Month: May 2024

On April 18, Duke Energy celebrates the men and women who keep the lights on for customers every dayLineworkers play a critical role in the clean energy transition and building the grid of the futureOver the past seven years, Duke Energy and its Foundation have invested nearly $4 million to strengthen its lineworker talent pipeline

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 3, 2024 /3BL/ – When the lights go out – whether it is from severe weather, vehicle accidents or animal interference – lineworkers respond by getting the lights on for our customers and communities.

On April 18, Duke Energy recognizes National Lineworker Appreciation Day and the work of these vital employees, who ensure customers and communities have safe, reliable power, and play a key role in enabling the infrastructure that will drive our energy future.

“Our line, substation and relay technicians are invaluable teammates who are among the first to respond in the aftermath of storms and large-scale weather events that can impact thousands, often making the scene safe for other first responders,” said Scott Batson, chief power grid officer at Duke Energy. “Safely powering the communities we serve is our No. 1 job and it could not be accomplished without the extraordinary commitments of these teams.”

Just another day on the job

For these thousands of Duke Energy lineworkers – from transmission technicians working on high-voltage transmission lines that carry electricity from power plants to distribution technicians working on the lines that carry power to homes and businesses – no matter the circumstances, it’s just another day on the job.

Here are a few things to know about this gutsy group and their unique role:

Extreme elements come with the work environment. Lineworkers frequently face challenging conditions, including storms, oppressive heat, bitterly cold temperatures and flooding.The job is elevated. Line work frequently requires work in challenging weather conditions on transmission towers at heights of up to 120 feet, while attached to a 40-foot pole, or from an elevated bucket truck – always with strict safety precautions in place.They get physical. Line work is an outdoor, hands-on, physical role. Besides working safely with high voltage, the steel-toe boots, hooks for scaling poles, and climbing belts lineworkers use or wear can weigh up to 30 pounds each.Commitment is contagious. Lineworkers’ dedication to their jobs, passion for their craft, continued learning and eternal support of one another on and off the job makes a difference in the lives of customers who depend on reliable power.Family and community are priorities. Lineworkers often live close to and work in their own communities – from larger cities to more rural towns – and Duke Energy continues to hire across the range of geographic areas it serves.Conversing in code is customary. Lineworkers have their own lingo – nicknames for tools and tasks have been passed down from one generation of lineworkers to the next.Long-term learning improves expertise. Lineworkers are highly skilled professionals who undergo rigorous training to work with electricity safely and efficiently. Their extensive progression of training over several years includes written and field tests that must be successfully completed to demonstrate expertise and job knowledge.Safety is foundational. Line teams prioritize safety above everything else – mitigating hazards whenever possible and always watching out for the safety of those around them.

Guarding the future grid

Beyond keeping the lights on, lineworkers also play a key role in power grid improvement projects that are helping modernize and strengthen Duke Energy’s system. This includes protection against storms and other impacts, making the grid more reliable and resilient, as well as integrating new and cleaner energy technologies.

“The grid is a massive, complex system that works nonstop to provide reliable power to our customers. Our transmission and distribution line, substation and relay technicians have a fundamental role in making sure it is prepared to support the growth we are seeing in our regions and to enabling the addition of more renewables to our system at an ambitious pace,” said Batson. “This work can include upgrading lines and poles, undergrounding outage-prone lines where data indicates it is prudent to do so, and enhancing grid reliability through the integration of smart, self-healing technology – which saved more than 1.5 million customer interruptions and avoided more than 3.5 million hours of customer outage time in 2023.”

Hiring and developing craft and skilled talent is critical to address the growing energy needs of customers and to continue to make grid upgrades for the future. The company continues to hire talent and works closely with community colleges across its company footprint to recruit diverse, skilled candidates.

“It’s important to me to be able to serve my community by building and maintaining a resilient power grid to help people with their daily needs and quality of life,” said Miles Bell, journeyman lineworker with Duke Energy’s Spartanburg Operations Center. “This is an industry and career field that is constantly evolving and is rewarding in so many ways.”

Over the past seven years, Duke Energy and its Foundation have provided nearly $4 million in funding to support lineworker programs in states where the company operates.

Thank a lineworker on social media

National Lineworker Appreciation Day is April 18, but throughout the week Duke Energy will be sharing special stories in appreciation of the essential workers who power our lives on Twitter at @DukeEnergy and Facebook at facebook.com/DukeEnergy. To honor lineworkers and their families on social media on National Lineworker Appreciation Day, please use the hashtag #ThankALineworker.

Lineworker b-roll and photography: 
Lineworkers brighten our communities 
Multimedia Gallery | Duke Energy | News Center (duke-energy.com) 
Lineworker soundbites: 
Florida 
Carolinas 
Indiana

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and advanced nuclear.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

Contact: Logan Kureczka 
24-Hour: 800.559.3853 
Twitter: @DE_LoganK

View original content here.

On April 18, Duke Energy celebrates the men and women who keep the lights on for customers every dayLineworkers play a critical role in the clean energy transition and building the grid of the futureOver the past seven years, Duke Energy and its Foundation have invested nearly $4 million to strengthen its lineworker talent pipeline

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 3, 2024 /3BL/ – When the lights go out – whether it is from severe weather, vehicle accidents or animal interference – lineworkers respond by getting the lights on for our customers and communities.

On April 18, Duke Energy recognizes National Lineworker Appreciation Day and the work of these vital employees, who ensure customers and communities have safe, reliable power, and play a key role in enabling the infrastructure that will drive our energy future.

“Our line, substation and relay technicians are invaluable teammates who are among the first to respond in the aftermath of storms and large-scale weather events that can impact thousands, often making the scene safe for other first responders,” said Scott Batson, chief power grid officer at Duke Energy. “Safely powering the communities we serve is our No. 1 job and it could not be accomplished without the extraordinary commitments of these teams.”

Just another day on the job

For these thousands of Duke Energy lineworkers – from transmission technicians working on high-voltage transmission lines that carry electricity from power plants to distribution technicians working on the lines that carry power to homes and businesses – no matter the circumstances, it’s just another day on the job.

Here are a few things to know about this gutsy group and their unique role:

Extreme elements come with the work environment. Lineworkers frequently face challenging conditions, including storms, oppressive heat, bitterly cold temperatures and flooding.The job is elevated. Line work frequently requires work in challenging weather conditions on transmission towers at heights of up to 120 feet, while attached to a 40-foot pole, or from an elevated bucket truck – always with strict safety precautions in place.They get physical. Line work is an outdoor, hands-on, physical role. Besides working safely with high voltage, the steel-toe boots, hooks for scaling poles, and climbing belts lineworkers use or wear can weigh up to 30 pounds each.Commitment is contagious. Lineworkers’ dedication to their jobs, passion for their craft, continued learning and eternal support of one another on and off the job makes a difference in the lives of customers who depend on reliable power.Family and community are priorities. Lineworkers often live close to and work in their own communities – from larger cities to more rural towns – and Duke Energy continues to hire across the range of geographic areas it serves.Conversing in code is customary. Lineworkers have their own lingo – nicknames for tools and tasks have been passed down from one generation of lineworkers to the next.Long-term learning improves expertise. Lineworkers are highly skilled professionals who undergo rigorous training to work with electricity safely and efficiently. Their extensive progression of training over several years includes written and field tests that must be successfully completed to demonstrate expertise and job knowledge.Safety is foundational. Line teams prioritize safety above everything else – mitigating hazards whenever possible and always watching out for the safety of those around them.

Guarding the future grid

Beyond keeping the lights on, lineworkers also play a key role in power grid improvement projects that are helping modernize and strengthen Duke Energy’s system. This includes protection against storms and other impacts, making the grid more reliable and resilient, as well as integrating new and cleaner energy technologies.

“The grid is a massive, complex system that works nonstop to provide reliable power to our customers. Our transmission and distribution line, substation and relay technicians have a fundamental role in making sure it is prepared to support the growth we are seeing in our regions and to enabling the addition of more renewables to our system at an ambitious pace,” said Batson. “This work can include upgrading lines and poles, undergrounding outage-prone lines where data indicates it is prudent to do so, and enhancing grid reliability through the integration of smart, self-healing technology – which saved more than 1.5 million customer interruptions and avoided more than 3.5 million hours of customer outage time in 2023.”

Hiring and developing craft and skilled talent is critical to address the growing energy needs of customers and to continue to make grid upgrades for the future. The company continues to hire talent and works closely with community colleges across its company footprint to recruit diverse, skilled candidates.

“It’s important to me to be able to serve my community by building and maintaining a resilient power grid to help people with their daily needs and quality of life,” said Miles Bell, journeyman lineworker with Duke Energy’s Spartanburg Operations Center. “This is an industry and career field that is constantly evolving and is rewarding in so many ways.”

Over the past seven years, Duke Energy and its Foundation have provided nearly $4 million in funding to support lineworker programs in states where the company operates.

Thank a lineworker on social media

National Lineworker Appreciation Day is April 18, but throughout the week Duke Energy will be sharing special stories in appreciation of the essential workers who power our lives on Twitter at @DukeEnergy and Facebook at facebook.com/DukeEnergy. To honor lineworkers and their families on social media on National Lineworker Appreciation Day, please use the hashtag #ThankALineworker.

Lineworker b-roll and photography: 
Lineworkers brighten our communities 
Multimedia Gallery | Duke Energy | News Center (duke-energy.com) 
Lineworker soundbites: 
Florida 
Carolinas 
Indiana

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and advanced nuclear.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

Contact: Logan Kureczka 
24-Hour: 800.559.3853 
Twitter: @DE_LoganK

View original content here.

Baker Tilly’s podcast series specifically for professionals in the multifamily housing industry.

Senior government relations advisors at Butler Snow LLP, J. Carley Butler and Esme Thoman sit down with hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson on this episode of BuzzHouse. Together, they take a deep dive into the creation of Texas’ low-income housing tax credit program (LIHTC), offering valuable insights into the legislative and regulatory process, the need for state tax credit legislation and the implementation details of the program. The discussion also covers other notable affordable housing legislative programs that could potentially aid other states in addressing their shortfalls in affordable housing. Press play and discover this informative and enlightening episode!

Special guest

Carley Butler | Butler Snow LLP

Carley is a member of Butler Snow’s Regulatory and Government Group. Her practice is focused on governmental relations, regulatory and public affairs and strategic business consulting and advocacy.

Esme Thoman | Butler Snow LLP

Esme is a member of Butler Snow’s Regulatory and Government group. Her practice is focused on governmental relations, regulatory and public affairs and strategic business consulting and advocacy.

Multifamily housing resources

For articles, webinars and additional resources for developers, housing authorities, property managers, state housing credit agencies and lenders, visit the Baker Tilly multifamily housing page.

Baker Tilly’s podcast series specifically for professionals in the multifamily housing industry.

Senior government relations advisors at Butler Snow LLP, J. Carley Butler and Esme Thoman sit down with hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson on this episode of BuzzHouse. Together, they take a deep dive into the creation of Texas’ low-income housing tax credit program (LIHTC), offering valuable insights into the legislative and regulatory process, the need for state tax credit legislation and the implementation details of the program. The discussion also covers other notable affordable housing legislative programs that could potentially aid other states in addressing their shortfalls in affordable housing. Press play and discover this informative and enlightening episode!

Special guest

Carley Butler | Butler Snow LLP

Carley is a member of Butler Snow’s Regulatory and Government Group. Her practice is focused on governmental relations, regulatory and public affairs and strategic business consulting and advocacy.

Esme Thoman | Butler Snow LLP

Esme is a member of Butler Snow’s Regulatory and Government group. Her practice is focused on governmental relations, regulatory and public affairs and strategic business consulting and advocacy.

Multifamily housing resources

For articles, webinars and additional resources for developers, housing authorities, property managers, state housing credit agencies and lenders, visit the Baker Tilly multifamily housing page.

CINCINNATI, May 3, 2024 /3BL/ – Fifth Third Bank’s nearly 20,000 employees will celebrate “Fifth Third Day XXXIII” by volunteering and donating to fight food insecurity in the communities where they live and work. On May 3, celebrated as “Fifth Third Day,” the Bank will provide millions of meals across its footprint through a combination of volunteerism, donations and fundraising efforts.

“Food insecurity impacts too many of our communities, and due to inflation and rising food prices, the fight against hunger requires ever more resources to feed those in need,” said Tim Spence, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Fifth Third. “On Fifth Third Day, our employees volunteer across our footprint to fight hunger in our communities – donating time and money so that fewer Americans go hungry.”

The Bank has recognized Fifth Third Day since 1991, and since 2012 the Bank and its employees have worked toward a common goal to fight hunger. This year’s theme is tackling food insecurity one community at a time. Of the millions of meals that will be provided, 1.5 million meals* will go directly to Feeding America®. Additional meals will be provided through financial and volunteer support to local hunger relief organizations throughout the Bank’s footprint.

Fifth Third customers and employees have an opportunity to support hunger relief by purchasing a $1 shield of recognition at all Fifth Third locations. Proceeds from shield of recognition sales benefit local hunger relief organizations throughout the Bank’s footprint. Along with volunteer activities, Fifth Third Day will feature other key events with local celebrities in Cincinnati, Charlotte, Indianapolis and Louisville.

For the last 22 years, Fifth Third has collaborated with Feeding America and partner food banks to serve communities. In 2022, 44 million people, including more than 13 million children, faced hunger and lived in food insecure households. Data from the same year indicates that one out of every six people turned to the charitable food sector for help.

“The movement to end hunger takes dedicated partnerships that help us meet the needs of our neighbors,” said Lauren Biedron, Feeding America’s senior vice president of corporate partnerships. “We are grateful for generous commitments of Fifth Third Bank and its customers. Together, we are helping provide people with access to the food and resources they say they need to thrive.”

Driving New Resources into Local Communities 

Fifth Third’s Financial Empowerment Mobile, commonly known as the eBus, will begin its 2024 tour with a 20-day journey across Ohio beginning in Cincinnati on Fifth Third Day. Reimagined to offer enhanced services and experiences for community members, the eBus now features immediate checking account opening capabilities, face-to-face consultation pods for private conversations and computer workstations for guests.

Through a relationship with SpringFour, an award-winning social impact fintech, the eBus will connect community members to vital human and social services organizations to address needs related to food savings, rental resources, childcare, employment services, small business support and more.

Through its digital self-service financial wellness solution, SpringFour delivers access to more than 24,000 nonprofit and government agencies across the U.S. providing support in 14 categories.

“We want to be a partner to the communities we serve,” said Kala Gibson, chief corporate responsibility officer. “The eBus allows us to deliver resources and tools to ensure everyone can make the best possible financial decisions – even in areas that may not traditionally have access.”

Supporting the next generation

Additionally, Fifth Third will surprise the families of babies born on Fifth Third Day in select local hospitals in its Northeast Ohio region and Tampa Bay with a gift of $1,053 to open a 529 college savings account. Since Fifth Third Day in 2017, the Bank has gifted 496 “Fifth Third Day Babies” with $1,053 to go toward any 529 college savings account, in partnership with the Gift of College.

The Bank will present the new parents with care packages that includes gift cards and gifts for the baby including a onesie, bib and beanie.

For more information about how Fifth Third is helping its communities, please visit here. To learn more about the Bank’s dedication to sustainability, click here.

* $1 helps to provide at least ten meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local partner food banks.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

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