Orlando, Fla. – The Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) recently received a Restoring Communities Award from the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) in recognition of the utility’s mutual aid support extended to two public utilities in 2023. This commendation marks OUC's consistent achievement of the award annually since its inception in 2016.
Among the 16 distinguished Florida public power utilities acknowledged by FMEA, OUC stood out for exceptional efforts in power restoration and active mutual aid participation during adverse weather conditions.
In August 2023, OUC dispatched three line crews to assist the City of Tallahassee after Hurricane Idalia, a category 3 storm, which left nearly 40,000 CTU customers without power. Upon restoration, OUC teams were redeployed to Greenville, about 40 miles east, and collaborated with Tri-County Electric Cooperative to restore 20,000 customers.
“Extending support to each other lies at the heart of a community supported by public power. At times, we may be the ones seeking aid, while at other times, we step forward to offer assistance. The assurance that a fellow public power entity stands ready to help when required is comforting, reinforcing our commitment to delivering dependable service to our customers,” said Attila Miszti, OUC’s Chief Operating Officer.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia's unprecedented landfall in the Big Bend region, OUC crews dedicated 10 days to swiftly and securely restoring power in northern Florida. This recognition honors their resilient response to the challenges posed by the hurricane and their commitment to addressing various weather and non-weather-related emergencies.
About OUC—The Reliable One
In June 2023, OUC—The Reliable One celebrated 100 years of providing exceptional value to its customers and community through the delivery of sustainable and reliable services and solutions. The utility provides electric, water, chilled water, lighting and solar services to more than 400,000 accounts in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated Orange and Osceola counties. As OUC prepares for the next century, it remains committed to its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 while supporting its community with conservation, sustainability and energy efficiency resources. Visit www.ouc.com to learn more.