In August 2018, the American Public Power Association (APPA) presented OUC with a Mutual Aid Commendation. The award recognizes public power utilities that have answered the call for assistance and helped other communities in restoring power to customers.
The honor comes after OUC sent a crew of engineers, line technicians and fleet personnel to Puerto Rico in November 2017 to assist with power restoration after Hurricane Maria ravaged the island.
What Is Mutual Aid?
This type of assistance is common among public power utilities like OUC. When Hurricane Irma cut power to nearly 7 million Floridians, municipally owned electric companies from around the nation brought trucks, crews and supplies to the state to help with the massive restoration effort.
