FMEA Honor Recognizes Mutual Aid Assistance in 2021

ORLANDO, Fla. – OUC—The Reliable One was honored on Feb. 7, 2022, with the Florida Municipal Electric Association’s (FMEA) Restoring Communities Award for lending mutual aid assistance to two public utilities last year. OUC has received this award every year since 2016.

The award recognizes public power utilities for either providing or receiving mutual aid following significant weather events or emergencies, or providing exemplary service to their community following emergency situations.

On April 12, 2021, OUC deployed two line crews to help Lakeland Electric repair damage to its electric grid caused by high winds. In late August, OUC sent a 12-member power restoration crew to Lafayette, La., which sought mutual aid in anticipation of incurring catastrophic damage from Hurricane Ida. But Lafayette Utilities System emerged from the Category 4 story in better shape than expected and released OUC’s team to return home.

In 2021, OUC also continued annual hurricane preparedness and response training programs, plus implemented a severe cold-weather action plan. The latter move was initiated after freezing conditions in Texas last year left millions without power.   

“We are so thankful to our members and their crews who are always willing to answer the call for assistance,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. 

Said Clint Bullock, General Manager & CEO, of OUC: “At OUC, as a municipal utility, helping other utilities restore power to customers after severe weather hits is simply the right thing to do. Our mutual aid partners can depend on us, just as OUC knows we can depend on them.”

Mutual aid agreements enable electric utilities to call on each other for skilled emergency workers and supplies. Mutual aid can extend beyond fellow public power utilities to both rural electric cooperatives and investor-owned utilities.  

About OUC—The Reliable One
Established in 1923 by a special act of the Florida Legislature, OUC—The Reliable One is the second largest municipal utility in Florida. OUC provides electric and water services to about 400,000 accounts in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated Orange and Osceola counties. Visit www.ouc.com to learn more about our commitment to reliability, affordability and sustainability.