Columbus Duke Energy worker heads to Kansas for international games

A local line worker for Duke Energy will be heading to Kansas for the International Lineman’s Rodeo & Expo later this month.

According to the company, Tivurcio “Travis” Vidal works at the Duke’s Operation Center in Columbus. He will be competing with 70 Duke Energy lineworkers in the Oct. 18th event in Bonner Springs, Kansas.

The event draws lineworkers from around the world to compete in job-related skills. They are judged on speed, agility, technique and safety procedures. There are apprentice, journeyman and senior team divisions in the competition.

Duke Energy says that participants are fine-tuning skills that improve the power grid’s reliability and resiliency for its customers.