Protecting what matters most

There are some things we never take for granted in the electric cooperative world. At the very top of that list is people. That includes our employees, our members and the families waiting on all of us to come home at the end of the day.

Every day across Oklahoma, lineworkers head out before sunrise, often into conditions most folks would rather avoid. We run the gamut in our state, sometimes encountering multiple conditions on the same day. High winds, ice, lightning, heat that presses down and storms that roll in without much warning. It’s demanding, highly skilled work. It’s also dangerous.

Lineworkers miss ballgames. They leave dinner tables. They answer calls in the middle of the night. They’ve missed Christmas morning. Not for recognition, but because that’s the job and because they care about the people on the other end of those power lines.

As we recognize May as National Electrical Safety Month, it feels right to emphasize what safety really means. For our crews, it means never assuming. In this line of work, assumptions can cost lives. There’s a saying you’ll hear often: if it’s not grounded, it’s not dead. That mindset of taking the extra step, double-checking and looking out for one another is what ensures our people return home safely.

But safety doesn’t stop at the substation or along the right-of-way. It extends to every home and every member we serve. Electricity is something we all depend on, but it’s also something we should always respect. It’s easy to forget the power behind the switch or the outlet until something goes wrong. That’s why we encourage every member to stay mindful: keep a safe distance from downed power lines, call before you dig, look up before you plant a tree, use appliances as intended and teach children the basics of electrical safety early.

Because the truth is simple. We care about you.

That’s what it means to be part of a cooperative. We look out for each other. We take responsibility for the communities we serve. And we stay committed to doing things the right way, even when it takes more time or effort.

Being “wired for safety” is the understanding that no task, no matter how urgent, is more important than someone’s life.

At the end of the day, getting our people home to their families is what matters most.

By Nicki Fuller

General Manager | Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives