained. This session will cover the essential facts about capacitor banks—from the definition of a capacitor to the result of placing one in service. Participants will learn about the dangers associated with capacitor banks, proper fusing, proper testing, and safety precautions.

• High-visibility clothing/outerwear—appropriate for the weather
• Hard hat
• Safety glasses
• Work gloves
• Rubber gloves
• Work boots
• Harness
• Fall restraint (required if you plan to climb)

The Minnesota Lineworker's Rodeo will take place on Tuesday, September 9 (just ahead of the Overhead School). Registration is free to members of MMUA, and any lineworker can participate. This is a competition for individuals, not teams. Trophies/plaques will be awarded for top three finishers in each event and each category. Plus we will award an overall trophy in the Apprentice and Journeyman categories. Separate registration is required. Click here to visit the Rodeo event page.

By registering for this event I/we authorize Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) to photograph me at this event and use such photographs in MMUA marketing materials (both electronic and print). I/we understand that I/we will not be paid for giving this consent. 

MMUA will issue a refund, less $50 processing fee per person, provided MMUA is notified of the cancellation by 4:30 pm on August 9. No refunds after August 9.