Channel News: 9.27.2011

Affiliated Distributors introduces new logo, tagline, website

Affiliated Distributors (AD) debuted a new logo last week. The new logo, called “The Mountain” features a group of peaks that symbolize AD’s emphasis on growth and performance. According to a company news release, “The new logo is a reflection of our core operating principle which is that AD drives accelerated growth for companies that are market leaders or that want to become market leaders.”

In addition to the new logo, the company has a new tagline, “Where Market Leaders Grow.” AD also changed its website URL from MYA-D.net to www.ADHQ.com. AD is celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year.

Solar Training for Canadian Electricians

According to a company news release, “CSA Standards, a leading standards-based solutions organization, and the National Electrical Trade Council (NETCO), the joint training arm of the Canadian Electrical Contractors Association (CECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, First District, Canada (IBEW), today officially announce the launch of a national, third-party, independent personnel certification program for Construction Electricians (NOC 7241) installing Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems in Canada.”

Building Codes & Saving Lives

An opinion piece in The Miami Herald, written by a “two-time president of the National Emergency Managers Association” noted that “vital legislation” is now in front of Congress “to encourage the widespread adoption of model building codes.”

Honors & Notes

Alterman Inc. was named “safe specialty contractor of the year” by the San Antonio, Texas chapter of the AGC for the fourth year in a row.

Black Box: The company’s Network Services unit won a Customer Satisfaction Excellence Gold Star from Cisco Systems for work done in the U.S.

Electrical Contractors Inc.: The Jacksonville, Fla.-based company was one of 15 recipients of the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, honoring those employers who provide exceptional support of employees who serve in the National Guard and military Reserve.  Other winners included 3M, Ford and Wells Fargo.

Rosendin Electric: The San Jose, Calif.-based company’s “vision in automating quality control and quality assurance using mobile computing technology on the job site” was recognized by the magazine ConstrucTech earlier this month with the Gold ConstrucTech Vision Award.

Contractor Snapshots

DYCOM: The company’s contract revenues in the fiscal year ending July 30 rose 3.5% (after adjusting for acquisitions and a slightly longer FY), hitting $1.056 billion. Q4 revenues were almost $304 million, up 10.8% (again, on an adjusted basis). Separately, the company in August said it bought back 580,000 of its shares on the open market (at a cost of $9.1 million) in the quarter ending July 30.

EMCOR: The company’s Dynalectric subsidiary, working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will install the power distribution at the Faka Union Pump Station in Collier County, Fla.

IES: Integrated Electrical Services ended Q3 of FY2011 on June 30. Revenues for the nine-month period ending that date were $355 million, down a bit from $349 million in the year-earlier nine months. The electrical contractor’s news release included details about a “2011 restructuring plan” that includes the sell-off or closing of “under performing” operations.

LIME: Lime Energy saw revenue in the six-month period ending June 30 rise 47.5% (compared to the year-earlier period) to $43.2 million. The company said during Q2 it began a restructuring effort “to improve operating efficiencies,” aimed at reducing SG&A expenses. Separately, the company said it relocated its headquarters from Chicago to Charlotte, N.C.

MASTEC: The company has a new credit line of $600 million, up from $260 million. GE Capital Markets, Bank of America, and Sun Trust Robinson Humphrey were among the 14 lenders in the syndicate put together to offer the line.

MYR: MYR Group, home of the famed L.E. Myers electrical contracting operation, said it had $335.6 million in first-half revenues, up 16.1% compared with the first six months of 2010. “The increase in revenues,” the company said, ‘was primarily the result of an increase in revenues from a few large T&D contracts and many small transmission projects, offset by a decrease in revenues from several small distribution contracts.” The company’s backlog at June 30 was nearly $717 million, up 239% from one year earlier, again “primarily related to several large contracts.”

PIKE: Pike Electric had FY2011 revenue (ended June 30) of $594 million, up 18% compared to the earlier fiscal year. Engineering-and-substation revenue rose 54% in the year, transmission up 14%, and storm restoration revenue up 38%.

QUANTA: Quanta Services said that its Valard Construction unit and Burns & McDonnell have a contract for building out the Northwest Transmission Line with BC Hydro in Canada. This is to be a 213-mile, 287 kV transmission line.