Olney Home to New Headquarters

Olney -- New headquarters for the operation of Utility Safety and Design for West Central Energy and Illinois Gas Company are planned for Olney, Illinois.

Utilities Safety and Design (U.S.D.I.), its subsidiary West Central Energy (W.C.E.) and Illinois Gas Company announce plans for a $1,200,000 project, involving a $900,000 complex, to be headquarters for operations of all three companies. This project is planned to begin during the spring or summer of 2002 and to be completed during the summer or fall of 2003. The planned complex would be located on the corner of Miller Drive and Illinois Route 130 in Olney's West Industrial Park.

This project would provide office and operations space for the rapidly expanding U.S.D.I. and W.C.E. companies. Their operations involve engineering, construction and technical services for natural gas utilities in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Kentucky. The combined companies now employ more than thirty people and have an annual payroll of more than $1,300,000. This facility would consolidate operations now distributed in four separate, overcrowded and costly locations and allow for continued expansion for these growing businesses in Olney.

Illinois Gas Company is a partner in this venture and would consolidate its operations and customer services for Richland, Lawrence, and Jasper counties into this new complex. Having a single customer service, operations and headquarters complex would substantially reduce the utility's operating cost allowing for continued low rates.

Roger C. Avery, Board Chairman of U.S.D.I. and W.C.E., and President of Illinois Gas, says "We are very excited about this project. We believe that is not only in the best interests of the companies and their employees, but of Olney as well. This project is essential if U.S.D.I. and W.C.E. are to continue their rapid expansion. We expect 40% growth for 2001 and similar growth next year. Olney is the ideal location for this expansion, centered close to our current and potential customers. At the same time, we want to assure residents of Richland, Lawrence and Jasper Counties that this consolidation will not change the emphasis of Illinois Gas on customer service. We will continue to serve our customers on an individual basis as we have in the past."