Partner Recognition - Rocky Mountain Power

Rocky Mountain Power is supporting economic growth in Wyoming by ensuring access to safe, reliable and affordable electric service – which provides a competitive advantage for businesses and assists in attracting new commerce and industry to the state. Electrical system investments are creating the energy infrastructure Wyoming businesses and communities need while providing substantial employment opportunities.

Harold Babbitt, Rocky Mountain Power's local customer and community manager, appreciates the partnerships throughout Laramie and Albany County in promoting SMART growth and development.

"We want to collaborate with communities and counties as they develop and refine their master plans, throughout the permitting and design processes," said Babbitt. "We try to help ensure that regional and local planning efforts exhibit foresight rather than afterthought when it comes to meeting communities' growing electricity needs."

The cost and availability of electric power are key factors businesses must consider when deciding where to start up, relocate or expand their operations.

"To help developers and businesses keep costs at a minimum, we encourage them to build near existing electric facilities and substations with excess capacity when possible," said Babbitt.

Rocky Mountain Power encourages communities to do up-front engineering studies to shorten the timeframe for bringing new businesses in or helping existing ones expand. Engineering studies include:

· Meeting with people from the communities or companies considering development;

· Helping identify marketable industrial sites with good power capacity;

· Making sure the company has the energy capacity to serve the new development; and

· Providing information on what further development would be needed to serve the site (for example, identifying where a new substation could go if it were needed).

Rocky Mountain Power's economic development consultants and community managers play a big role in helping communities prepare to serve new and expanding businesses.

"To ensure we have the infrastructure needed to deliver power to both existing and future customers, we must be an active partner in local and state economic development and have a good feel for the pulse of the communities we serve," said Babbitt.

This year, Rocky Mountain Power worked with economic development groups and local community and civic leaders to encourage Verizon to locate a data center in Laramie. Although that effort did not attain its desired conclusion, Rocky Mountain Power will continue to participate in efforts to attract new businesses and commercial expansion in the Laramie area.

"Having a reliable electrical system is essential for the continued economic vitality of the communities in which we operate and for each customer we serve; however, our community involvement and what our customers expect from us goes beyond that," said Joe Schilling, Rocky Mountain Power's distribution manager in Laramie. "They look to us for support in attracting new businesses or to help existing businesses expand."

Mickey Beaver, Rocky Mountain Power's economic development manager, notes that the utility has been delivering electricity to customers for nearly 100 years. Beaver said it's his belief that "every kilowatt hour we have ever delivered has helped develop the economy just a little bit more." He added, "We continue to deliver electricity at the lowest reasonable costs to our customers and communities. Even given the significant investment we continue making to support growth, our prices remain a significant attractor to new business and industry, and for existing businesses considering expansion."

In addition to providing electric service, Rocky Mountain Power also provides good jobs for many Wyoming residents and is one of the larger taxpayers in the state. Contributions from Rocky Mountain Power or the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation have helped to fund local initiatives by organizations including the Laramie Economic Development Corporation, Laramie Area Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, U.P. Railroad footbridge project, downtown revitalization project, and events such as the Jubilee Days rodeo and more.

"Rocky Mountain Power is helping to keep Wyoming a great place to live, work and raise a family," concluded Babbitt. "Our nearly 1,400 employees in Wyoming – including 12 here in Laramie - are dedicated to meeting the everyday needs of the 135,000 customers we serve in the state and building a bright future for generations yet to come."