Twins Shawn and Dawn Peeks share family legacy of serving Alabama Power customers

Siblings learn early how to share – toys, birthdays and even some friendly competition. Fraternal twins Shawn and Dawn Peeks have carried a spirit of teamwork and good-natured rivalry through their lifetimes, including nearly four decades of service to Alabama Power.

Rising early, working long hours and doing the job right isn’t just a motto – it’s their family legacy. Their father, the late Billy Wayne Peeks, retired as a substation foreman in Construction, and their younger brother Shane works in the field. “We all kind of had our hand in doing some kind of construction work,” Dawn said. “It’s in our blood.” Among the siblings, Shawn and Dawn have spent the most time side by side, in life and in their careers.

Making a path to Alabama Power 

The twins graduated in 1982. Afterward, they took different paths: Dawn managed meat markets at two groceries, while Shawn worked in lumber and paper mills. But fate – and a father who kept an eye on opportunity – brought Shawn to Alabama Power.

“My dad told me the company was taking applications down in Jackson,” Shawn recalled. “He even took a vacation day to drive me three hours down there.” Months later, Shawn got an interview at Plant Barry near Mobile. “That was one of the most exciting times of my life,” said Shawn, who began his career on Nov. 3, 1987, working on a Construction line crew.

Throughout the years, Shawn’s career took him across the state – from Demopolis to Tuscaloosa – and up the ranks from lineman to lead lineman, foreman and eventually transmission line maintenance foreman. “Because I’d moved around and worked with different groups – Distribution, Construction and the Service Department – I became more of an all-around employee,” he said. “It’s all about relationships.”

Breaking barriers, climbing higher

Dawn joined Alabama Power in 1991, four years after Shawn. She started as a helper in Transmission Construction, later becoming the company’s first female lineworker in Transmission – a title she carries with pride. “I loved climbing,” Dawn said. “There’s nothing like being up there, looking out over everything you’ve built.” Her career has taken her all over the state – living out of suitcases, working long hours and braving all kinds of terrains. “I’ve been traveling for 35 years,” she said, with a laugh. “I don’t have a husband or kids, so I guess that made it easier. But it’s still not easy being away from home.”

Today, Dawn works as a transmission line inspector, overseeing contractor crews who perform “bare-hand” energized work – some of the most specialized and high-risk tasks in the field. “It’s the best and worst job I’ve ever had,” she said. “Physically, it’s not like climbing, but mentally, it’s tough. You’re always watching, always worrying. The crews I work with are great at what they do.”

The job has taken Dawn from Montgomery to Muscle Shoals and everywhere in between. “Every day is different,” she said. “You can have the best game plan in the world, and then you hit rock holes, trees or equipment issues, and you’ve got to start over. Every action has a reaction.”

Though their jobs have taken them to different corners of Alabama, Shawn and Dawn’s careers often overlapped. They traveled and worked on the same Roving Line Crew for 13 years. “It was good,” Dawn said. “Shawn had a travel trailer and I had a motor home. We’d park back-to-back, eat lunch at his place because it was bigger, and even set up an intercom system between us.”

Working together came with its challenges – especially for a protective “older” brother (Dawn pointed out she was born four minutes earlier). “The hardest part of my career wasn’t the work,” said Shawn, recalling when they climbed a 100-foot transformer together. “It was watching my sister climb those poles and worrying about her. Back then, we didn’t have full fall restraint. Anything could happen.”

He’d call out reminders – “Watch your step, Dawn!” – until she’d finally turned around and tell him to hush. “She was a fantastic climber,” Shawn said, with pride. “But there’s a worry you can’t turn off when it’s your sister.”

A legacy built on hard work

The twins credit their father for their work ethic and resilience. “I was raised at Daddy’s feet,” Dawn said. “He taught me the value of doing things right and taking pride in your work.”

That foundation carried the Peeks through decades of change: new technology, new safety protocols and the ever-evolving energy landscape. Shawn, well-known companywide for his outgoing personality and his leadership skills, built relationships across the company and the state. “His wife always says, ‘Is there anyone you don’t know?’” Dawn said, with a laugh.

As both siblings near retirement, they look forward to their next chapter. Shawn, with 40 years of service, plans to retire by year-end. “Thinking about not doing this job every day will be a big change,” he said. “I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the best people in the business.”

Dawn will retire this month with 35 years of service: “My suitcases will finally be in the closet.”

Twin strength, shared spirits 

From the start, the Peeks have embodied what it means to serve – with grit, humor and heart. They’ve built careers that mirror each other in dedication and reflect the best of Alabama Power’s values.

As Dawn put it, “We’ve had our share of challenges, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s been a good life.”

For Shawn, the feeling is mutual. “We’ve been blessed,” he said. “Not everybody gets to do what they love, with people they love, for this long.”