In 1931, in the midst of the Great Depression, a handful of entrepreneurs founded Southwest Gas Corporation, and soon after began selling liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the dusty railroad town of Barstow, California. Although the fledgling company soon expanded to nearby Victorville, uncertain economic conditions limited its growth potential during the Depression.
Southwest Gas grew slowly but steadily over the next 20 years, serving these two High Desert communities. Then, in 1951, Pacific Gas & Electric Company built a high-pressure natural gas transmission line from San Francisco to the Arizona border, where it linked up with El Paso Natural Gas Company's line from Texas. Recognizing the growth potential offered by clean, efficient, economical natural gas, Southwest tapped into the new line and converted its system to the more marketable fuel. This would become a significant milestone in a truly remarkable business success story.
Three years later, the company expanded eastward, bringing natural gas service to the cotton-farming and copper-mining regions of central Arizona, as well as to the industrial plants in Henderson, Nevada, and the small-but-growing gaming oasis of Las Vegas. The growth potential and centralized location of Las Vegas enticed company owners to move the corporate headquarters from Los Angeles to the burgeoning desert community in 1958.
In 1959, Southwest purchased another small LPG company, this one in Big Bear Lake, California, a popular resort destination for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. Seeing the potential to serve the more than 3,000 homes in the area, Southwest soon converted the Big Bear LPG system to natural gas as well.
In 1963, the company brought natural gas service to northern Nevada, constructing a new natural gas transmission line from the Idaho border westward across the northern tier of the state to the Carson City/Reno-Sparks area as well as Lake Tahoe. Along the way, mining and farming communities from Elko to Yerington were converted to natural gas service.
Over the next 15 years, the company continued its steady growth, and by 1978 was serving more than 150,000 customers in three states. The company's most significant growth was yet to come, however. In 1979, Southwest nearly doubled its size overnight with the acquisition of the gas system owned by Tucson Gas & Electric Company in southern Arizona. The acquisition added more than 140,000 customers to the company's system and ended a two-year moratorium on new natural gas hook-ups in the Tucson area.
Just five years later, in 1984, Southwest again doubled its size with the purchase of the natural gas properties of Arizona Public Service Company in central Arizona, including metropolitan Phoenix and surrounding communities. This acquisition added some 300,000 customers to the company's customer base, bringing its total customer count to more than 600,000. In little more than five years, the company had grown fourfold!
Still another acquisition occurred in 1991 with the purchase of the natural gas properties of CP National Corporation in Henderson, Nevada and Needles, California. This added nearly 12,000 customers to Southwest's system and made the company the sole natural gas utility in southern Nevada.
By the end of 1995, Southwest's customer count had surpassed the one million mark, quite a feat for a company that had begun so humbly just 64 years before.
Arizona Public Service | APS Jessica Perry
Community Affairs Manager - West Valley - Metro Division 400 N. 5th Street M.S. 8010
As Arizona's largest and longest-serving electric company, we're proud of our heritage and past performance. But we recognize new technologies and growing customer expectations are leading to rapid changes at our company and in our industry.
We generate safe, affordable and reliable electricity for more than 1.1 million retail and residential customers in 11 of Arizona's 15 counties. By 2030 we expect to add 700,000 new customers. We plan to meet those customers' needs through innovation and excellent service.
Our corporate vision is to create a sustainable energy future for Arizona. The use of innovative smart technologies, renewable energy sources and energy efficiency are key components of our efforts to meet that vision. We make decisions with the goal of creating long-term corporate value and adhering to our Code of Ethics and Business Practices. We consider our societal, economic and environmental impact, now and for generations to come.
EPCOR Water Rebecca Stenholm
Director, Public & Government Affairs 2355 W. Pinnacle Peak Road Suite 300
We provide clean water, wastewater services and safe, reliable electricity.
We build, own and operate electrical transmission and distribution networks, water and wastewater treatment facilities and infrastructure in Canada and the United States.
We also provide electricity and water services and products to residential and commercial customers. And, we deliver competitive power systems, transportation electrical systems, energy efficiency consulting and utility support.
EPCOR?s story began over 120 years ago, as Edmonton?s power and water utility ? and Canada?s first municipally owned electric utility. ?EPCOR Utilities Inc.? has been a stand-alone company since 1996.
The City of Edmonton is our sole Shareholder, and we operate as a commercial entity, governed by an independent Board of Directors. Owing to our governance model and our mandate, we have grown tremendously and more than doubled our dividend since incorporated in 1996.
In 1931, in the midst of the Great Depression, a handful of entrepreneurs founded Southwest Gas Corporation, and soon after began selling liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the dusty railroad town of Barstow, California. Although the fledgling company soon expanded to nearby Victorville, uncertain economic conditions limited its growth potential during the Depression.
Southwest Gas grew slowly but steadily over the next 20 years, serving these two High Desert communities. Then, in 1951, Pacific Gas & Electric Company built a high-pressure natural gas transmission line from San Francisco to the Arizona border, where it linked up with El Paso Natural Gas Company's line from Texas. Recognizing the growth potential offered by clean, efficient, economical natural gas, Southwest tapped into the new line and converted its system to the more marketable fuel. This would become a significant milestone in a truly remarkable business success story.
Three years later, the company expanded eastward, bringing natural gas service to the cotton-farming and copper-mining regions of central Arizona, as well as to the industrial plants in Henderson, Nevada, and the small-but-growing gaming oasis of Las Vegas. The growth potential and centralized location of Las Vegas enticed company owners to move the corporate headquarters from Los Angeles to the burgeoning desert community in 1958.
In 1959, Southwest purchased another small LPG company, this one in Big Bear Lake, California, a popular resort destination for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. Seeing the potential to serve the more than 3,000 homes in the area, Southwest soon converted the Big Bear LPG system to natural gas as well.
In 1963, the company brought natural gas service to northern Nevada, constructing a new natural gas transmission line from the Idaho border westward across the northern tier of the state to the Carson City/Reno-Sparks area as well as Lake Tahoe. Along the way, mining and farming communities from Elko to Yerington were converted to natural gas service.
Over the next 15 years, the company continued its steady growth, and by 1978 was serving more than 150,000 customers in three states. The company's most significant growth was yet to come, however. In 1979, Southwest nearly doubled its size overnight with the acquisition of the gas system owned by Tucson Gas & Electric Company in southern Arizona. The acquisition added more than 140,000 customers to the company's system and ended a two-year moratorium on new natural gas hook-ups in the Tucson area.
Just five years later, in 1984, Southwest again doubled its size with the purchase of the natural gas properties of Arizona Public Service Company in central Arizona, including metropolitan Phoenix and surrounding communities. This acquisition added some 300,000 customers to the company's customer base, bringing its total customer count to more than 600,000. In little more than five years, the company had grown fourfold!
Still another acquisition occurred in 1991 with the purchase of the natural gas properties of CP National Corporation in Henderson, Nevada and Needles, California. This added nearly 12,000 customers to Southwest's system and made the company the sole natural gas utility in southern Nevada.
By the end of 1995, Southwest's customer count had surpassed the one million mark, quite a feat for a company that had begun so humbly just 64 years before.
Salt River Project | SRP Hilen Cruz
Senior Government Relations Representative P.O. Box 52025, PAB4TC
Phoenix, AZ 85072-2025
Visit our Website 602-236-8888 Residential 602-236-2922 Member Since: 1963
As a community-based not-for-profit water and energy company, SRP provides reliable, affordable water and power to more than 2 million people living in central Arizona. SRP has provided these essential resources for more than a century to meet the needs of customers and help the region grow.
