In Edmond, Oklahoma, the notion of neighborly conduct stretches beyond the simple act of borrowing a cup of sugar. For Edmond Electric, the city's municipally owned utility, being a good neighbor means intertwining their services with the community's fabric to the point where the well-being of residents is as much a priority as keeping the lights on. This dedication to community is not just rhetoric, but a commitment that manifests in a variety of local investments and services.
Edmond Electric has been illuminating the lives of more than 95,000 residents since 1908, maintaining a remarkable 97.9797 percent service availability for its customers, according to their website. Beyond keeping homes powered, the utility consciously reinvests in the city to bolster essential services like police, fire, streets, and parks, ensuring that the quality of life for the Edmond community remains high. Glenn Fisher, Director of Edmond Electric, told Edmond City News, "We do reinvest to help support services and programs that are vital to our residents and customers."
The company's contributions can be seen through events and programs such as Luminance, an annual holiday light display that Edmond Electric not only sponsors but also dedicates hours of setup and maintenance through its employees. Similarly, the Energy-Saving Tree Distribution initiative, done in collaboration with the City’s Urban Forestry group, allows residents to plant free trees that can contribute to energy conservation. They also venture into classrooms with an energy education program designed to teach electrical safety, a measure that not only benefits the younger generation but reinforces the utility’s role in reliable community stewarding.
However, Edmond Electric's support isn't confined to city limits. Their crews have aided in recovery efforts across Oklahoma and have traveled to assist in hurricane-impacted areas of Florida, a testament to their expansive view of community assistance. Fisher said on City of Edmond, "There never was a question of if we should help, but more how and when can we help?" This sentiment echoes the ethos Edmond Electric embodies, where reaching out is a reflex, not a deliberation.
The utility has also taken part in the Light Up Navajo project, aimed at extending electricity to Navajo Nation homes lacking necessary infrastructure. Through cooperation with the American Public Power Association and Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, line workers from Edmond have been instrumental in enriching the lives of numerous Native American families with the basic necessity of power. Such efforts underscore the deep-seated culture of service and the shared spirit of Edmond Electric employees, whose work extends the definition of neighbor from the proximity of a nearby house to the breadth of a nationwide community call.
Fisher succinctly summed up this philosophy, "We’re your neighbors, and neighbors help each other. And while we know that providing quick, affordable and efficient power is the primary goal, being a good neighbor is something we really take pride in," as mentioned on the City of Edmond website.
