News

Ready to Respond

Aug 12, 2024

A GRDA powerline maintenance crew at work, installing new conductor wire along a portion of the energy delivery system. Every day, GRDA counts on many employees across many departments, who are trained and up to date on the latest issues related to the power grid, its operations, maintenance, and restoration.

Sometimes it happens because of the weather, sometimes it happens because of an animal, sometimes it happens because of an accident and sometimes it may happen because of an equipment failure for other reasons.

The point is electrical outages can occur for a number of reasons. That is why it is so important for utilities like the Grand River Dam Authority to have experienced personnel who are prepared to respond promptly and safely to get the lights back on. At GRDA, these employees can be found in many departments and facilities. From the system operations personnel who are typically the first to see power disruptions on the system to the field personnel who respond to the trouble at all hours, under all conditions, it truly does take a team effort.

However, the best preparation for outage response happens long before the outage ever does. Through ongoing compliance and safety initiatives, GRDA personnel are planning, preparing, and readying themselves to face troubles that may blow in on the high winds of spring, freeze on the power lines in the dead of winter or come up quickly for other reasons, in other seasons.

Every day, GRDA counts on employees who are trained and up to date on the latest issues related to the power grid, its operations, and its maintenance. They know how to reroute the power around troubled areas, they know the best approach to repairing the damage and, most of all, they know GRDA customers and thousands of Oklahomans are counting on them to do just that.

No one likes a power outage, but when it does happen, Team GRDA’s goal is to always be ready to respond.

GRDA is Oklahoma’s largest public power electric utility; fully funded by revenues from electric and water sales instead of taxes. Each day, GRDA strives to be an “Oklahoma agency of excellence” by focusing on the 5 E’s: electricity, economic development, environmental stewardship, employees, and efficiency.