Lineworkers Ready When Needed
At High West Energy, our employees are at the heart of everything we do, and it takes every individual to operate safely and efficiently. While we are thankful for each member of our team, April holds special meaning in the electric utility industry. It's a time dedicated to recognizing the brave men and women who make reliable service possible every single day—our line workers.
When storms impact our communities and outages occur, many people experience the inconvenience, but our lineworkers see a call to action. Our crews are always ready when it matters most, stepping away from family dinners, birthdays, and holidays. They work through the night and head into challenging conditions to restore power safely and as quickly as possible. That readiness is not accidental. It comes from rigorous training, deep experience, and a shared commitment to serving others.
What makes lineworkers especially remarkable is that they aren't just restoring power to a system—they're restoring power to their own communities. They live here. They raise their families here. They understand that electricity is more than a convenience; it's essential to daily life, to local businesses, to schools, farms, and emergency services. Powering the places we call home is personal to lineworkers.
Electric cooperatives like HWE were built on the principle of neighbors helping neighbors, and our lineworkers embody that spirit every day. They are the first to respond and the last to leave, often working long hours behind the scenes. At times, serving our neighbors means going beyond our own service territory through a process known as mutual aid. During major outage events, HWE crews stand ready to assist neighboring co-ops—sometimes close to home, and sometimes across state lines—to help restore power. This spirit of mutual aid strengthens all cooperatives and ultimately benefits the members we serve.
"The work our linemen do isn't easy, but they do it with grit, skill, determination, and heart," said Nate Begger, Operations Manager of High West Energy. "We appreciate our guys for their sacrifice to their families, long hours, their teamwork, and their commitment to keeping our system safe and reliable for the communities we serve."
We understand that any time the lights go out, it can be frustrating, bringing everyday life to a halt. We are incredibly grateful to our members for your patience and encouragement during these times. Linework is demanding, physical, and at times, it can be dangerous. Our crews approach each job with a focus on safety and teamwork. They take pride in their craft and in the trust our members place in them.
On April 18, 2026, we will celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day, but one day is hardly enough. Every day, we thank lineworkers for their service and dedication, which are the backbone of our cooperation.
To our lineworkers: thank you for your hard work, your readiness, and your unwavering commitment to the communities we serve. We are grateful for all that you do!
Claim Your Capital Credits Today!
As a member of a cooperative, you share in the ownership, construction, maintenance, and prosperity of High West Energy. When you move into, or establish a business in our territory, you become a member of High West Energy. Last fall, our Board of Directors voted to retire approximately $1.5 million in capital credits, also known as patronage dividends. High West Energy has paid out capital credits for the last 40 years. Capital credits are based on the amount of electricity each member uses, so the amount members are allocated varies each year.
The following link goes to our Capital Credits page, where you can find a list of names of individuals or businesses whose checks from previous years were either returned as undeliverable or the checks were not cashed. If your name is on the list, please call our office. If you recognize a name on the list, please notify that person so they can contact us. If the person is deceased, please let one of their relatives know about the unclaimed check. An official representative of the estate can also contact us to claim the check.
Thank you for being a member of High West Energy! If you have any questions regarding capital credits, please contact our office.