Reliable Service Under One Roof

By Alissa Byrd

The centralization of operations allows our new Yankton facility to save operational costs, reduce overhead and increase efficiency.

Change is something we all have to adapt to. That’s precisely the mindset NorthWestern Energy operated with when considering our customers and employees in Yankton, South Dakota.

When planning the layout for our new Yankton office, employees turned to our recent office renovation in Mitchell, South Dakota.

“We reflected on lessons learned from our Mitchell location and adjusted it to make the few improvements we recognized and bring those into this facility here in Yankton,” said Brad Wenande, NorthWestern Energy South Division Manager.

Previously, we served our Yankton customers by operating from two separate locations. The change to one centralized location improved our ability to respond promptly to customers' needs.

“Office staff reported to a downtown location, and there was a separate facility where the linemen reported to work,” Brad said. “We had some material storage at the warehouse, but it was small and cramped, which forced us to have two, sometimes three, other locations around town that we also used to store material. It was inefficient from a materials perspective.”

Centralizing is a positive change for Yankton.

“We evaluated multiple sites during the process,” Brad said. “The one we selected is on the outskirts of town. It has easy highway access for us to get the bigger trucks and equipment in and out, but it’s still in a commercial district within the community. So for customers, it doesn't feel like it's inconvenient for them to come in and pay their bills or ask questions.”

Our Yankton operations used to be spread out across several locations. Our new Yankton facility brings everyone together in one office.

Eight overhead doors within one warehouse were carefully planned to improve safety while providing convenience for our crews. These doors are located parallel across one another, promoting a safe work environment for crews to enter and exit the building while driving forward. This feature significantly reduces the need for backing up equipment.

The exterior of the new facility features a larger yard space for crews to work in while staying within the fenced-in and secured area.

“The yard is large enough now that we're able to store all of our material and equipment,” Brad said. “So we've gained efficiencies in that aspect, because we can pick up all of our material that we need for the work for that day right here at one location.”

NorthWestern built this facility with sustainability and longevity in mind. The building has a natural gas-fired backup generator, a feature not present in the former facilities. In order to prevent erosion and maintain landscape integrity, the gravel yard was infused with a cement mix designed specifically for exterior environments during periods of water runoff. A water retention area is incorporated into the site design to manage runoff, ensure proper drainage and avoid potential flooding issues to neighboring properties. The LED light fixtures located throughout the building help reduce electricity use and create an energy-efficient environment.

The centralization of operations allows our new Yankton facility to save operational costs, reduce overhead and increase efficiency.