The parent company of Public Service Company of Oklahoma and its employees were recently honored as recipients of the Edison Electric Institute’s Emergency Response Awards for Emergency Assistance given in 2020.
The award went to American Electric Power but PSO helped with the honors as its workers in Oklahoma responded to more requests for emergency help than at any time in recent history.
PSO line workers, tree crews and support personnel from around the state spent more than 70 days “off-system” working to help restore electricity following some of last year’s most devastating weather events, including Hurricanes Hanna, Isaias, Laura, Sally and Delta.
“The overall strength and resilience of our country’s electric infrastructure is due in large part to the willingness of electric utilities in every state to respond to requests from other utilities for mutual assistance,” said Steve Baker, PSO Distribution vice president.
Baker said he was proud of the reputation earned by PSO and its workers in responding to emergencies.
“Whether that help is needed here in Oklahoma, or half-way across the country, we’re always going to do whatever we can because we know what that help has meant to us during times in which we’ve needed it.”
The EEI’s Emergency Response Awards recognize recovery and assistance efforts of electric companies following service disruptions caused by extreme weather or other natural events. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process, and the awards were announced during EEI’s virtual Winter Board and Chief Executives Meeting on Jan. 14, 2021.
Source: PSO press release