Norwich Public Utilities linemen head to Arizona to help power the Navajo Nation reservation
May 7—NORWICH — After a storm, Norwich Public Utilities linemen Jeff Burgess and Tom Holmes find it gratifying when they reconnect power to homes that might have been in the dark for a few hours.
Over the next two weeks, these veteran NPU linemen will be on hand to watch people turn on the power in their homes for the first time in their lives.
Burgess, 50, of Stonington and Holmes, 29, of Griswold were scheduled to fly out early Saturday to the Navajo Nation reservation in Chinle District in northeastern Arizona. They will represent NPU's continuing participation in Light Up Navajo, a multiyear partnership between Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and members of the American Public Power Association to bring power to thousands of homes on the reservation that never have been connected to an electric grid.
Burgess and Holmes volunteered to join workers from public power utilities from across the country on this spring's electrification effort on the 27,000-square-mile reservation that is five times larger than Connecticut. NPU officials said about 12,000 of the 55,000 homes on the reservation still do not have electricity, representing about 75% of all U.S. households that do not have power.
NPU spokesman Chris Riley said solar panels have proven ineffective in the flat desert, because of sandstorms that cover the panels with dust and debris. Navajo families might run generators, but typically use ice chests, haul water by hand from wells for daily needs and frequently drive for miles to buy fresh groceries.
Burgess said he volunteered to be part of the experience that will change their lives.
"Just to provide people with power who never had power before," Burgess said Friday. "The best part of the whole trip will be to watch them turn on their power for the first time in their lives."
Holmes agreed and said he also looks forward to working with utility crews from across the country, passing along NPU skills and taking ideas and practices home to the Norwich utility. Holmes said he can understand why Navajo Tribal Utility Authority needs help from outside utilities, giving the enormity of the task to power so many households so spread apart.
Eric McDermott, NPU electric operations integrity manager, said it might take a few days to run electric lines just to reach one or two homes before the two Norwich linemen get to see a family flip the switch in their house.
This is the second year NPU will send volunteer linemen to Arizona for Light Up Navajo. NPU General Manager Chris LaRose initially traveled to the Navajo reservation in 2018 to learn about the project and explore NPU's participation.
"NPU is very proud to be a part of this exciting project and to help close America's electricity gap with other municipal power providers from across the country," LaRose said in a news release on this year's effort. "We are proud to have Jeff and Tom share their abilities and expertise to help improve the lives of the members of the Navajo Nation who are living without electricity in their homes for far too long."
The Norwich crew will be in Arizona from May 7 through May 21. In the partnership agreement, NPU has agreed to cover their regular salaries and overtime costs and pay for transportation. The Navajo utility authority will pay for food and lodging. Burgess and Holmes will bring their own hand tools, climbing gear and personal protective equipment. The Navajo utility will provide trucks and equipment.
Both Burgess and Holmes have never been to Arizona. While they won't have time for typical sightseeing, NPU will post photos and updates on their work on the NPU Facebook page over the next two weeks.
Burgess has worked for NPU for 17 years. He and his wife, Rachel Burgess, have two daughters, ages 19 and 21, and a 16-year-old son at Stonington High School.
Holmes has worked at NPU for nine years. Leaving home is a bit more of a challenge for him. He has three young daughters, ages 1, 3 and 4, "and a saint of a wife," he said of his wife, Brittni Holmes.
"She knows it's a big deal for me to go and sharpen my skills," Tom Holmes said.
