Overhead School 2025

What you will learn - general sessions

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 securements 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.

What you will learn: multi-session course

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 four 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. 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.

Rearming a double circuit—this more advanced session will cover the process of rearming a double circuit. Participants will work on a simulated energized double circuit and rearm the structures. Proper and 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.

What to bring

• 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)