From the Top with CEO Patrick Grace

A lot has changed since you received our last magazine, and I know we are all feeling the effects of COVID-19 by now. I wanted to take this time to reassure you we are still here, taking care of business to ensure your lights stay on and your internet stays connected.

OEC is considered critical infrastructure, which means that no matter what happens, we will still be able to meet your needs. Our mission of providing safe, reliable, affordable electricity continues, even in times such as this.

While we continue to ensure things keep running smoothly for OEC and OEC Fiber, we are taking precautions for the safety of our employees. We have closed our lobbies to the public and equipped as much of our staff as possible to work remotely. While some human contact is unavoidable, we are utilizing technology to conduct meetings virtually so we can continue providing you the best service possible and bringing high-speed broadband where no one else will.

Keep in mind the situation is changing rapidly, and additional measures might have to be taken. I encourage you to stay connected with us via social media (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram) or visit www.okcoop.org/coronavirus for the latest updates.

I would also like to take this time to recognize our lineworkers. April 13 is National Lineworker Appreciation Day, and the job itself continues to be ranked among the top 10 most dangerous jobs on multiple lists. We do not take this lightly and work hard to keep safety at the forefront of our priorities. Next time you see an OEC lineman, be sure to give him a "thank you" for all the work he does to make sure your lights (and TVs, smart devices, air conditioners, etc.) stay on.