Border States Moves into Energy Markets

Border States Electric Supply (BSE), Fargo, N.D., has expanded into the energy market with the acquisition of Bates and Associates Inc., Grand Haven, Mich., a 24-year-old distributor of natural gas and oil products in the Midwest.

All current Bates & Associates employees will be continuing with Border States. Tamara Bates-Monsma will serve as the market/branch manager, and Rick Hendryx will be the sales manager.

Founded in 1952, Border States had $340 million in 2003 sales and is the 15th largest electrical distributor on Electrical Wholesaling’s Top 200 listing. The company has more than 650 employees and 25 branch locations in 11 states and Mexico.

Border States distributes products to the construction, industrial, utility and communications markets.