Umatilla Electric’s Boardman Operations Center has opened for business next to the Port of Morrow.
The public is invited to tour the building from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11. The address is 400 N.E. Eldrige Drive (formerly Puskarich Avenue).
A three-man line crew has been assigned to the Boardman Operations Center. Two customer service representatives who worked at Umatilla Electric’s former Boardman office at 203 E. Boardman Ave. have relocated to the new building.
ALD Architects of Richland, Wash., designed the building. Chervenell Construction was general contractor. The facility includes a shop/warehouse of 12,625 square feet and business office of 11,345 square feet.
Construction began in May 2015. The office opened for business on Jan. 25.
In addition to the business lobby and offices, there is a drive-up window staffed during business hours, and a drive-up kiosk for 24-hour payments.
The complex has five truck bays, including room for two mobile substations. The bays are drive-through to avoid the need for backing up large vehicles. Other spaces include warehouse, crew quarters, dispatch, a large meeting room and outside storage for poles and transformers.
The Boardman Operations Center, built in response to ongoing expansion in the Boardman area, will not increase electric rates. Operating and fixed costs will be offset by increased revenue from load growth, as well as by efficiencies of decreasing transportation expenses, reducing wait times and increasing service availability.
