Event introduces students to careers in linework and more
(SPRING BRANCH, Texas) Oct. 29, 2026 — Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) hosted its annual Job Shadow Day Oct. 22 at its Spring Branch district office. More than 100 students and teachers attended from high schools in Spring Branch, Kyle, Buda, and Wimberley. The event provided an opportunity for students interested in trade careers to learn about linework, fleet maintenance, electrical safety, and how PEC uses drones as a reliability tool.
“Students got a bird’s-eye view of everything this facility and our programs have to offer — from what the benefits and pay look like, to what skills they’ll learn each year should they come to work here,” said PEC Community Outreach Specialist Mikayla Herron, who works with schools across the co-op’s service area. “In a safe and controlled environment, they got to put on gear, climb poles, and ride up in a bucket truck to see what linework is really like.”
Adan Arellano, a junior at Canyon Lake High School enjoyed attending the event and learning the different aspects of linework, from how to climb poles and the purpose of the tools used, to the safety involved on the job.
“It’s been a really great experience and I would love to become a lineman one day,” Arellano said. “I like the trade, the overall vibe, and how everyone’s a team and everybody takes care of one another. I was really grateful to come out here today,” he said.
The demand for lineworkers is projected to grow 7% through 2034, much faster than the average for all other occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Extreme growth across Central Texas combined with an increase in lineworkers retiring across the profession has created a need. PEC is working ahead of the curve to inspire the next generation of lineworkers needed to continue serving its growing communities.
Likewise, schools across the Texas Hill Country are seeing increased interest among students in trade careers, potentially due to the rising costs of college tuition and artificial intelligence redefining the need for entry-level jobs.
Wimberley High School FFA Agriscience and Brent Werner said it’s important for students to know that opportunities outside of college exist and that there is a bright future in the trade careers.
“What PEC lineworkers have shown the students by climbing poles and working with the tools is huge,” Werner said. “Students have a basic understanding of the career, but they get to expand on it here and see what a real-world job would really look like. The PEC lineworkers all seem to all enjoy what they do and that’s something that these students can really see and appreciate,” he said.
As a cooperative, PEC invests in youth programs that help strengthen its communities. Students at the event also learned about PEC’s free programs and resources available to them, from resume-building courses and scholarships for college and trade school, to Youth Tour — an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to learn about government.
High school graduates 18 years and older who are interested in becoming a lineworker can learn more about PEC’s Pre-Apprentice and Apprentice Programs and apply online. Information on youth programs is available at myPEC.com/youth-programs.
