State of the City Powering up a strong community

Powering a Strong Community

BY OCALA ELECTRIC UTILITY

At Ocala Electric Utility (OEU) we C.A.R.E. (Communities Are the Responsibility of Everyone). We connect employees with programs, projects and organizations serving the needs and making a difference within our community. This is accomplished by responding to important community priorities and demonstrating community commitment. OEU supports non-profit organizations that project a positive image and advance a public purpose such as promotion of public health, safety, education, environmental, economic and/or youth development programs.

OEU has earned a Diamond Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3®) designation for the second time from the American Public Power Association for providing reliable and safe electric service. The Diamond RP3® designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. OEU joins more than 220 public power utilities nationwide that hold the RP3® designation. As a locally owned and operated utility, we provide safe, reliable, and affordable power to you and your family. Our service area is 160 square miles. We maintain 1,184 miles of power lines and have over 38,000 power poles. There are 20 substations located within our service territory, servicing over 50,000 homes and businesses. We are delighted to be your hometown public power provider and look forward to serving you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

DURING COVID The COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on our community and those across the nation. At OEU, we helped our customers by providing energy assistance in a time of crisis. Beginning March 16, 2020, the decision was made to

Ocala Electric Utility and IHMC will be adding to the downtown community energy. Together we are collaborating on a one-of-a-kind, kinetic, STEAM public art project; focusing on how art can reflect advances in energy and technology.

suspend service disconnections due to nonpayment. This policy was in effect through June 15, 2020, when the disconnection policy for past due balances resumed. In order to provide financial assistance to residential customers affected by the pandemic, OEU created the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program. Customers who consistently paid their bills on time prior to March 16, 2020, but were furloughed and had difficulties paying the electric portion of their municipal service statement, qualified. A total of $75,000 was allocated to this program through a conservation fund administered by the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA). Qualified customers had a $125 credit applied to the electric portion of their municipal service balance, roughly the cost of 1,000 kWh per month. Through this program, we were able to provide aid to approximately 600 OEU customers.

PUBLIC EDUCATION & OUTREACH OEU invests in public education and outreach to effectively communicate the benefits of public power to our diverse community. OEU is driven by public service and is committed to building a stronger community by supporting essential services such as parks, public safety, roads and more. The mission of OEU’s We C.A.R.E. (Communities Are the Responsibility of Everyone) program is to connect citizens with programs, projects and organizations serving the needs and making a difference within our community.

By sharing resources and bringing awareness to the community, OEU helps customers with their daily choices in conserving energy, preserving natural resources, and, most importantly, teaching the youth of today to become informed citizens of tomorrow.

Customer Appreciation Day returned in October this year. Theodore the Electric Bear is back and welcomed our customers at OEU’s Annual Customer Appreciation Day Event. The event was a success with a great turn out. Customers had the chance to spin a prize wheel and win up to $250 credit toward their Municipal Service Statement. A total of $5,500 was given away with OEU contributing $5,000 and Water Resources contributing $500. It was a great way for OEU to give back to our community during the pandemic.