Dave Koeppen and Gene Bishop started Fruitland Electric in October 1980. The economy was not great, but Dave putting up a hundred dollars and starting a bank account, the business was off and running. The business Koeppen worked for was in financial trouble and Bishop's employer was suffering with terminal cancer. Both knew their jobs weren't for long and both were looking for jobs. With a handful of tools, some old ladders, well used power tools, and a Dodge Pickup, one job (Homestead Log) the business began.

It's not known for certain whether Dave was ever paid back the $100; Gene always enjoyed the maximum utilization of his money.

From the start, Fruitland Electric's policy has been, don't buy anything on credit, if you can't afford it do without. There's nothing too big and there's nothing too small we do them all. We've done everything from small to large industrial jobs. As close as Fruitland, ID and as far away as McDermitt, NV and Lakeview, OR. You've got to take care of the littlest person and the biggest person. A person's word and a handshake is good as gold. Strive to make the customer satisfied.

Chronicle of events 1980 to 2002:

1980 Started Business
1981 First Van
1986 First Employee
1993 First office/warehouse 200 W First Street
1993 Eight employees, Five vans, one bucket truck, one cargo truck
1998 New office/warehouse 424 SW 3rd Street
2002 17 employees, 11 vans, 2 bucket trucks and one digger derrick truck
2002 UL508 Panel Shop