CORPORATE HISTORY
In 2007, Doyon Utilities, LLC (DU) was awarded three 50-year utility privatization contracts for Forts Greely, JBER Richardson and Wainwright in Alaska. Following the transition period, in August of 2008, DU officially took over ownership, operations and maintenance of the twelve utilities the contracts encompass. These contracts are both the largest and most complex ever awarded by the Department of Defense. Following is a list of the individual utilities acquired in the privatization:
Fort Greely
Central Heat & Power Plant, Heat Distribution System & Utilidors
Electrical Distribution System
Water Distribution System & Treatment
Wastewater Collection System & Treatment Plant
JBER Richardson
Natural Gas Distribution System
Electrical Distribution System
Water Distribution System & Treatment
Wastewater Collection System
Fort Wainwright
Central Heat & Power Plant, Heat Distribution System & Utilidors
Electrical Distribution System
Water Distribution System & Treatment
Wastewater Collection System
The original acquisition value of these utilities was $110 million (this number has recently increased to $250 million with additional transfers by the government), with a capital expenditure plan of nearly $400 million in the first five years. Doyon’s parent companies have the financial backing to undertake large privatizations and the ability to raise the necessary capital to renew and replace aging systems.
COMPANY OVERVIEW
The utilities privatization contract with Doyon Utilities is the largest utility privatization contract ever awarded by the US Military to date, with an initial contract value of approximately $4 billion over the 50-year term of the Utility service contract. This contract award followed a 30-month competitive solicitation process starting in 2004. The utility privatization was the first time that the military utility privatization bundled the utility systems under an “all or none” solicitation.
Under the privatization contract, Doyon Utilities assumed direct ownership of twelve utility systems at three US Army bases and operate these under a 50-year utility contract, with associate utility easements. Doyon Utilities became a regulated utility in Alaska at the title transfer date, and as such will operate under a conventional cost-of-service rate base form of rate regulation.
Lou Florence was appointed President and CEO of Doyon Utilities, LLC in fall 2019. He works with Doyon Utilities’ Management Committee to provide corporate leadership as well as oversight for day-to-day operations.