OUC Deploys Crew to South Carolina Ahead of Winter Storm

January 23, 2026

Utility offers added support for expected power restoration needs

ORLANDO, Fla. – On Friday (1/23), OUC—The Reliable One is sending a 17-member power restoration crew to Conway, S.C., ahead of a winter storm expected to bring snow and ice to the area. The team – 16 line technicians and a fleet mechanic – will travel 500 miles from Orlando to support Santee Cooper, the state’s largest power provider, with post-storm restoration.

The request comes through a mutual aid agreement as the utility prepares for potential widespread outages. Winter storms often bring downed trees and power lines, and the crew will remain in South Carolina as long as needed.

The effort is led by Jeff Cockcroft, line supervisor, whose team includes:

Shane Paras, Lead Line Tech
Michael Atout, Lead Line Tech
Shane Walker, Lead Line Tech
Mike Miller, Fleet Mechanic
Matt Coakley, Line Tech I
Justin Stanley, Line Tech I
Mitchell West, Line Tech II
Darius Irvin, Line Tech II
Chase Crawford, Line Tech I
Brenden LaFlamme, Line Tech I
Chase Englert, Line Tech II
Marshall Watson, Line Tech III
Christopher Yarborough, Line Tech I
Craig Kemp, Line Tech II
Cameron Parson, Line Tech II
Zachery Colgan, Line Tech II

###

About OUC—The Reliable One
For more than 100 years, OUC—The Reliable One has provided 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 a goal of achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 while supporting the Central Florida community with conservation, sustainability and energy efficiency resources.Visit www.ouc.com to learn more.

Latest Posts

OUC Conducts Annual Prescribed Burn
Today, OUC—The Reliable One began a series of prescribed burns in the east section at the Stanton Energy Center. These prescribed burns help reduce brush and vegetation buildup that can fuel wildfires.
OUC Maintains Reliability Through Record Winter Peak Demand
Following Winter Storm Fern, an arctic blast brought record-breaking cold to the south, driving significant energy demand across Florida. OUC’s energy grid saw record usage in St. Cloud, setting a new winter peak this morning at 271 megawatts (MW), surpassing the one set just a day earlier.
OUC Urges Customers to Conserve Energy During Early Morning Peak Hours
With Central Florida experiencing record-breaking cold, OUC urged its customers to conserve energy during the early-morning peak hours today. Another spike is expected early Monday, between 4 to 10 a.m., and even small, targeted conservation during these hours can help ease strain on the grid and support continued reliability.
OUC Encourages Energy Conservation During Peak Morning Hours of Record Cold
As record cold temperatures move into Central Florida this weekend, OUC is encouraging customers to conserve energy during peak morning hours, when demand is expected to be highest.
OUC Urges Central Florida Residents to Prepare for Freezing Temperatures
Cold weather is expected to continue across Central Florida, with freezing temperatures forecast to arrive this weekend. OUC – The Reliable One is prepared to respond to any service impacts and is encouraging customers to take steps now to stay safe, warm, and energy-efficient during this unusually prolonged cold stretch.