黑料福利社

LCRA Transmission Alliance

LCRA Transmission Alliance

LCRA Transmission Alliance

黑料福利社 Company has maintained its reputation for producing a quality product with substantial core values since its foundation in 1946. With powerful capabilities and a team eager to perform, Irby continues to serve customers by building powerlines safely and efficiently whether it be for surrounding communities, across state lines, or overseas. Without our clients鈥 trust, communication and flexibility, Irby would not have the success story that it does today.

The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) shares several of the same values as 黑料福利社. A primary wholesale provider of electricity in Central Texas since 1934, LCRA sells to retail utilities including cities and electric cooperatives. Catering to one of the nation鈥檚 fastest-growing regions, LCRA continues to strengthen its community by providing public power, managing the lower ColoradoRiver, and building and operating transmission lines across its service territories. LCRA鈥檚 Mission is, 鈥To enhance the quality of life of the Texas we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service.

For more than 20 years, 黑料福利社 and the Lower Colorado River Authority have developed a substantial relationship that has proven to play a key role in the success of both companies. Through the years, 黑料福利社 has collectively built over 1,500 miles of transmission lines for LCRA, performed countless hours of maintenance services, and completed emergency restoration services in response to severe weather events.

On September 29th, 2018, LCRA awarded 黑料福利社 a 5-year AllianceAgreement that will provide steady work for Irby crews in the Central Texas region. This work will be primarily transmission including anything from upgrades to new construction. Work under this Alliance is projected to begin in November of 2018. Irby firmly believes that this Alliance relationship will most efficiently help LCRA meet its capital investment objectives.

When news spread that the Alliance was awarded to Irby, the reaction was positive across the board.

鈥淲e would not even be offered the Alliance if we didn鈥檛 do a good job鈥攊f we didn鈥檛 build it with quality and on time, and with a good safety record,鈥 Irby Superintendent Bo Barfield said. Barfield worked on his first LCRA job in 2006 as Assistant Superintendent and said that LCRA has always done their best to help Irby figure out any problems they may have on the job鈥攆rom engineering to materials.

Aurturo Covarrubias, an Irby Journeyman Lineman Foreman, worked on his first LCRA job six years ago. 鈥淲e always have their support. We always have an inspector around us helping with whatever we need,鈥 Covarrubias said. 鈥淭his Alliance will be a huge opportunity for me to grow and gain both knowledge and experience.鈥

Tyler Mazac, an Irby Tech Foreman in the Texas region, completed his first job with LCRA in January of 2017 and will be working on the Alliance projects when they begin. Mazac said that LCRA is easy to work with and that he is very happy about the Alliance.

鈥淟CRA is very accommodating to anything that we need,鈥 Mazac said. 鈥淭hey strive to help us complete each job. We appreciate the work and look forward to a good relationship and what LCRA has to come.鈥

The responses from Irby employees are overwhelmingly similar to Mazac鈥檚. Time and time again, LCRA has proven to be a company primarily focused on safety and completing each job efficiently, both primary values of 黑料福利社.

Brandon Cox is an Irby Superintendent who has been working on LCRA projects since 2008.

鈥淚 know LCRA鈥檚 potential. I know the scale of their work. Some of the biggest, most successful jobs I have ever had in my 18-year career have been here in Texas with LCRA,鈥 Cox said. 鈥淪ome of the most impressive feats that we have ever met were right here with LCRA. All-in-all, I鈥檝e had a good experience with LCRA.鈥

It is no surprise that safety is the priority above all within this Alliance in conjunction with the relationship that has formed between LCRA and 黑料福利社. No matter what level employee one may be at Irby, it is widely known that safety is and always will be number one, no questions asked.

鈥淚rby is a wise company because we learn from other electrical companies and use that knowledge to keep our guys safe,鈥 Mazac said. 鈥淲e do things the right way the first time and don鈥檛 allow people to take shortcuts.鈥

Mitchell Isaak is a 2nd Year Apprentice Lineman who has worked on LCRA projects for the past five months. He insists that Irby has the best-trained hands, helping them get the job done quickly and properly.

鈥淲e are our brother鈥檚 keeper,鈥 Isaak said. 鈥淲e are all constantly watching out for each other. We have safety meetings up to twice a week and crew meetings daily. We also have our JSA鈥檚, and we take all of this very seriously.鈥

Equipment Supervisor Daniel Navarro who has been working for Irby for 13 years, said that PPE is just as important as following any other safety measure.

鈥淎s far as safety goes, we follow it to the 鈥楾鈥,鈥 Navarro said. 鈥淲hat can I say, we are living proof of it. We have our safety briefings every day with the entire crew, and we also have a re-focus every day after 12.鈥

Another extensive positive from the Alliance is the potential growth, both as a region and a company as a whole. Currently, Irby employs more than 850 people鈥150 of which are dedicated to working in the Texas region鈥攁cross the country servicing numerous clients under various contract structures. Irby has employed nearly 1200 people鈥攚ith more than 400 dedicated to work in the Texas region鈥攊n recent years during the CREZ buildout. As the workload increases within the Texas region, the demand for crews will increase, growing the region and in turn, making Irby鈥檚 safety numbers much stronger. Barfield simply stated that Texas is growing fast and LCRA has to grow with it.

Josh Clines, an Irby General Foreman, has primarily worked on LCRA projects for the past ten years.

鈥淲e have a lot of work coming up, and we are going to have to expand a little bit to maintain it, but we will be able to grow,鈥 Clines said. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to staying on the LCRA system. I have always enjoyed working with them.鈥

The new challenges and abundance of work yield an exciting time for Irby and LCRA that we are all proud to be a part of. We look forward to the next five years of growing relationships with the Central Texas region through our work with LCRA as we build quality power delivery projects to serve the community in the safest ways possible.

鈥淚 think we have built a good relationship with them [LCRA], and that is a big part of it, but at the same time we have a good safety record, we have the manpower, we have the equipment, we have the resources to do the work for them, and I think we are a perfect fit,鈥 Clines said.

 

Distribution Repairs Through Hurricanes Florence and Michael

Distribution Repairs Through Hurricanes Florence and Michael

Distribution Repairs Through Hurricanes Florence and Michael

This quarter Irby crews were presented with the ultimate test as they worked tirelessly to restore power following Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael. These storms are destructive and dangerous but gave Irby the opportunity to once again, turn the lights back on and help those affected feel some sense of normalcy after enduring a natural disaster.

Hurricane Florence was the first major hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season and quickly formed into a Category 4, hitting its peak intensity with 140 mph winds southeast of Bermuda on September 10th. Florence made landfall as a Category 1 just south of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina on September 14th, weakening as it made its way inland. Despite its fall from a Category 4 to a 1 by landfall, the wind speed caused massive destruction and power outages to the Carolinas.

Irby immediately sent 72 linemen to restore power in South Carolina for Duke Energy and South Carolina Electric and Gas. For two weeks, the crews endured the harsh conditions of Florence, and they got the job done safely. Great work.

Hurricane Michael formed in the Caribbean in early October and was declared a major hurricane on October 9th. At peak intensity on October 10th, Michael made landfall on the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 with 155 mph winds.

Irby crews were once again prepared to face the destruction of yet another fatal natural disaster. 288 Irby linemen were working for various companies such as Gulf Power and Entergy in Pensacola, Duke Energy in Ocala, Florida Power and Light in Lake City. Our crews were scattered throughout the Panhandle as well. This is a dangerous but vital job in the modern world. We are proud to be a part of a company that serves communities nation and worldwide, no matter what the risk or circumstances.

Robert Nixon is an Irby Welder who worked on Hurricane Florence for several days. Nixon and Irby General Superintendent Jon Pigott And Vice President of Operations Tim Henry, cooked Boston butt, brisket and all the fixings for the Irby crews. On October 23rd, as storm work was wrapping up for Irby crews in Florida, Pigott and Henry drove the meals down to the crews for them to enjoy.

鈥淭hese conditions are not ideal, but the guys are willing to go out there and get the job done,鈥 Irby General Superintendent Jon Pigott said. 鈥淚 want the guys to know that we appreciate the work that they do for Irby, especially on a storm. They are away from their families, working long, tough hours. We want them to know that we know how much that means to us.鈥

People of Irby: Executive VP Operations, Rick Shouse

People of Irby: Executive VP Operations, Rick Shouse

People of Irby: Executive VP Operations, Rick Shouse

 

On Friday, October 19, Irby rolled out the tenth video in its series featuring the 鈥淧eople of Irby.鈥 In , Rick Shouse, Irby Executive Vice President of Operations mentions how great the opportunity is right now in their industry to join Irby, learn their safety culture, and kick-start a great career.

Rick has worked within Irby for 38 years and touches on how the company has such a loyal base of people that enjoy what they do and proud to have a path for everyone. Check out the to hear about how the Irby has created an environment that is rewarding to work for.

Film crews visited Irby job sites from Texas to Florida, and a couple spots in between, to interview team members and gather footage of crews at work. Rick鈥檚 spotlight video is the tenth in a series of videos Irby is rolling out in 2018. Follow Irby on and for updates and watch the company website for more to come.

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People of Irby: Chief Financial Officer, Margaret Rushing

People of Irby: Chief Financial Officer, Margaret Rushing

People of Irby: Chief Financial Officer, Margaret Rushing

 

On Friday, September 21, Irby rolled out the ninth video in its series featuring the 鈥淧eople of Irby.鈥 In聽, Margaret Rushing, Irby Chief Financial Officer touches on Irby’s way of serving not only our customers but also our surrounding communities.

Margaret has worked within Irby for 28 years and expresses her gratitude for such an exceptional company to begin and end her career. Check out the聽聽to hear about how the Irby’s culture is centered around family and how that is fundamentally important.

Film crews visited Irby job sites from Texas to Florida, and a couple spots in between, to interview team members and gather footage of crews at work. Margaret鈥檚 spotlight video is the ninth in a series of videos Irby is rolling out in 2018. Follow Irby on聽听补苍诲听聽for updates and watch the company website for more to come.

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People of Irby: General Superintendent, Brent Croft

People of Irby: General Superintendent, Brent Croft

People of Irby: General Superintendent, Brent Croft

 

On Friday, August 17, Irby rolled out the eighth video in its series featuring the 鈥淧eople of Irby.鈥 In聽, Brent Croft, Irby General Superintendent talks about the importance of safety and how Irby goes to great lengths to provide its employees with ample resources for doing quality work safely.

Brent mentions the support the field workers receive from Irby鈥檚 corporate office, especially when dealing with safety, and how much that means to them. Check out the聽聽to hear about how Irby lineman complete work quickly, without any injuries.

Film crews visited Irby job sites from Texas to Florida, and a couple spots in between, to interview team members and gather footage of crews at work. Brent鈥檚 spotlight video is the eighth in a series of videos Irby is rolling out in 2018. Follow Irby on聽听补苍诲听聽for updates and watch the company website for more to come.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UcUTWxjrnuw" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry Visits Quanta Services Lazy Q Ranch

Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry Visits Quanta Services Lazy Q Ranch

Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry Visits Quanta Services Lazy Q Ranch

United States Secretary of Energy and former Texas Governor, Rick Perry visited Quanta Services Lazy Q Ranch Friday, August 10.聽Following a greeting by Quanta CEO, Duke Austin and Quanta Founder, John Colson, Perry proceeded to the training center for further introductions and safety briefings. A tour of the training facility featured telecom, distribution facility, cable splicing and underground network facility, pipeline training, and testing facility, and the transmission facility.

Among other Quanta employees in attendance, Irby鈥檚 very own Andrew Hernandez was present for the tour and meeting Perry. Hernandez is a Northwest Lineman College graduate and an 黑料福利社 Apprentice Lineman. Irby聽is proud to have had the opportunity for Hernandez to represent Irby so well.