In a competition showcasing lifesaving skills, 24 electric co-op lineworkers from across North Carolina raced against the clock — and their peers — for the title of state champion at the 2025 Pole Top Rescue Competition held by North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives in October.

The competition takes place on de-energized equipment, simulating a scenario where a lineworker finds a coworker unconscious atop a utility pole. The competitor, dressed in full climbing gear, must radio for help, scale 20 feet up the utility pole, lower a weighted mannequin and begin CPR. Participants are scored based on time and precision.

“It’s a blessing to be back here and to win two times in a row,” said Cameron Clark, a general foreman with Lumbee River EMC, who earned first place for the second straight year. “The competitors across North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are incredibly skilled, and it’s an honor to work alongside them.”

The biennial competition was held at the Nash Community College campus thanks to the valuable partnership between North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives and Nash Community College’s Lineman Training Academy. All co-op lineworkers must complete the same scenario in less than five minutes to maintain their certification to work on co-op power lines.

“Whether it’s day or night, a hurricane or an ice storm, lineworkers will be out in their communities ensuring power is reliable and outages are as brief as possible for the 2.8 million North Carolinians served by an electric cooperative,” said Becky Alston, director of job training and safety for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

2025 Pole Top Rescue

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