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May 9, 2008 | Dennie Gaines retires from AECI's Thomas Hill Energy CenterContact : Nancy Southworth 417.885.9246 Photo available electronically. Contact ceoff@aeci.org. Dennie Gaines, former electrical maintenance supervisor at Thomas Hill Energy Center, has retired after 36 years with Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. (AECI), which owns the plant. Gaines joined AECI as a laborer in the coal yard but quickly moved into plant operations. In 1974, he began a four-year apprenticeship as an electrician helper, then progressed to journeyman electrician in 1979 and to journeyman electrician specialist and lead electrician, both in 1981. In 1992, he was promoted to electrical maintenance supervisor. As supervisor, Gaines prioritized project requests for the 14 electricians on the day and evening shifts and made sure they received the training they needed. One of the last major projects he supervised was installing new electronic switch gear on the plant’s three generating units. He said the biggest change affecting his department over the years was the movement to electronics. “Everything was relays and coils, and we still have all that stuff, but everything has gone electronic and is run by PLCs (programmable logic controllers). All the relays are solid state now and used to be mechanical,” he said. He praised AECI for its emphasis on safety. “It’s always been a priority, but the emphasis on safety in the last 15 years has been tremendous,” he said. Gaines and his wife, Kathy, live in Huntsville. In retirement, he plans to see more of his children and grandchildren, put in a garden, go fishing and attend St. Louis Cardinals’ games. Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. is owned by and provides wholesale power to six regional and 51 local electric cooperative systems in Missouri, southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma that serve more than 850,000 customers. AECI’s mission is to provide an economical and reliable power supply and support services to its members, including the new “Take Control & Save” energy efficiency program, www.TakeControlAndSave.coop. AECI is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V Released: 9 May 2008 |
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