From the Top with CEO Patrick Grace

Here at OEC, we're coming up on our busiest months of the year. Between potential storms, District Meetings, Annual Meeting, staff trainings, an increase in power line construction, and helping members understand their summer bills, we would typically be gearing up for three months of nonstop action. But as we know, this year looks a little different.

While we wait on local and state officials for direction, our District Meetings and Annual Meeting are in a sort of limbo. Safety remains our top priority, so no matter what the circumstances, we base our decisions on the safety of our employees, members and the general public.

If we are able to conduct events this summer, they might look very different, understanding the challenges we have now. We might have to postpone them a month or two or, dependent on future cases, not hold them at all.

Did you ever think we would be experiencing something of this magnitude? We were forced to celebrate my 6-year-old's birthday last month via Facebook and Zoom calls with family. It will definitely be a time we won't soon forget.

The beginning of June marks 12 weeks of adjusted procedures for us, and we are still able to continue operations as normal as possible. We are still building new service to housing additions and businesses, maintaining our system, assisting members, continuing to build out our fiber network and more.

We are as hopeful as you are that we can return to normal soon, but we understand the need to continue taking precautions. As electric and broadband service have been deemed essential, one thing is certain. We will continue serving you the best we can under any and all circumstances.