In 2020, Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) employees responded to more requests for emergency assistance than at any time in recent history. PSO’s efforts to help other electric utilities in their time of need is one of the reasons the operating companies of its parent company, American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP), were recently named recipients of the Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI) Emergency Response Awards for Emergency Assistance.
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. “We’re proud of the reputation we’ve earned as being a company that can be counted on to help when the need arises, and I could not be any more proud of those in our company who willingly leave their homes and families – sometimes for days or even weeks – to come to the aid of others. 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.”
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.
About Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO)
PSO, a unit of American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP), is an electric utility company serving more than 562,000 customer accounts in eastern and southwestern Oklahoma. Based in Tulsa, PSO has approximately 3,800 megawatts of generating capacity fueled primarily by natural gas. It also maintains and operates more than 22,000 miles of distribution lines and 3,700 miles of transmission lines, and is one of the largest distributors of wind energy in the state. Find news releases and other information at www.PSOklahoma.com. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PSOklahoma.
About American Electric Power (AEP)
American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to our customers. AEP’s approximately 17,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 221,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.5 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 30,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including more than 5,300 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP’s family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, AEP Energy Partners, AEP OnSite Partners, and AEP Renewables, which provide innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. For more information, visit aep.com.