Ocala Standard

Ocala Electric Utility (OEU) was one of 25 Florida public power utilities recently recognized by the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) with a Restoring Communities Award. The award recognizes public power utilities that have either provided or received mutual aid following significant weather events to fellow public power communities in need or provided exemplary service to their own community following significant emergency events.

Florida public power utilities were honored for their efforts to restore power quickly and safely when called upon. This not only included providing mutual aid assistance following Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, but for other weather and non-weather-related emergencies and outages both in and out of state. OEU sent 11 employees to assist the City of Lakeland with restorations efforts following Hurricane Nicole. Employees were also dispatched to Gainesville Regional Utilities to assist after last summer’s severe weather event.

“Whether the need stems from a huge event – such as the volume of mutual aid coordinated for one of Florida’s most destructive hurricanes ever – to a smaller event that requires an extra truck or an extra set of hands, Florida public power utilities are always there for their fellow public power communities,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “While our investments in grid hardening are paying off in big ways with fewer outages and faster restoration times, knowing there will be someone to lean on when needed is one of the best parts of this nationwide system of mutual aid support. Congratulations to all the Florida public power utilities recognized for being part of that system.”

“We are proud to serve our fellow public power utilities and are grateful to those who have come to our aid in the past. Being part of this national network of support is one of the unique benefits of public power. Community is important to us – our community here locally and the other communities across the country who are all part of the public power system,” said Doug Peebles, OEU Director.

Mutual aid agreements enable electric utilities to call on each other for skilled emergency workers and supplies. Public power utilities across the country benefit from the strong network of mutual assistance partners through the American Public Power Association. These connections have created a reliable system where member utilities both request and help when there’s a need. FMEA is proud to serve as the mutual aid coordinator for Florida’s 33 public power utilities.

For more information, please contact Ocala Electric Utility at 352-629-2489 or visit www.ocalaelectric.org.

Original source can be found here.