OUC has earned a major national honor: being named the No. 1 electric utility in the United States for customer trust. Escalent’s 2026 Cogent Syndicated Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™: Residential Study awarded OUC the highest Brand Trust score of any electric utility evaluated across the country.
“Being recognized as the most trusted electric utility in the nation is an extraordinary honor because it reflects the confidence our customers place in us,” said Linda Ferrone, OUC Chief Customer and Marketing Officer. “Trust is earned one interaction at a time – through reliable service, clear communication, and employees who are deeply committed to putting our customers first.”
OUC achieved a Brand Trust Index score of 771, the highest of any electric utility included in the study. This places OUC among just 32 utilities nationwide recognized as a 2026 Most Trusted Brand.
According to Escalent, customer trust across the utility industry has steadied even amid economic pressures. But the top-performing utilities continue to rise above by strengthening customer relationships and demonstrating a clear commitment to advocating for their customers.
The Cogent Syndicated Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement: Residential Study is conducted twice a year by Escalent, a market research and advisory firm specializing in the energy and utility sectors. Utilities earning the Most Trusted Brands designation do so by meeting one of several high-performance benchmarks: achieving a Brand Trust Index score in the top decile, earning the top score within their segment, or scoring within 20 points of the segment’s highest benchmark while still exceeding the industry average.
