At a time when tariff uncertainty makes wait-and-see seem more palatable than the idea of acting on any bold procurement decisions, at least one utility company is proud to announce it’s already knee-deep in sorting out a robust American supply chain.
Orange, Connecticut-based Avangrid, which owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities in New York and New England, has announced that it upped its investment with U.S. suppliers to $4.3 billion in 2024, representing a 16% increase year-over-year.
The member of the Iberdrola Group has developed a robust supply chain utilizing roughly 7,000 suppliers, sourcing U.S.-made equipment from businesses in all 50 states.
“These figures are remarkable and demonstrate Avangrid’s commitment to supporting our domestic partner network,” noted Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra. “Year in and year out, our energy infrastructure projects not only enable Avangrid to deliver reliable and affordable power for homes and businesses but [also] contribute to local and regional economies across the continent. Avangrid is proud to support American companies and jobs through our supply chain.”
Avangrid boasts a $20 billion investment plan for U.S. grid infrastructure through the end of the decade. This robust investment will draw on Avangrid’s U.S. supplier network to address rising energy demands from manufacturing and data center growth, while ensuring reliable and affordable power for homes and businesses across the country.
Some of Avangrid’s Key U.S. Suppliers
Thomasson Company
Thomasson Company is a Mississippi-based business that makes treated wood poles from its mill in Macon, Mississippi, and other partner mills throughout the Southeast. They have been a key supplier to Avangrid’s utility companies and an important partner in the company’s storm response efforts. Thomasson Company is woman-owned and employs over 100 people at its facilities, showing a dedication to American manufacturing.
“The partnership between Thomasson Company and Avangrid has been vital to the success of our company,” asserted Craig Vowell, sales lead with Thomasson Company. “We are a proud, family-owned company that strives to contribute to our regional economy and supports the livelihoods of our employees. We look forward to future growth together.”
The Okonite Company
A key wire and cable supplier to Avangrid, the Okonite Company is based in New Jersey and is a 100% employee-owned company (ESOT). This ensures that every team member is directly invested in the quality, innovation, and reliability of their products. Okonite manufactures critical electrical cable at several state-of-the-art U.S. facilities, including its domestic medium voltage manufacturing sites in South Carolina, Kentucky, and California.
“Okonite’s employee owners contribute to Avangrid’s mission with world-class products and services. Their partnership indirectly supports hundreds of employees, and every foot of cable we produce carries not just electricity, but the pride of the people who made it,” said Jonathan Havey, vice president of sales and marketing.
Southwire Company
A longstanding cable supplier to Avangrid, Southwire Company, headquartered in Carrollton, Georgia, provides Avangrid with vital equipment for infrastructure, transmission, and substation projects. Southwire has a multitude of manufacturing facilities across the U.S, including Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas.
