Category Archives: General Announcements

Pennyrile Rural Electric in Christian County Presented Governor’s Safety and Health Award

Worked 500,228 without lost-time injury or illness

Hopkinsville, Ky. (August 16, 2018) – Labor Cabinet Deputy Secretary Mike Nemes visited Pennyrile Rural Electric today to present a hard earned Governor’s Safety and Health Award. Pennyrile worked 500,228 hours without lost-time injury or illness.

“On behalf of Governor Matt Bevin and the Labor Cabinet, I want to congratulate Pennyrile Rural Electric on this remarkable achievement,” Labor Secretary David A. Dickerson stated. “Promoting workplace safety across the Commonwealth is our NO. 1 priority, and the people and processes in place at Pennyrile Rural Electric make it easy to showcase their success as an example for other businesses to follow.”

The Pennyrile Rural Electric Cooperative first began providing electricity in 1937, when it powered 175 homes in Christian County. The cooperative now serves more than 48,000 members in nine counties, including Christian, Trigg, Logan, Todd, Muhlenberg, Lyon, Caldwell, Butler and Simpson. The cooperative’s main office is in Hopkinsville, with branch offices in Cadiz, Elkton and Russellville. The cooperative’s 111 employees work together every day to maintain over 5,000 miles of power lines across nine counties.

“Safety is an integral part of Pennyrile Electric that requires an unwavering commitment to achieve excellence,” said President and CEO, Greg Grissom. “This award is well-deserved, and I applaud everyone for their continual commitment to the safety and well-being of their fellow employees.”

“Pennyrile Rural Electric is a great corporate citizen serving Christian County and beyond,” said Senator Whitney Westerfield. “I’m proud of their commitment not only to exceptional customer service, but also employee safety that earned them this recognition. I would like to thank the cabinet for acknowledging outstanding employers like this.”

“It’s no surprise that a company such as Pennyrile Rural Electric received this award,” said Rep. Walker Thomas. “The company takes great pride in its workplace safety practices.”

The Kentucky Labor Cabinet presents the Governor’s Safety and Health Award to highlight outstanding safety and health performance in Kentucky’s workplaces. A business may qualify for the award if its employees achieve a required number of hours worked without experiencing a lost-time injury or illness. The required number of hours is dependent upon the number of employees.

Alan Gates has been selected as Pennyrile Electric’s next President and Chief Executive Officer.

The cooperative’s Board of Directors announced their decision this morning at the monthly board meeting to name Alan Gates as Pennyrile Electric’s President & CEO. Gates, who has most recently filled the role of vice president of operations and technical services, has held several positions throughout his tenure. Gates was hired in 1989 as an engineering aide. He soon moved to the position of substation technician and later promoted to manager of technical services.

Jimmy Futrell, chairman of the board of directors, says, “We knew, with the strength of our internal employees, we could find our next CEO from within the cooperative. Alan has been instrumental in several positive changes the cooperative has made over his years of employment. We are confident in his ability to lead the cooperative in the years ahead.”

“I want to thank the board of directors for giving me such a great opportunity,” Gates said. “Pennyrile Electric is a strong organization with great employees. I look forward to serving our membership and continuing our mission to provide safe reliable electricity.”

Alan resides in Hopkinsville, Kentucky with his wife, Ashley. They have two children, Marley, 21, and Latham, 17.