40 YEARS OF ELECTRICAL SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS

Muth Electric is celebrating 40 years of business in 2010. From its first day of operation, Muth Electric has been growing and changing. Formed in 1970 by Dick and Darlene Muth, it has grown from a two-employee company, to one with over 300 employees in nine locations across South Dakota and in Omaha, Nebraska. Muth Electric's gross sales have reached 60 million dollars.

The start of Muth Electric involved the wiring of homes, farms, and minor commercial electrical work. During the 1970's, Muth Electric became involved in the electrical wiring of many apartment buildings being constructed across South Dakota – from 4 to 80 units in size. Muth Electric has done over 8,000 apartments in the past 40 years.

Muth Electric's scope of work has since evolved into large commercial and industrial work including hospitals, water and waste water treatment facilities, correctional facilities, airport runway lighting, roadway lighting, motel complexes, industrial plants, military facilities, schools, medical clinics, office buildings and major retail stores. Muth Electric has been involved in design/build teams for customers in all types of work.

The growth of Muth Electric has been steady and broad shown by the following timeline:

1970: Muth Electric begins operation
1974: A division office in Valley Springs opened, which was later moved to Sioux Falls in 1978
1978: A division office opened in Watertown
1982: A division office opened in Huron
1984: A division office opened in Rapid City
1989: The current corporate office at 400 North Rowley Street in Mitchell was purchased
1998: Muth Electric joined IES
1999: Muth Technology division was opened
2000: Midlands Electric of Omaha, Nebraska became a division of Muth Electric
2000: An office in Aberdeen was opened
2002: Muth Electric becomes independent of IES; Omaha division (formerly Midlands Electric) is purchased from IES and changes name to Muth Electric
2009: An office in Brookings was opened

Each office has its own team of electrical service experts, fleet of service vehicles, and a complete inventory of parts and equipment - all for the purpose of providing the best in electrical service to our customers.

Customer service is stressed throughout Muth Electric. This is stressed through the slogan that is used in each of our promotions that states; "Professional Answers for All Your Electrical Needs." This statement is backed up with a two-year guarantee on all our work in the Service Department and on Design Build Projects. To further serve our customers, a 24-hour, seven days a week emergency service network was started. This allows our customers, anywhere, to access our service department when they need it most, no matter what time of day.

Fast and accurate estimating is done by the latest computerized technology. The addition of CAD software to our design build department helps us to better serve our customer’s needs. Weekly project management and job costing reports are computed from the new software. Our service department depends on computerized billing for speed and accuracy.

In 2008, our twenty-year safety program was updated. The history of Muth Electric, Inc. has included many safety awards from the organizations to which we belong. Our updated safety process includes additional training, team incentives, recognition and enforcement. Our safety process has worked because our employees care and show a positive attitude toward safety. Many of our employees have joined the "7,000 Hour Club" by working 7,000 consecutive hours without a reportable injury. A number have attained 35,000 and now 42,000 hours (over 20 years) worked without a reportable injury.

For nearly 20 years, Muth Electric, Inc has embraced a "Total Quality Team" concept. In 2007 the concept was strengthened with broader “Lean Construction” principles. This “Lean and Quality Team” process brings all employees together to provide the quality service that our customers expect and in a lean and efficient manner. Regular training is provided to build skills in areas of efficient working methods our customers need in this quickly changing world. Also, ideas from our employee suggestion system are rewarded and put into action.

In 1996, a prefabrication shop was added to more efficiently serve our customers. It allows our work force to be more efficient so the needs of our customers are met at an overall lower cost.

For ten years we have had a separate division for our data and technology cabling operations. The work of Muth Technology is expanding as businesses see the need for more complex computerized and telephone networks.

The team of employees at Muth Electric has played the most important part in the growth and advancement of our company. Their extra effort and desire for a new challenge helped Muth Electric to attain a finished project that has encouraged growth and expansion. The employees at Muth Electric have an overall goal to do first what is best for the customer. This has been very instrumental in the success of Muth Electric.

As we reach 40 years in business, Muth Electric looks forward to many more years of serving customers. In order for this to happen, we need the continued efforts of our employees that are making their careers a success within our company. We thank you for your interest in Muth Electric.

Dick Muth
President
MUTH ELECTRIC, INC.