Mitchell Technical Institute offers the only Power Line program in South Dakota. Demand for graduates of this one-year program, prepared for employment with rural electric cooperatives, municipal and private utility companies, the Bureau of Reclamation, private contractors, and many others, continues to be strong. Students graduate as apprentice line workers. Course material and lab are based around the application and theory of distribution and transmission of electrical power. Fieldwork includes operating a digger derrick truck, setting poles, climbing poles, installing anchors, and stringing conductors. Outside lab also involves installation of transformers, metering for overhead, and underground distribution systems.

Students who wish to obtain an AAS degree in Utilities Technology may complete this curriculum, the Propane and Natural Gas Technologies curriculum, and an additional 6 credits of general education.

Note: Students are expected to conform to MTI’s Drug Testing Policy while enrolled in the Commercial Driving Course. See the Student Handbook for details. A valid driver’s license is required for the completion of the Commercial Driving Course. See the Course Description for PLTR 165 for a full explanation. MTI recommends that applicants to the Power Line Construction & Maintenance program obtain a physical examination for their safety and protection.

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