WATCH: Maine Radio DJ Trades Mic for Hard Hat as CMP Line Worker for a Day

As a radio host on Matt and Lizzy in the Morning on 92 Moose, my days are usually filled with lots of laughter, music, and connecting with our beautiful listeners.

But for one extraordinary day, I traded my headphones and mic for a hard hat to experience life as a Central Maine Power (CMP) line worker.

I have done this before as an Augusta Police Officer and an Augusta Firefighter for a day.

This time, I was lucky to be guided by Sam Webber, who totally reminds me of Gandalf.

He had that "Sam Wise, All-knowing vibe". If he'd had whipped out a staff and shouted, "You shall not pass," I would not have passed.

Sam is a veteran lead line worker with almost 30 years of experience, I got a firsthand look at what it takes to keep Maine powered through the toughest conditions and learned that my bucket truck entrance skills could probably use some work.

Below is a video of my experience, behind the scenes at CMPs Augusta Service Building.

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A post shared by Lizzy Snyder (@lizzysnyder)

My journey began at the massive facility on Old Winthrop Road in Augusta. Sam gave me a detailed tour of the huge warehouse, packed with essential equipment and safety gear. Safety is a big deal here and for good reason.

You may not think that this is a super dangerous job, because they just "flip a switch", right? Wrong, because when your job description includes “possible electrocution,” you pay attention.

CMP’s warehouse felt like the ultimate adult toy store with transformers, insulators, and enough wires to make even the most incredible YouTube DIY girlie throw in the towel.

The highlight of my day was going up in the iconic bucket truck. Rising 65 feet into the air felt like being on a really cold amusement park ride. From that height, I got a taste of what line workers face during Maine’s harshest storms.

Picture this: biting cold, fierce winds, and snow pelting your face as you try to fix a power outage.

Suddenly, my warm radio studio seemed downright tropical. Sam also told me that sometimes, when he's up there and the snow is pelting onto his face he has to jump into the truck and comb through the ice on his beard.

We often take electricity for granted in our technological times, but behind every flick of a light switch are the tireless line workers at CMP.

These everyday heroes climb poles, endure extreme weather, and face scary hazards, all while putting their own well-being on the line to make sure our homes stay powered for our families.

They sacrifice time with their own families, risk their safety in dangerous storms, and work long hours to restore power when outages strike.

Sam gave CMP a face for me and without them, we wouldn’t have the comforts we so often overlook. They’re the silent protectors, and we should honor them for what they do. I know I do.

While I didn’t actually fix any power lines (you’re welcome, CMP customers), I gained a whole new appreciation for what these workers endure.