OKLAHOMA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE / From the desk of Patrick Grace
As we welcome the new year, our cooperative remains focused on reliability, innovation, and growth. Reflecting on the past decade, we’ve significantly reduced outage times, achieving reliability levels well above industry peers in our state. While we’re proud of this progress, we know that maintaining and enhancing this reliability is an ongoing responsibility.
Leveraging Technology for Continuous Improvement
This year, we’re committed to continuous improvement through strategic investments and technology-driven solutions. One key initiative is expanding our self-healing grid, powered by our fiber network. Currently, about 20% of our system is self-healing, meaning it can automatically reroute power during outages. This technology minimizes service interruptions, and we’ll continue expanding it where it makes sense for our system.
Addressing Growing
Infrastructure Needs
Another critical area of focus is increasing substation capacity. As our service area grows, so does the need for infrastructure upgrades. Substations are essential components of our power system, acting as hubs that distribute electricity to homes and businesses. We currently operate about 22 to 24 substations, but with continued growth, additional facilities are necessary.
Building for the Future
For example, we’re working to add new substations, relocate existing ones, and expand capacity at key locations. These improvements will help ensure our system can handle increased electricity demand while enhancing long-term reliability.
Continuing to Serve Our Members
Looking ahead, we remain committed to smart, thoughtful investments that strengthen our electric grid and support the needs of our members. Thank you for your trust and partnership as we continue to power our community together.
(Reprinted with permission from Oklahoma Electric Co-op News.)
Patrick Grace OEC CEO
