Skip to main content
Home
  • About Us
    • Annual Report
  • Powering the Future
    • Our Energy Mix
  • Electrify and Save®
    • On-Bill Repayment
    • Programs
    • Quality Install
  • Media
    • Resources
    • Blog
    • Features
    • News
    • Newsletter
    • Podcast
  • Cooperative Benefits
  • Operations
  • Search
Menu

Search form

Empowering Cooperatives: Inside Mesa Hotline School’s Dedication to Excellence 

Empowering Cooperatives: Inside Mesa Hotline School’s Dedication to Excellence 

Every May, over 500 line workers, teachers and volunteers gather in Grand Junction, Colorado at the Mesa Hotline School for the two-week annual learning event. The school attracts participants from across the United States, emphasizing safety and reliability in electrical transmission and distribution. It’s an energetic and transformative learning experience with the aim of equipping people with the knowledge and skills needed to keep the lights on for the communities they serve.  

David Williams knows the feeling well.  

“I remember walking into this school in 1988 and looking at the guys that were running the school and thinking, well, I'll probably never reach that level.” 

Thirty-six years later, Williams was back on campus, this time as the president of the school. From being an apprentice to earning his journeyman certification, then holding a variety of positions on the school’s governing board while also working as the operations superintendent at Mountain View Electric Association, Williams has had a front row seat to one of the best examples of what Cooperation Among Cooperatives looks like.  

Mesa Hotline Lineman School

What is Mesa Hotline School? 

Founded in 1966 by Empire Electric Association and Yampa Valley Electric Association, the Mesa Hotline School emerged from a growing need for specialized training in electrical line work. It was initially established to serve the rapidly expanding rural electric cooperatives but has evolved into one of the premier training facilities for line workers across the country.  

Now every spring, the school hosts two, week-long intensive training sessions for line workers from 78 cooperatives, municipal utilities, investor-owned utilities and Tri-State Generation and Transmission that make up the membership of the school as well as students from Colorado Mesa University’s Electric Lineworker Program. The classes are facilitated by a team of board members, volunteers, instructors, and industry vendors committed to advancing the skills and knowledge needed to deliver reliable, safe and dependable electrical services.  

The hotline school takes place towards the end of the school year and CMU technical instructor Nick Reimer knows the positive effect the training can have on students. “Mesa Hotline School is probably the greatest networking opportunity that these kids will ever get in their careers,” he details. “It's all concentrated here on their home turf and everybody's here for the same reasons: to train and to learn.” 

With the wide variety of courses and expertise on display from the instructors, it would take around 7-8 years to attend every class offered during these sessions. Topics have evolved to include as many aspects of the trade as possible including overhead and underground distribution, installations, fault locating, switching, hot-sticking, rubber gloving and more.  

The Importance of Transmission for the Future 

Every year brings something new, but this year several groups came together to build a transmission field. Tri-State was proud to contribute to this effort by donating poles, wire and crews that made this new learning opportunity possible. 

Mesa Hotline School

Reimer already described the school’s training field as Cadillac-esque, and with the new transmission capabilities, this program can now offer an important skill that more and more line workers will need in the future. As the need for and use of electricity grows, building new facilities is an option to ensure consumers have safe, reliable energy. 

A Shared Responsibility to Power the Future 

For those that know it well, the Mesa Hotline School is remarkable in the ways that it hasn’t changed since its founding. It still operates thanks to members that combine their resources and knowledge to provide the ultimate training experience. The new transmission line is just the most recent example of adaptability and cooperation in the school’s long history.  

Mesa Hotline School

“We’re a group of co-ops and utilities and municipalities that understand how important it is to give our people the training that they need, and we share that responsibility,” said Williams.  

Everyone leaves Mesa Hotline School understanding the seriousness of the industry with the varied training showing that there is always something to learn, another way to get better or a new technique to stay safer.  

For the last sixty years, the school has stood as a testament to the cooperative spirit of the electric utility industry, ensuring that line workers receive the continuous education essential for this demanding but rewarding profession.  

Thanks to their commitment we can feel confident saying that whatever the future holds, we’ll power it.  

 

--  

About Tri-State

Tri-State is a power supply cooperative, operating on a not-for-profit basis, serving electric distribution cooperatives and public power district member-owners in four states. Together with our members, we deliver reliable, affordable and responsible power to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West. Visit www.tristate.coop.    

 

Post Tags
Line Workers
Linemen
Line Maintenance

Blog Posts

Beat the Chill: Effective Insulation Strategies for Winter Comfort

Beat the Chill: Effective Insulation Strategies for Winter Comfort

For those living in older homes, it's common to experience uncomfortable drafts, chilly winters, and higher utility bills compared to newer homes. But here's the good news: improving your home's insulation can help you stay warmer in winter, cooler in summer, and save money in the long run.  Here are some effective insulation strategies for a more comfortable and energy-efficient winter. 
Read more >
Energy Efficient Heating Options for Rural Communities

Energy Efficient Heating Options for Rural Communities in the West

As winter approaches, rural communities in the West face the on-going challenge of keeping their homes warm while managing energy costs. With big temperature swings, it's helpful for families to explore energy-efficient heating options that suit this unique climate. Here’s our favorite tips to get the most out of your current heating system
Peter Rusin, Member Relations Manager
Read more >
Energy Efficient Tips for Outdoor Fall Entertaining

Energy Efficient Tips for Outdoor Fall Entertaining

Summer may get more attention when it comes to outdoor get-togethers but with an autumn party, you can trade the mosquitoes, thunderstorms, and hot nights for crisp evenings and changing leaves. The cooling temperatures also mean a chance to optimize your energy use, reduce your bill and save some money heading into winter.
Peter Rusin, Member Relations Manager
Read more >
How to boost your business with EV charging, attract new clients, increase your sustainability efforts and add a new revenue stream.

Boost Your Business with EV Charging

A lack of EV chargers presents a problem for drivers but an opportunity for local business owners. If you're a business owner, here’s how you can boost your business with EV charging to attract new clients, increase your sustainability efforts and add a new revenue stream.
Mike Frailey, Relationship Manager 
Read more >
Benefits of Having Your Own EV Charger at Home

The Benefits of Having Your Own EV Charger at Home

One of the most recognizable shifts is the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). As the world embraces EVs, the need for accessible charging infrastructure has grown exponentially. While public charging stations are expanding, there's something uniquely advantageous about having your own EV charger at home. 
Mike Frailey, Relationship Manager 
Read more >
Geothermal Heat Pumps: Harnessing Earth's Energy for Your Business 

Geothermal Heat Pumps: Harnessing Earth's Energy for Your Business 

With April being National Geothermal Month, it’s a perfect time to delve into the process of installing GHPs, their benefits, what climates are the most suitable and how businesses can take advantage of rebates to offset costs while contributing to a greener future. 
Peter Rusin, Member Relations Manager
Read more >
Mastering Energy Efficiency With These Home Upgrades 

Mastering Energy Efficiency with These Home Upgrades 

Power management matters to two kinds of people: those who pay utility bills and environmentally conscious individuals. If you fall into one, or hopefully both, of those categories, here are a few tips for mastering energy efficiency with some home upgrades.  
Peter Rusin, Member Relations Manager
Read more >
Winter Comfort Tips: Transform Your Home into an Energy-Efficient Oasis

Winter Comfort Tips: Transform Your Home into an Energy-Efficient Oasis

There’s nothing better than enjoying creature comforts during the winter chill. Staying warm is a big part of that, but it comes at a price if your home isn't optimized for cold weather. This winter, consider some smart ways to conserve energy, save money, and transform your home into an energy-efficient oasis with these helpful tips
Peter Rusin, Member Relations Manager
Read more >
Winter Destinations in Colorado Promoting Energy Efficiency

5 Winter Destinations in Colorado Promoting Energy Efficiency

These five mountain towns in Colorado not only offer thrilling winter adventures but also take a pioneering stance in energy efficiency.
Read more >

Pagination

  • Currently on page   1
  • Page   2
  • Page   3
  • Page   4
  • Page   5
  • Page   6
  • Page   7
  • Page   8
  • Page   9
  • …
  • Next pageNext ›
  • Last pageLast »

Subscribe

* indicates required
Join our mailing list for
updates and member news.
 
 

Quick links

  • Leadership Team
  • Dark Fiber
  • Financials
  • Board Meetings
  • Member Tools
  • Corporate Responsibility Report
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Careers
  • Employee login

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association
Office: 303-452-6111
1100 West 116th Avenue
Westminster, CO 80234

Mailing address:
PO Box 33695
Denver, CO 80233-0695

©2025 Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. Power supplier to the rural west.

  • About Us
    • Annual Report
  • Powering the Future
    • Our Energy Mix
  • Electrify and Save®
    • On-Bill Repayment
    • Programs
    • Quality Install
  • Media
    • Resources
    • Blog
    • Features
    • News
    • Newsletter
    • Podcast
  • Cooperative Benefits
  • Operations
  • Search