GPA's linemen proud to keep Guam's lights on

You might call working with thousands of volts of electricity dangerous, but for the linemen of the Guam Power Authority, they simply call it...Monday. KUAM spoke with linemen of the Guam Power Authority during National Lineman Appreciation Day. Jacob Gumataotao, a line electrician leader, told KUAM News, “I think the most rewarding aspect is keeping the power on and the public happy—the people… and the same time, keeping my men safe and happy.”

For Gumataotao and his crew, this isn’t just a job - it’s a calling. A promise to the community to show up, no matter the hour, no matter the weather. Rain or shine, calm or storm, they are the quiet heroes who answer the call, driving from one end of the island to the other, so families never have to worry about being left in the dark.

It’s a sacrifice that often means long hours, early mornings and late nights, and missing moments at home, all to keep Guam going. Gumataotao said, “We’re out on the field all week - 16 hours a day. They worry. It’s my job as a leader to make sure my men go home to their families.”

Today, their journey began on Battulo Street in Dededo, where preventative maintenance is underway. Trees had grown too close to power lines, creating a risk for outages and for the people who live nearby. That’s where you’ll find line electrician Darren Dunstan - steady, focused, and carefully trimming away danger, one branch at a time.

It’s a job that takes training and skill, especially on wet, rainy days when the elements make an already dangerous task even more challenging. “Every day, every week, we’re out there just taking care of work orders, dispatch calls, trouble reports of vegetation, whether our customer is aware or not if it will damage their line or their property, if they can pick fruit or not, so that one is a big part–we’re doing that almost everyday," Dunstan said.

And still, despite the risks, despite the hours, it’s a service he’s proud to do, as he said, “Providing power to the people, and we want everyone to live comfortably.”

And while you may not always see them, you feel their work in every corner of your home - in the hum of a refrigerator, the glow of a streetlight, or the comfort of cool breeze from a fan on a hot afternoon.

So the next time you spot a lineman hard at work, take a moment to wave, smile, or say thank you. They may not ask for praise, but they certainly deserve it.