On a brisk morning, a lively bunch of Prospect Elementary School students walked into Duke Energy’s Matthews, N.C., Operations Center and watched in awe as lineworker Paul Gouch showed how electricity is used and what can happen if you don’t stay safe.
“If you see a downed power line,” Gouch said, “stay as far away as you can and ask your parents or an adult to call 911 or the utility company.”
After the live-line demonstration, the students watched another Duke Energy lineworker safely climb a power pole while Gouch fielded questions from student reporters Evan Spurlock and Drew Selz.
“What a cool opportunity and interesting line of work,” said Dr. Kim Chinnis, Prospect Elementary School principal. “They learned so much!”
A lineworker safely climbs a power pole at Duke Energy's Matthews, N.C., Operations Center.
Prospect Elementary School students had the opportunity to see how a bucket truck works.