Risk & Business Magazine F.A. Peabody Insurance Spring 2017 | Page 7

and job satisfaction, which is evidenced
by the very low turnover among
employees.
In addition to these factors, the
management is always looking for ways
to reduce overhead costs. It cites several
key turning points in the last 30 years
that have had a significant impact on
its bottom line. In 1990, Houlton Water
Company received shares in Maine
Yankee, the former nuclear power
plant, which reduced power costs by 10
percent per year. When Maine Yankee
later closed its doors, Houlton Water
Company was able to dispose of its shares
and avoid litigation and environmental
costs, which also saved customers
money. In 1993, the company won a
case with the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission to purchase electricity on
the open market, the first municipally
owned electric company in New England
to do so. This effort saved electric
customers $8 million from 1993 to 1999
and dropped electric rates by 40 percent.
In 2016, the Houlton Water Company
was granted the right by the Maine
Public Utilities Commission to build a
9.3-mile direct electric tie-line to New
Brunswick Power in Woodstock, New
Brunswick. This idea was sparked when
Emera Maine, with already increasing
rates, announced its plan to invest $65–
$70 million in rebuilds in the Northern
Maine structure, costs which would
then be passed down to Houlton Water
Company customers. By building this
new tie-line, Houlton Water Company
will save money and Emera Maine will
no longer need to make the upgrades,
saving money as well. The project is a
win-win scenario for all of Aroostook
County. The new project is now in its
planning stages, and Houlton Water
Company is obtaining all the necessary
permits and environmental studies with
the hopes of completing the project in
2019.
All of this hard work and dedication
has given the Houlton Water Company
a reputation for fair prices and very
reliable service. John credits much of
this success to the board of directors
which has always “written a blank
check for safety.” He and Greg are
thankful for the local business people
who have served on the board over the
years and who have always had the
best interests of the company and the
community at heart. The company
serves the community in many different
ways, including offering a customer
appreciation day every summer and
instituting an education day for local
fifth graders to come and tour the
facilities and learn about the business.
With this kind of innovation, longevity,
and community service, the Houlton
Water Company is prepared to bring
power to the people for generations to
c ome. +
Steven Fitzpatrick is branch manager for
the Houlton office.
HWCO crew laying pipe at Union Square Bridge 1885
Standpipe water tank, High Street, Houlton ca. 1902
HWCO Pumping Station on B Stream 1885