In Sun or Storms, TVA Lineworkers Shine Bright

In a clearing just above the north Dayton substation in east Tennessee are giant spools holding transmission lines as big as your forearm.

Side by side, the spools overlook the misty railroad tracks in the valley below, like some giant needleworker is getting ready to stitch the ridges together – only instead of thread, it’s miles of coiled line that’ll deliver power across the region.

And it takes skilled hands to pull it all together.

Addison Beene, a member of the line crew in Tennessee Valley Authority’s East Region, plays a leading role in keeping homes electrified in small towns like Dayton.

Now a lineworker foreman for TVA, Beene grew up hearing tales of his family's service to communities like Dayton. His journey is woven deep in the history of this enterprise, where his great-grandfather, grandfather and uncle served.

His great-grandfather, James Beene Sr., joined TVA in 1952. James’ dedication laid the groundwork for future generations, instilling in his family a profound respect for the profession.

“I’ve known this is always what I wanted to do. I grew up learning to tie knots for rigging,” Beene said. “I started before my grandpa retired, continuing the over 60-year tradition at TVA and 76-year history with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Linework is always something that has inspired me.”

From a young age, Beene knew that following in their footsteps wasn’t just a career choice but a calling. Starting as an apprentice, he absorbed not only technical skills but also the unspoken wisdom passed down through generations.

“You would think Addison has been doing this for 50 years, the way he knows this job, what to expect, and how to safely approach our tasks,” said Matt Massengale, a lineworker on Beene’s crew.

Beene takes pride not in personal accolades but in the knowledge that he’s carrying forward a tradition of excellence and reliability.

“I hope someday my son will join TVA and learn the trade. I don’t have him tying knots yet, but as soon as he is old enough, you bet I will,” Beene said.

“Storm work is where we really shine,” TVA lineworker foreman Addison Beene said.

‘Iron Sharpens Iron’

The lineworker’s life is far from ordinary. They often spend seven out of 10 hours suspended in the air in a bucket truck. It demands technical prowess, physical endurance and nerves of steel.

Beene and his team are often the first responders during storms, working tirelessly through adverse weather to restore power to TVA’s seven-state service territory.

“Storm work is where we really shine. When a line does go down, a lot of times, we’ve worked on the line before,” Beene said. “From a safety standpoint, we know more about that line than a contractor would. That is one of the benefits of having in-house crews at TVA – we can do things more safely and efficiently.”

They approach each storm with a calm resolve, knowing their work directly impacts the lives of thousands.

“It’s an ugly scene every time you roll up to a storm,” Beene said. “But the more you do it, the more you get used to the scene of it.

“But one thing you can’t ever do is get complacent on a storm job. It doesn’t matter how many times you do it. You have to stay on your toes to make sure everyone goes home at the end of the day."

Beene embodies a rare blend of leadership and humility.

He leads by example, climbing the same poles and facing the same risks as his crew.

“Beene will not put you in a spot that he wouldn’t go himself,” lineworker Andy Roberson said. “That goes for the folks he reports to as well. Iron sharpens iron – I want to be able to pull my own weight because the rest of the crew pulls theirs.”

“TVA’s commitment to safety is second to none,” Massengale said. “If you need it, they’ll get it – that is key. We aren’t just going to wing it and see if it will work.”

Roberson agreed.

 “(Beene) will never put you in a spot where he didn’t know what was going to happen,” he said. “He has forgotten more about linework than I’ll ever know. You can just tell it’s in his blood.”

Over the years, Beene and his team members have developed strong bonds, forged in a legacy of sweat, grit and shared sacrifice.

“If I’m not at home with my family, I’m with these guys,” Beene said. “We aren’t just coworkers – I’ve met some of my best friends out here. We drive to work together, we eat meals together, we hunt together.”

 “If we aren’t at work, we are texting each other or hanging out,” Roberson said.

In rain, snow and sunshine, you’ll find TVA’s lineworkers on the ground or in the air, making sure electricity continues to flow to the people of the region.

Photo Gallery

As lineworkers spend a sizable part of their day suspended in bucket trucks, safety is top of mind. “TVA’s commitment to safety is second to none,” TVA lineworker Matt Massengale said.

Crews from TVA’s East Region work with large spools of transmission line at the Dayton site.

PHOTO AT TOP OF PAGE: Lineworkers from TVA’s East Region gather at a project site in Dayton, Tennessee.