Moore is electric board’s new GM
RUSSELLVILLE – Derrick Moore believes he can make a difference as the new general manager of the Russellville Electric Board.
PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP – Derrick Moore is the new general manager for Russellville Utilities.
“I look forward to the challenges of this job,” he said recently. “I’ll be responsible for the day-today running of the business, managing staff and making sure they function to the best of their abilities, as well as ensuring that all our customers are looked after at the highest standards of customer service and care that we can offer.”
“I feel like I’ll thrive in this position,” he added.
Moore began his career 17 years ago in Decatur as an apprentice lineman, after which he moved on to being a journeyman lineman, then a foreman. Eventually he worked his way up to an electric supervisor post, where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Electric Department.
“Over those years, I worked hard to grow and advance,” Moore explained. “I told them my goal was to be a general manager one day, so I worked hard and worked my way up. Decatur was great to me.They gave me every opportunity in the world to get to this point.”
Moore’s duties in Decatur included working with engineers on work orders, collaborating with contractors on major projects, bidding out contracts like tree trimming, and working with a budgeting team to ensure financial efficiency.
“In addition to that, I took on some management responsibilities, including interviewing and hiring, training employees, planning, assigning and directing work, evaluating performance, rewarding and disciplining employees, addressing complaints and resolving problems,” he added.
Moore said the main thing he wants to be able to “come in and supply our customers with the best customers service they can have and to be able to give them the best power we can give them at the lowest rate we can give them.” He said that’s his “ultimate goal.”
He grew up outside of Guntersville, where he attended county schools and graduated from Douglas High School. He went to college at Bismarck State in North Dakota. That’s where he got an associate’s degree in power technology and a bachelor’s degree in energy management.
More said he went to climbing school in Trenton, Georgia, at Southeast Lineman Training College. After that, he applied for jobs in the electric field “all around,” but added Decatur was the first utility to offer him a position.
Moore is married to Chelsea Moore and they have three sons – Gage, Triston and Braxton, and a daughter, Oakley.
“The thing I love the most is the challenges of doing the job,” he said of his profession. “I’m thankful that the Russellville community and the electric board are giving me this opportunity, and I plan on doing my best to serve the customers with the highest customer service so we can give them the best electricity we can at the lowest rate.
