OCALA, Fla. (Jan. 30, 2024) – Ocala Electric Utility was one of 16 Florida public power utilities recently recognized by the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) with a Restoring Communities Award. The award recognizes public power utilities for their exemplary power restoration efforts in their communities and for providing or receiving mutual aid following significant weather events or when fellow public power communities needed extra assistance.
Florida public power utilities were honored for their efforts to restore power quickly and safely when called on in 2023. This not only included providing mutual aid assistance following the unprecedented landfall of Hurricane Idalia in the Big Bend region but also for other weather and non-weather-related emergencies. The 2023 Restoring Communities Awards also recognized public power utilities providing supplemental crews to fellow utilities for large-scale projects like infrastructure upgrades.
OEU was honored to provide aide to the City of Williston in April 2023. Ocala linemen assisted in building a new three-phase electric line to help serve the Williston Airport. Projects like these are integral to our surrounding community and provide increased infrastructure.
“Lending a helping hand to one another is a core value of what it means to be a public power community,” said Chad Lynch, OEU Deputy Director. “Sometimes we are the ones to send out a call for assistance and sometimes we are the ones answering. Knowing that a fellow public power utility will always be there for you when needed is very reassuring and helps us ensure we are providing our customers with reliable service.”
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 offer assistance when there’s a need. FMEA is proud to serve as the mutual aid coordinator for Florida’s 33 public power utilities.
