Briggs Electric targets mining with Battle Mountain office

Briggs Electric’s recent opening of a Battle Mountain office marks the third location for the electrical contracting firm headquartered at Tustin, Calif.

Briggs has long served northern Nevada commercial clients from its Carson City office, but as the construction downturn began to take hold across the state, Briggs sought to diversify its revenue by turning to the mining industry.

The Battle Mountain office means a lot less windshield time for Dave Legarza, the company’s mining and industrial operations manager. Logistics was the main reason for opening the new the office, Legarza says. He can shave hours off drive times to northeastern Nevada mine sites and also be able to respond much faster to client requests.

Legarza had already moved to Winnemucca to be closer to the company’s mining customers and working from the 1,000-square-foot Battle Mountain office provides a centrally located hub for men, materials and equipment. Briggs employs between 20 and 25 electricians spread among various mine sites working on mill refurbishments, power generation, fuel-tracking systems, lighting retrofits, instrumentation and controls and general mine-site electrical services. The company plans to expand its presence in the mining sector as well.

“To do business with the mines, you have to be up front and center with them,” Legarza says. “The mining communities are very close-knit, and because of all government restrictions and terms and conditions within the mining industry, they are very particular on their vendors who provide services.”

Legarza is just as particular about the electricians who work in the mining industry. Each employee has completed federal mine-safety training, and there are special insurance and safety requirements as well.

“You don’t just get anyone out here,” he says. “It is hard on personnel and equipment. It takes some time to work out the logistics.”