HISTORY
The origins of the Mesa Hotline School sound a lot like the origins of our nation’s rural electric cooperatives. In the mid-1960s, Colorado co-ops were growing fast, and could not find the kind of training and education their linemen needed. Empire Electric Association and Yampa Valley Electric Association were determined to meet this need by building a state-of-the-art facility to provide critical trade skills and specialized knowledge for our industry. This was when Mesa Hotline School was born. After years of developing the right kinds of programs, Mesa Hotline School hosted its first Hot Stick class on April 18, 1966.
Today, Mesa Hotline School serves as a model for training for privately owned and non-profit companies, with a total membership of 78 cooperatives, municipal utilities and investor-owned utilities. All 22 Colorado distribution cooperatives are members, along with Tri-State and Xcel Energy. In addition, vendors and consultants join in a comprehensive effort to offer the ultimate training in the construction and maintenance of electrical transmission and distribution lines overhead and underground.
est. 1966
ABOUT MESA HOTLINE SCHOOL
The Mesa Hotline School is an elite training facility designed to enhance the education and skills of electric lineworkers across the country. While situated in Grand Junction, participants travel from all over the United States, including Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Alaska to attend. For over 55 years, lineworkers have attended Mesa Hotline School to learn vital skills necessary to deliver consumers safe and reliable power.
Classes are held during the first two weeks of May. It is a tremendous volunteer effort, as board members, instructors and vendors all pitch in, thanks to a shared passion for the lineworker trade.
As an electric cooperative, providing training, education, and information is the foundation of how we do business. Without the Mesa Hotline School, there would be a big void in developing the expertise, knowledge, and experiences learned at this facility. That’s why it’s now more important than ever to support the Mesa Hotline School.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
The Mesa Hotline School needs your help! Unfortunately, we’ve recently learned that we will be required to relocate our facilities due to commercial development of our existing site. That presents a big challenge as we work to continue providing the education and training our partners’ trust.
The Mesa Hotline School is now accepting monetary contributions to cover the cost of relocation expenses, site development, facility materials, training equipment, and much more. On behalf of everyone on the Mesa Hotline School
Board of Directors, thank you for your generosity and for supporting the education and training of electric lineworkers.
– David Williams
Board President Mesa Hotline School
Operations Superintendent Mountain View Electric Association
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT US
Mesa Hotline School is successful because of hours of volunteer efforts and donated materials and equipment provided by member utilities and vendors. But these efforts can only go so far. It is challenging to complete site development, construction of roads and concrete pads for substation training facilities without substantial cash contributions. To help support our volunteer efforts and in-kind contributions of materials and equipment, please consider a cash donation to assist with our site relocation, so that everything will be in place in time for our May 2023 Mesa Hotline School session.
The Mesa Hotline School requests that all donations be made payable to:
Mesa Hotline School
Attn: John A. Cromer
2211 Elk River Road
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
For more information about Mesa Hotline School, please browse our website or contact Mesa Hotline School Board President, David Williams at (719) 760-0752.