In the quiet valley between Solvang and Santa Ynez, a PG&E crew from the company’s southernmost electric yard is on the job — replacing a degraded pole, upgrading a transformer, and installing a new service to a panel for a customer building a shop. It’s a familiar scene for IBEW 1245 members Danny Lauer and David Wickman, both based out of the Buellton Yard.
“It’s a pretty routine job today,” said Lauer, an Electric Crew Foreman with 19 years on the job. “We’re upgrading a transformer and service to the customers new panel and replacing a pole as well.”
The area, known for its wineries, scenic ranches, and celebrity residents, can bring an extra layer of challenges from customer expectations.
Safety First, Every Step of the Way
The crew’s task of the day involved replacing a degraded secondary pole that supports telecom lines and spans across the highway. The inside of the pole had been hollowed out by woodpecker damage, creating a serious structural hazard.
“The pole is hollow and it is a phone pole as well, and it’s going over the highway,” said Lauer. “That is our main hazard today.”
While Wickman described it as routine, with vehicle traffic below, the job demanded careful planning and coordination.
Fortunately, everything was running smoothly. The crew was well-staffed, the weather was mild, and the team was working efficiently together. “Everyone is working in unison — pretty routine stuff,” said Wickman.
Tradition, Opportunity, and the Union Difference
Both Lauer and Wickman are proud IBEW members with strong union foundations.
Lauer, who grew up in Orcutt and now lives in Nipomo, started his career in General Construction before working in the Monterey and Santa Maria service centers. His introduction to union work came early as his father worked for PG&E and was in the union.
Lauer b
riefly worked non-union out of high school, hanging drywall and steel studs. “I didn’t get paid that well,” he recalled. “But I was only 18 at the time, so I didn’t know any better. Once I got hired on… I never looked back.”
Wickman, who started in outside line construction, has been in the union since he was 18 and became a journeyman lineman in 2020. He joined PG&E about a year ago and now lives in Solvang while working toward buying a home in Orcutt.
Wickman, who started in outs “Since I’ve been 18, I’ve been in the union,” he said. “They provided healthcare and a job and countless opportunities. I’ve seen more of this country than I ever thought I would and met a lot of really great people…
Front row; l-r; Business Rep Jerry Camacho, Lineman Trevor Covert, Electric Crew Foreman Danny Lauer, Electric Crew Foreman Dan Solorio, Lineman Dave Wickman, and Lineman Chad Stark. Back row; l-r; Apprentice Nathan Crandall, Electric Line Assistant Wyatt Billman and Apprentice Dallas Pimienta. IBEW Local 1245 members from the PG&E Buellton yard change out a pole and transformer in Solvang, Calif. on July 16, 2025.
“Since I’ve been 18, I’ve been in the union,” he said. “They provided healthcare and a job and countless opportunities. I’ve seen more of this country than I ever thought I would and met a lot of really great people… able to learn a craft and build a retirement and learn how to do this job safely. I’m proud to be union for sure.”
Later this fall, Wickman will take his skills far beyond the Central Coast. At the end of September, he’ll join a crew of IBEW 1245 linemen traveling to the Navajo Nation, which spans Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, as part of a union-led effort to bring electricity to homes that have never been connected to the grid. Organized by IBEW 1245, the volunteer project will involve installing new power lines through remote, rugged terrain.
Wickman says he’s grateful for the opportunity. “It’s a good chance to give back,” he said. “You learn a craft, and to be able to use it for something like this — that’s pretty cool.”