Supporting the Grid and Powering Lubbock: Meet LP&L’s Substation Department

One crucial piece of the power puzzle at LP&L is the Substation Department, a vital force ensuring the stability and efficiency of Lubbock’s power grid. Led by Substation System Protection Supervisor Michael Coomer and his team—Josh Romo, Nick Fraizer and Jerry Spoon— the department embodies LP&L's commitment to customers by building and maintaining resilient systems.

Michael Coomer, with decades of experience at LP&L, started as a groundman in 1990 and worked his way up to supervisor. Josh Romo, Nick Frazier and Jerry Spoon joined the department after completing the apprenticeship program.

Their daily routine involves maintaining substations, tackling various maintenance tasks and resolving outages—all crucial for keeping the lights on in Lubbock. As Romo puts it, "For the crew, an average day consists of maintaining Lubbock’s substations including rebuilding infrastructure, various maintenance work, resolving outages, as well as other bigger projects that we have going on at any given time."

Their commitment extends beyond the routine tasks. They understand the importance of their work, as Coomer explains: “Substations are a vital part of the electrical grid. The work the substation crews do is critical to the system and done behind the scenes without a lot of public exposure and fanfare. Without a department of dedicated professionals like those that we have in the LP&L substation department, we would not be able to keep the electricity flowing to the community.”

Prepared for challenges like winter storms, LP&L follows guidelines provided by the Public Utility Commission of Texas to ensure the grid’s readiness. Monthly inspections and proactive measures are part of their routine to maintain reliability and safety, especially during extreme weather conditions.

Through major projects like LP&L's transition to competition and the need for infrastructure upgrades, the substation team remains steadfast. Their goals remain clear: Maintain reliability, mentor the next generation and serve the community with unwavering dedication.

In the end, working in LP&L's substation department is not merely about the technical tasks of flipping switches and monitoring voltages, but also about the impact they have on the community they serve. Their fulfillment comes from knowing they make a tangible difference, day in and day out. As they navigate through challenges, they band together, fostering trust and camaraderie in the face of adversity. With pride and a commitment to service, they carry the responsibility of powering Lubbock forward, ensuring a brighter future for all.