The existence of electricity dates back to 900 B.C. when a Greek shepherd discovered a patch of magnetized stone after it pulled his iron tipped staff from his hands. Since then, electricity has endured a checkered history of mystery and discoveries of great magnitude as well as unmentionable failures. For over 50 years, Taft Electric has avoided the bitter sting of failure by being a current of innovation and quality service to their customers. "We have come a long way from the light bulb," states the company's website. Indeed they have.

The company's highly skilled staff of qualified electricians has proven time and again that they know their work. The management feels that the employees are the company's greatest assets. They are referred to as individuals who possess ingenuity, integrity, experience and knowledge. "Our guys are trained and certified electricians, who know what the customers need," said Dave Norwine, Project Manager for the company. The employees are credited with being the reason hundreds of assignments are awarded to the company every year. Taft Electric's greatest strength lies in its ability to provide quality workmanship by trained, certified and qualified electrical workers. With more than 13 major projects, including the expansion of the Hill Canyon Waste Water Treatment Plant, the installation of data outlets for the entire Palmdale School District and the installation of a seawater system for the University of California Santa Barbara, Taft Electric takes advantage of their good reputation.

"We have guys who have been trained through hands-on experience in their apprenticeships and they know what they are doing, instead of the non-union guys who bid on the project and end up providing poor workmanship because the owners of their companies are paying low salaries," said Norwine.

Their customers have come from every conceivable organization with electrical installation requirements. Everything from commercial centers, office buildings, power plants, biopharmaceutical facilities, oil exploration and production to institutional and governmental projects, Taft Electric has seen it all.

(Above) The Taft Electric Main Office located at 1694 Eastman Ave., Ventura, CA.

Situated in a commercial park, just off of the 101 Freeway and about five miles from the ocean, Owner, Bud Hartman, Joe Darby, VP of operations and Norwine lead nearly 200+ employees from their base of operations in Ventura. The company recently opened a satellite office in Solvang to widen their geographical service coverage.

Taft Electric electricians are members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers or IBEW and the Local 952 Union. Their union requires all employees to receive multiple training and certification through cintinued educational courses in safety and technology, in addition to the initial five year apprenticeship program. Taft Electric utilizes the quality craftsmanship of Vermeer Manufacturing Company's underground horizontal directional drilling equipment. The technology of drilling and trench work has changed dramatically in the past 10-15 years and Taft has kept pace with the shifting times. Where they were using Milfer hydraulic systems for boring, they now use a directional boring machine, which is remotely controlled through the use of a transmitter and receiver. "Using the new technology has saved the company a lot of time and money," stated Norwine. "We have been able to increase the quality of our service because of it."

Services are divided into departments throughout the company. They include, commercial, industrial, traffic and street lighting, data and communications, and the service department. Each department has a chance to work on a unique project that adds to the already overflowing cup of opportunities Taft Electric dips from.

Norwine works primarily in the traffic and street lighting department and has encountered projects which include parks, series lighting, decorative lighting (ex. nostalgic lighting), many beautification projects, Edison facility power, trench, telephone, communication systems, underground utility conversions, and of course, traffic signals.

From scientific clean rooms to private outdoor lighting, Taft Electric has proven that it takes pride in workmanship to get a job done on time, on budget and done well. They have also been known to provide design and construct services, while working closely with architects and engineers.

"Knowing that the project came in successfully and that it was provided to the contractor or agency with quality has been our greatest success," stated Norwine. "When you drive by a bridge or a mall and know that you were involved in that project, it just gives a great feeling of satisfaction for a job well done."

Taft Electric has a driving motivation behind their services. Their reputation precedes them and they must continually measure up to their self-appointed standard of quality electrical craftsmanship. In an industry of such precision and room for failure, it has been a rare occasion when a contractor or agency has called or visited the offices with a complaint on his or her tongue. "This company and its people are very easy to work with, and satisfaction is always high."

What the distant future holds for Taft Electric is uncertain, but rest assured that tomorrow, as well as the coming years, there will be an elevated tradition of service and quality throughout Southern California for all electrical needs.