Three New Lineman Energize Idaho County Light & Power
Photo & Story by: Dana Greig
As the days grow shorter and temperatures dip, the role of reliable electric service becomes even more essential for homes and businesses across North Central Idaho. Power isn’t just a convenience in the fall and winter—it’s a lifeline. At Idaho County Light and Power, ensuring that lifeline remains steady is a year-round mission. This year, that mission has been reinforced with the addition of three experienced journeyman linemen who bring not only talent and training to the job, but deep local roots and renewed energy to the cooperative’s service.
The arrival of Nick Boyd, Lucas Wemhoff and Wyatt Bishop to the line crew marks a generational shift for ICLP. With three stepping away from the line crew last year, including longtime journeymen Dan Bryant and Greg Schumacher who retired, these new faces stepped in with dedication, experience, and a passion for community.
Bringing over a decade of experience to the line crew at the start of the year, 36-year-old Nick Boyd has been a journeyman since 2012. Originally from Port Angeles, Washington, Nick most recently worked in Dallas before making the move to Grangeville in January 2025.
His resume includes a few memorable moments—like restoring power at former President George W. Bush’s home during an outage. “I had to meet with Secret Service and get escorted around,” Nick says with a laugh.
Despite the high-profile assignments, Nick was drawn to the slower pace of Idaho County. “I was working too much in Dallas,” he says. “Now, I have fewer hours and more time to enjoy life.”
Storm response is still a challenge, even with his experience. “The hardest part is the physical toll, especially during long hours and sleepless nights,” he shares. “And when you're unfamiliar with the terrain, that adds another layer of difficulty.”
Still, Nick appreciates what Grangeville offers. “Compared to the city, it’s refreshing. The people, the lifestyle—it fits.”
At 26, Lucas Wemhoff brings both youthful energy and solid experience to the ICLP team. Growing up in Cottonwood and now living in Grangeville, Lucas started with the co-op in May of 2025. He topped out as a journeyman in 2022 and brings valuable storm response experience from the Portland and Seattle areas.
“People are touch and go in different places,” Lucas says, reflecting on his past storm work. “But it’s nice to be back home—here, it’s more of a community.”
Having family in the area and knowing the people he's helping makes the job personal. “It’s nice to work close to home and bring power to people you know,” he says.
Transitioning from construction to utility work has also offered him a sense of stability. “It’s nice to not be traveling all the time,” Lucas explained.
Still, he points out to those possibly interested in the career that the job isn’t one where you can simply clock out and leave.
“It’s not a typical 9-to-5,” he explained. “You have to be flexible.”
Also 26, Wyatt Bishop was born and raised in Grangeville and joined ICLP in June 2025. Like Lucas, he topped out in 2022 and came from a construction background. For Wyatt, getting to work in his hometown is a rare opportunity— one he doesn’t take for granted.
“There’s a lot of opportunities for stuff outdoors here,” Wyatt said. “There’s always something going on in every season.”
But the job comes with trade-offs. “When you’re on call, you have to give up your free time,” he notes. “It’s not the end of the world, but it can be tough.”
Wyatt has worked through some of the nation’s worst storms, including multiple hurricane response deployments. “At first, you’re the hero. Then by day four or five, people get impatient,” he recalls. These experiences are a reminder that people depend on power in a very real way.
Despite those tough moments, Wyatt values what the work represents. “To someone starting out, I’d say be ready to travel early in your career,” he advises. “It’s a rare opportunity to end up with a job in your hometown.”
Though each lineman brings a different background and personality to the team, they’re united in their commitment to ICLP’s mission: to be ‘Your Energy Cooperative’ for North Central Idaho, providing reliable electrical services for your modern lifestyles.
Nick, Lucas and Wyatt understand the balance between personal commitment and professional responsibility. Whether it’s being ready to leave a weekend behind to restore power or navigate challenging terrain after a storm, these journeymen are here to keep the lights on and the heat flowing.
For ICLP members, that means something powerful: the peace of mind that comes from knowing your cooperative is in strong, steady hands.