Coming Attraction:

PRECO's New Headquarters

Due to an ever increasing consumer base, PRECO’s Board of Directors approved a new two-story headquarters building consisting of 46,000 square feet in order to better serve its members. Having outgrown its current administration facility, the new building will be built near the current facility on Peace River’s 55 acre tract of land located on Florida Avenue, in Wauchula. PRECO's current headquarters has added very little square footage since it was expanded in 1966.   

The number of consumers PRECO serves has increased to over 32,000 in recent years and future growth projections estimate this trend will extend in central Florida for years to come.  “Electric cooperatives must grow as their membership increases. As more and more consumers build homes and businesses cooperatives must add more poles, miles of power line, and additional equipment;” PRECO’s CEO, Bill Mulcay, shares, “and as a result, must eventually add more employees to serve those consumers.”

The cooperative will use a long term, low interest loan from Rural Utilities Services (RUS) to pay for the building project.  This should minimize the financial impact to consumers.  “The cost of the new building is going to cost each member less than a dollar per month,” Mulcay explains, “which will be offset by increased efficiency.”

Designed to be energy efficient, the proposed building will feature high efficiency air chillers, louvered window awnings, and energy-saving building materials.  “This is a well planned, conceived and designed building that will be certified as an energy efficient building,” adds Mulcay.

Completion of the project is expected in early 2009.

Concept image of PRECO's New Headquarters

Frequently Asked Questions

Q-Why is Peace River Electric Cooperative building a new Headquarters Office?

A- Due to the growth on our system and the new employees that have been hired to handle the growth.   The square footage of our present facility has changed very little since it was expanded in 1966. 

Q-Why a new building? Why not keep what you have?

A-We’ve outgrown our current facility.  The new headquarters is going to be a very cost effective building with work and energy efficiency built into the design.

Q-When did PRECO’s Board of Directors decide to build?

A- In April of 2005, the Board authorized a study of all PRECO facilities.  They examined our anticipated future needs, as well as alternate locations for the new headquarters.  After examination of future growth projections in our service territory it was decided to remain in the central location of Hardee County.

Q-Did PRECO get help on making its decision to build a new facility.

A- Yes. PRECO used National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and MCA Architecture, Inc.

Q-Why didn’t PRECO add onto the current Headquarters building?

A- We did not have enough land at the current headquarters location.

Q-Where will the new facility be located?

A- On a 55 acre tract of land, at the corner of Florida Avenue and Metheny Road in Wauchula, near our current headquarters building.  This site, purchased in May 2006, was an ideal location and the previous owner desired to sell the entire tract.

Q-How big will the building be?

A-It will be a two-story building consisting of approximately 46,000 square-feet.

Q-Are the members’ rates going to be raised to pay for the new facility?

A- The cooperative will use a long term loan from Rural Utilities Services (RUS) to pay for the building. In the future, we will be facing rate increases mainly due to growth on the system in the form of new substations, power line construction, and upgrades to existing lines in order to facilitate new growth and increase capacity.

Q-Isn’t this new construction going to drive up our cost of electricity?

A – The cost of the new building is going to cost each member less than a dollar per month, which will be offset by savings from increased efficiency.

Q-Does the project make good financial sense for the members?

A- Yes, this is a well planned, conceived and designed building that will be certified as an energy efficient building.

Q-Is now a good time to build when the generation fuel costs are so high?

A- Fuel costs are as low as they are ever going to be in the foreseeable future.  Unfortunately, Gov. Crist’s refusal to allow new construction of clean-burning coal power plants in Florida will ultimately drive up the cost of alternate fuels and also, as a result, the cost of electricity state wide.

Q-Will PRECO hire extra people for the new building?

A-The building is designed to handle the projected growth in employees over the next 15 years. 

Q-When will the new building be completed?

A-Current projections estimate the building will be completed in early 2009.