New employees of Entergy Corp.’s transmission organization are gaining valuable knowledge and experience in maintaining substations at the new Arthur “Dub” Barfield Training Substation in Clinton, Mississippi.
“This is the only training facility of its kind in Entergy’s four-state utility service territory,” said Jim Schott, vice president of transmission for Entergy. “It’s designed to give employees an opportunity to learn and train in a safe environment because the training facility is not energized. The facility offers a critical first step to preparing new employees to effectively maintain essential infrastructure and reliably deliver electricity to customers.”
Refresher courses for existing employees will also be offered in the new training facility.
The facility is named for Entergy employee Arthur “Dub” Barfield, former Entergy director of transmission grids, who died in November 2015. Barfield spent nearly 35 years of his career at Entergy and was a champion of safe work and training practices.
Employees from across Entergy’s four-state utility service will learn to operate, maintain and test equipment at the “Dub Sub.” The facility:
- Was built with both legacy equipment and new standard equipment to allow students to train on many of the various types of equipment they will encounter in their daily work.
- Is fully operational, with the exception of no voltage.
- Allows students to gain troubleshooting experience.
- Provides a mechanic and relay lab for foundational skill development.
- Offers hands-on training for employees to earn switching certifications.
“This is a cutting-edge training facility that reflects Entergy’s commitment to excellence and adding value for our stakeholders, especially customers and employees,” said Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi’s president and CEO. “This investment by the company supports Entergy’s We Power Life vision by ensuring a skilled workforce to deliver safe, reliable electricity for customers today and well into the future.”
