The response and recovery efforts by OG&E crews to a June 2023 storm that caused widespread damage result in the Oklahoma utility receiving an Edison Electric Institute Emergency Response Award.
Despite the severity of the storm, more than 4,000 personnel worked around the clock to get every customer’s power back up and running as quickly and safely as possible. The team replaced 362 broken power poles, 279 transformers and 10 transmission structures. Thanks to their hard work, power was restored to 91 percent of customers within 24 hours, 99 percent within 72 hours, and to all customers within four days of the storm’s impact.
Emergency Response Awards recognize recovery and assistance efforts of electric companies following service disruptions caused by extreme weather or other natural events. OG&E was chosen for its restoration work following a widespread wind and thunderstorm event June 17-22.
“This award reflects our team’s dedication and skill in safely and quickly restoring power for our customers and our neighbors,” said Sean Trauschke, OGE Energy Corp. Chairman, President and CEO. “We are grateful for the trust and support of the communities we serve every day, and we are honored to serve our customers when extreme weather strikes.”
June storms affected OG&E’s entire service area when winds ranging from 55-90 mph swept across Oklahoma, causing 139,000 outages, at the peak. Areas hit the hardest by damage included the Oklahoma City metro, Ardmore and Fort Smith, Ark. along with the northeastern and southernmost portions of the service area.
Source: OGE release