Long before he was hired as Russellville Electric Board’s new general manager, Derrick Moore knew a lot about his prospective employer.
Prior to his interview, Moore did his research. Not only did he visit REB’s two substations and review the utility’s infrastructure, he and his wife Chelsea made multiple trips to Russellville, visiting local restaurants and stores as they met and talked with residents.
“I believe strongly for anyone looking to make a move and take a position at this level to go and do their research,” Moore told the FFP last week. “My wife and I came to this community, talked with local residents and listened to what they had to say. Before my interview, I didn’t know anyone here, on the board or any employees. But we found everyone to be amazing, displaying southern hospitality at its best.
“I also drove around the city looking at the substations and the electric system. Russellville is a little smaller than Decatur, but everything lined up with my personal interests and career aspirations I was looking for,” he added.
Fortunately for Moore, his experience, professionalism and knowledge made quite an impression on the Russellville Electric Board as well.
“He is just what we were looking for and hoped we would find during the first round of applications,” REB Board Chairman Chad Wells said. “He’s in a position as second in command (at Decatur Utilities) and he just couldn’t move up because he was hired at the same time the current general manager was. He was the top pick of everyone on the board.”
Moore began his new job December 16th. It was the fulfillment of a professional goal he set for himself many years ago.
“I was hired at Decatur Utilities as an apprentice lineman. I went into that job with the goal of one day being a general manager of a utility company,” Moore said. “Decatur did everything they could to put me in school, train me and get me ready to be in this position.”
The only snag, though, was Moore topped out as second in command at Decatur Utilities, because there was a well-qualified general manager in place who was hired the same time as Moore. And Decatur Utilities is set up where one general manager runs all four departments.
After his four-year apprenticeship, Moore was hired as a lineman, then soon advanced to leadership positions as lead lineman, general foreman and general supervisor over all Decatur Utilities construction crews.
When the Russellville Electric Board position came available, Moore saw an opportunity and applied.
“I saw a position that presented an exciting opportunity to further advance my skills, manage a team and ensure efficient service delivery to our customers, which is the goal,” Moore said. “I understand the responsibility of the general manager position. Not only are you responsible for the day-to-day operations of the business, you make sure your staff functions to the best of their abilities, make sure our customers are looked after with the highest standards of customer service and care, along with ways to grow in the community and be an active part of that community while serving them the highest level we can give them along with the best customer service we can provide.”
Those should be inspirational words to REB ratepayers, many of whom had issues with prior management. Putting customer service first, delivering a safe, reliable product and leading and encouraging REB employees are the foundations of Moore’s new position.
He plans to look into bringing the Tennessee Valley Authority’s ‘Energy Right’ program to Russellville, something the prior general manager chose not to do. The program offers residential and business incentives for energy upgrades, but the program is optional for local power companies to participate in.
“It’s one thing I’d like to put in place. Anything we can give our customers that can help them if we offer it or TVA offers it, I’m more than willing to put that out there for our customers,” Moore said.
When it comes to his staff, Moore is a general manager who can relate to each employee.
“I’ve been there. I was raised up doing the same thing they’re doing. I went to school, got promoted, got into the management part of it and I think that will help me have the respect of those guys, knowing I started from the bottom and worked my way up through the system to get where I’m at,” Moore said.
“That experience will allow me to not only respect them but know the sacrifices they make and the dangers of their jobs. And that helps me understand where they’re coming from as opposed to someone who hasn’t come through from the bottom,” he added.
Moore earned an Associate’s Degree in Power Technology and has a Bachelors Degree in Energy Management. He and Chelsea have four children, Gage, Triston, Braxton and Oakley. Moore grew up in Guntersville and graduated from Douglas High School in 2000.
The Russellville Electric Board now has a general manager who not only climbed up the ranks of a utility, he also climbed up utility poles as a lineman for many years.
A condition of the GM’s job was that he or she live in the City of Russellville, and the Moore family is in the process of working on that already, spending afternoons and weekends looking for housing, whether that be a short term rental or a house to purchase. Needless to say, it’s been a busy six weeks for Moore and his family.
“I believe I have my feet on the ground. There’s still a lot to take in with this position. Decatur had almost 30,000 customers and we have about 5,100. It’s different but I’ve been welcomed not only by our employees and the board, but the whole community. And that’s made the transition so much smoother coming here. I’m enjoying this and blessed to have been given this opportunity,” Moore said.
Less than four weeks into his new position, Moore and his department dealt with a severe winter weather event last week, something they were prepared for in advance.
“The guys have been going over all the trucks, making sure everything is good and we have extra materials ready to go,” Moore said. “We’ll have chain saws ready for limbs, and extra gas so we can be prepared ahead of the storm.
“We’ll be out maintaining lines, checking them and if we need to make adjustments and switch some of the (electricity) load around, we’ll be ready to do that. Russellville has two substations, so it may be best to switch some customers to another circuit. And if we need to do that, we’ll be able to switch before it’s too late,” he added.
Challenges don’t intimidate Moore. He’s made a career meeting them.
“I really enjoy challenges. Dealing with electricity is one of those things you can’t see, smell or hear most of the time. You must be respectful of electricity every day and not make mistakes. And having those challenges is something that drew me to this careeer—to be able to say I work high voltage in a safe, efficient manner. Once I started doing it, I really enjoyed it,” Moore said.
His pledge to ratepayers is something Moore takes seriously.
“We want to provide the highest quality of electricity and service with the lowest rate we can give, along with the best customer service we can offer each day,” Moore said.
