Why Basin? Great benefits, work-life balance, and supportive coworkers

Basin Electric prides itself on its culture and commitment to its employees, offering an impressive benefits package, work-life balance, and a positive work environment to attract the best in the business.

Ryan Koch began working at Dry Fork Station in December 2022 as a lead lab technician. Having worked in the laboratory field for 11 years, he made the switch to mechanic technician II in October 2023. “I was ready to do something different, and I have always loved to weld, fabricate, and repair,” he says. His current work entails repairing, replacing, and diagnosing issues on all systems that require mechanical repair. “I maintain daily plant equipment unless failures in equipment are needed for more pressing work.”

Originally from Moville, Iowa, Koch moved to Newcastle, Wyoming, in 2011 to open a welding shop. When things at the shop didn’t go as planned, he began working at the Wyoming Refining Company until a friend working at Dry Fork Station urged him to take a look at Basin Electric. When speaking with his friend, he was immediately drawn in by the salary and benefits. “Compensation and benefits were the big things we discussed before I applied. Mostly things that would benefit my family by switching jobs,” he says.

Koch has worked at Dry Fork Station for just over a year and says the best part of his job is the comradery amongst co-workers. “Even when working long hours during an outage, the group of mechanics I work with keep the morale up and make sure everyone is doing okay,” he says. “No one in our shop is left behind.”

Koch spent eight-and-a-half years in the Air Force, serving in the Air National Guard. “I used to load planes and support bases with fleet repairs of small and heavy-duty equipment,” he says.

His interest in machinery spans to the far corners of his life. When not spending time with his wife and four children, you can find Koch in the garage working on derby motors, cars, and snow mobiles during the winter. Prior to his move to Wyoming, Koch raced in demolition derbies in Iowa since age 16. His passion for the track continued when he moved to Newcastle where he raced mini sprint cars until the closing of the Newcastle Speedway track in 2021.

Koch plans to stay at Dry Fork Station long-term. “With work-life balance and great pay, this seems to be the place for me,” he says. Koch recommends Basin Electric as an employer to family and friends and says Basin Electric is “a great team to be a part of.”