The Current Buzz

When the Lights Go Out: The Restoration Process Explained


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In Episode 60 of The Current Buzz, we sit down with Clint Mobley and Bobby Herring to talk about what happens before, during, and after major outages — and how OEC prepares for extreme weather and large-scale events to keep members safe and the lights on.

We unpack what “storm prep” really means (hint: it starts long before the storm arrives), how OEC uses modeling and load shifting to reduce risk during extreme temperatures, and why system hardening has made a measurable impact on reliability. Clint and Bobby also break down common electric system terms—like feeders, fuse coordination, and why you sometimes see “power blinks”—in a way that’s easy to understand.

Plus, they share a few unforgettable storm stories, including the time a substation was back-fed using semi-mounted generators after severe ice damaged transmission lines. If you’ve ever wondered why some areas are restored first, what the control room does during outages, or how OEC Fiber has strengthened the electric grid, this episode is for you.


Additional resources mentioned

  1. Operation Round Up Applications: okcoop.org/ORU

  2. OEC Fiber: OECFiber.com

  3. OEC YouTube Videos: YouTube.com/OklaElec

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The Current BuzzBy Oklahoma Electric Cooperative