BUILDING A LEGACY...

Anyone who knew Dial One Wolfedale Electric's founder Richard Cullis will remember him with great fondness and respect. He was a red-haired Scotsman who was larger than life and a force to be reckoned with, and his passion for the electrical industry is unmatched. In this issue of our newsletter, we fondly recall our founder, who passed away in September – and we acknowledge the continued leadership of his daughter, Jackie, who, with 22 years of experience, took over our company’s management two years ago and now leads our executive team.

In an industry in which safety is paramount, no one was more concerned about the personal safety of his employees than Richard Cullis. He was adamant that safety was never to be compromised to ensure every employee went home to their family each night. Richard treated employees like family and believed he had a responsibility to ensure that they had steady work and a career with a future.

Richard Cullis was a Master Electrician, born in Glasgow, Scotland October 19, 1944. He entered an electrical apprenticeship and be-came a licensed electrician while in Scotland. He immigrated to Canada in 1971 and applied his passion for his trade to pursuing the dream of building his own business. That year, he entered the electrical motor field, and co-founded the Electric Repair and Ma-chine Company.

In 1973, Richard co-founded Wolfedale Electric. In 1982 he became the company’s sole owner. And as we all know today, Dial One Wolfedale Electric is an industry-leading commercial electrical con-tractor.

Richard is the former Chairman of the Board for the Ontario Electrical League and was very prominent in industry associations and governmental affairs relating to the electrical trade. He was a very vocal advocate for change in the apprenticeship ratio issue and his “discussions” with government officials are legendary!

He loved life and all it had to offer. Not only was he a hard worker (hence the Wolfedale “Work Ethic” core value), he loved to travel and was a sportsman who loved to fish, snowmobile and motorcycle. In the fall of 2009, he launched his boat from Ontario Place in Toronto and sailed south to Florida. It was a trip he had always dreamed of making and it was his last great adventure.

In the summer of 2010, Richard was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung caused by asbestos. This is a cancer which is difficult to diagnose and his was not found for several months. Despite his illness, he still came into the office regularly and made a point of checking up on everyone to ensure that we were still focused on the big picture – making Wolfedale the #1 electrical contractor.

...THE LEGACY CONTINUES

While she has been managing Dial One Wolfedale Electric’s day-to-day operations for two years now , we would like to formally introduce Jackie Strachan, our General Manager and daughter of Richard Cullis . With 22 years of experience, no one is better-equipped to lead our executive team and continue the Wolfedale legacy – that of a strategically sound, well- positioned electrical contractor with an impressive amount of work on hand going into our new fiscal year.

Our Sales and Operations teams met recently at our annual Kick-Off Strategic Planning Conference. It was a fantastic opportunity for the management team of the company to centre on moving the company forward with a strong strategic focus and a committed, solid employee base. We continue to build on Richard’s legacy and inspiration and are devoted to taking the company to the next level. We are hosting a series of company meetings in the next month to advise all our employees of the strategic direction for Wolfedale Electric and our vision for the future.

At Dial One Wolfedale Electric, Richard’s legacy is something we are all proud of. The future of the company is bright under the strong leadership of our General Manager and the support and commitment of the entire Wolfedale team. 

Cold weather can seriously impact energy costs, especially for businesses that have to ensure that their trucks are ready to go, despite sub-zero temperatures. Using block heaters to secure engine starts is common practice to guarantee operational vehicles. Unfortunately, block heaters used for large fleets require significant energy to power them and that impacts both your bottom line and the environment.

The good news is, innovative new energy efficient solutions now on the market may be able to help reduce your block heater-related energy costs by up to 65%, depending on usage. Intelligent Parking Lot Controller (IPLC) technology is one of the options for managing and reducing block heater energy consumption. These 'smart' power receptacles replace existing power outlets in parking areas and regulate the optimum power flow to ensure peak performance of vehicles, while minimizing wasted electricity.

Equipped with a microprocessor that tracks temperatures and wind chill levels, the device is easily mounted as a retrofit for a wide range of outlet box configurations. On-board sensors are programmed to regulate power and ensure that the block heater is only operational when conditions demand it. For example, power is cut for the first two hours after a block heater connection is detected, recognizing the length of time it takes for a hot engine to return to a cool enough temperature to require block heater support.

There are a number of great reasons to consider IPLC technology:

• Each kilowatt-hour of power you save reduces CO2 emissions by a full kilogram. So, if you maintain just one, or hundreds, of vehicles, you could make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 levels! Because IPLC technology is individually installed and programmed per stall, each device can deliver power according to the requirements of the particular vehicle and the temperature in that area. This delivers maximum efficiency, rather than uniform power delivery that treats all vehicles to the same service. Individual installation allows for a phased conversion to the technology as opposed to centralized systems that are more complex and costly to implement.
• IPLC devices also offer a quick and easy monitoring system to detect malfunctions with an outlet or block heater.

Wolfedale is committed to working toward environmentally sound, and cost-effective, energy solutions that also make your business more efficient. For more information about how IPLC technology can help your business reduce energy costs, call us today!

Challenge: Completing the largest roof-top solar energy installation in Canada for a call centre in Mississauga.

Solution: Working with valued partner RESCo Energy Ltd., Dial One Wolfedale Electric's expert solar installation team connected 800 photovoltaic solar panels to create the largest commercial roof top solar array in Canada. The project included the installation of two 300 amp and one 600 amp distribution panels. In addition, a 225 KVA transformer was installed to ensure maximum power generation. Producing 165 Kilowatts of power in peak times, the project also includes a solar carport for low emission vehicles. A unique feature of the installation is its flat orientation, designed to eliminate snow loading during the winter months. While the solar array can generate enough electricity to run the current facility, the energy produced is actually fed back into the grid.
The result: a state-of-the-art solar installation capable of generating 165 kilowatts of environmentally responsible, sustainable power.