Rockwood Electric Utility Breaks Ground on NEW Headquarters

As Public Power Week came to a close, Rockwood Electric Utility celebrated the beginning of construction for its new Administrative and Operations Building in downtown Rockwood. The ground-breaking ceremony was held on October 9, 2015 in front of the Peterman Building which was constructed around 1891. The utility plans to save and restore the 3-story brick façade and build a new building behind it.

Rockwood Electric has been at its current location since 1949. The new building will be on the same block in downtown Rockwood. "There is a lot of excitement in our community and everybody seems to be looking forward to seeing construction begin" stated Kendall Bear, General Manager. "The utility selected McCarty Holsaple McCarty as its architect for the new building. Johnson & Galyon, Inc. as the Construction Manager and General Contractor."

Mr. Bear went on to elaborate saying, "The new modern building will be approximately 21,000 sq. ft. It includes a drive-thru which we currently do NOT have at Rockwood. People seem excited about that new feature. We are seeking LEED Silver Certification. Our new home will be exceptionally efficient and will have a geothermal HVAC system and a wide use of LED lighting. The building will meet all the current needs of employees plus some room for growth. As a first we’ll even have covered parking for some of our vehicles. Our objective is to construct a building that will meet all our needs for many years to come, provide a more efficient and productive environment for our employees and customers, and be a good steward of the funds entrusted to us by our ratepayers. We believe this building meets all those conditions. We’re excited about staying downtown and appreciative of the strong support we’ve received form our elected officials and our customers."