Gallaway promoted to Working Foreman at LPEA

Veteran lineman steps up to supervising line crews

DURANGO, Colo. – Journeyman Lineman Matt Gallaway has been promoted to Working Foreman at La Plata Electric Association (LPEA).

A Working Foreman is one of the four men who make up a hot crew, which works on LPEA’s system in the field. Gallaway’s responsibilities include supervising the crew, ensuring that his men know the scope of the job or project, and that they’re doing it safely and efficiently.

Gallaway joined LPEA’s Operations Team in 2016, settling in Ignacio. He originally entered the electric utility business immediately out of high school in his hometown of Stilwell, Okla., accepted by Ozarks Electric Cooperative in that rural electric cooperative’s four-year Apprentice Lineman program. He “topped out” earning his Journeyman in 2000 and ultimately served Ozarks for 13 years. In the electric utility industry, linemen are responsible for constructing and maintaining electric power transmission and distribution lines and facilities.

He worked as a Lineman for Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative in Arizona for four years before moving to Oregon and stepping into the investor-owned utility world with Pacific Power. There, in both Oregon and Wyoming, he garnered experience in Substation Maintenance and as a District Lineman.

LPEA, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative celebrating 80 years in 2019, provides to its more than 30,000 members, with in excess of 43,000 meters, safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost, while being environmentally responsible.