Florida-based public power utility OUC has once again delivered the highest electric reliability in the state, according to 2024 data submitted to the Florida Public Service Commission by investor-owned utilities.
OUC’s quarter-of-a-million customers experienced the shortest average interruption time of these Florida utilities. The key factors in OUC earning the title of most reliable include grid hardening and other proactive infrastructure improvement efforts, as well as faster outage restoration.
“This recognition is a tribute to our 1,300 talented employees who work relentlessly to ensure we’re the reliable one,” said Linda Ferrone, OUC Chief Customer and Marketing Officer. “So, as we move into our second century of service, we remain committed to maintaining reliability and resiliency that our customers expect and deserve as we build a clean energy future.”
OUC’s electric service was more reliable than the investor-owned utility companies across the state in 2024 in key performance areas that measure overall electric reliability:
System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI): Measures the average amount of time a customer is without power during a year, excluding hurricanes. SAIDI is considered the best overall way to measure the reliability of electric service to customers in the industry. By this measure, OUC is 14% more reliable than the next closest finisher.
Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI): Represents the average time required to restore service when an outage does happen. OUC is 25% faster than the closest next finisher at restoring outages.
OUC has also exhibited significant improvement in reliability when compared to its own performance in past years. In terms of SAIDI, the utility had its best year since 2015. And CAIDI improved by 26.8% compared to 2023.
In addition to reliability, OUC continues to focus on innovation for added resiliency, especially in areas prone to outages. The utility’s smart grid devices prevented more than 54,000 outages last year, including during strong storms.
OUC’s top showing in these key indicators was the result of its investment in strengthening its electric grid through superior system design, rigorous maintenance schedule and installation of new infrastructure and technology, it noted.
• OUC has several major transmission line projects underway, including a new 230 kV line to meet growing electric demands of customers in St. Cloud and southeastern Orlando, and another connecting west St. Cloud with the newly acquired Osceola Generating Station. Undergrounding of a transmission line along Robinson Street was completed in January 2025.
• OUC maintains 3,027 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines over its 419-square-mile electric service area, with 67% of its system underground. Annual inspections of overhead infrastructure include 6,500 utility poles and replacement of wooden poles with concrete poles, when necessary, as well as vegetation line clearance and tree trimming along 430 miles of overhead lines each year.
• Among smart grid devices designed to limit the frequency and duration of service disruptions, there are 1,369 TripSavers and 87 three-phase electronic reclosers that restore power automatically after temporary interruptions in service. There are also seven FLISR (Fault Location, Isolation, Service Restoration) systems in service that automatically isolate outages so fewer customers are without power and locate the source of outages for faster restoration.
In addition to its ongoing reliability and resiliency initiatives, OUC’s team works swiftly to address outages from storms, including during the 2024 hurricane season that featured above-average severe weather.
When Hurricane Milton hit Florida in October, more than 89,000 OUC customers lost power; however, crews completely restored electricity within 72 hours.
