From The Archives - Inside the Control Room: Power, Pressure & Precision

When the lights go out, the clock starts ticking—and Dale is one of the first people in the hot seat. From restoring thousands of homes in minutes to making split-second safety calls, his job in SMECO's operations center blends adrenaline, strategy, and teamwork under extreme pressure. In this episode, Dale shares his journey from lineman to distribution system supervisor, what really happens behind the scenes during major outages, and why safety always comes before speed. You'll hear real outage stories, surprising tech tools that keep the grid running, and the unseen decisions that shape how fast your lights come back on. Key Takeaways: How outage restoration is prioritized in life-or-death scenarios The technology and teamwork powering SMECO's operations center Why "calm under chaos" is the most important skill in the room Whether you're curious about how the grid works or inspired by people who thrive in high-stakes environments, this conversation pulls back the curtain on an essential, often invisible job that keeps communities running. Follow SMECO: Instagram: @somdelectric X/Twitter: @somdelectric