CEO’s Message – September 2026

READY FOR WHATEVER
Preparedness is a year-round commitment for URE and the members we serve.

We’ve all seen tornadoes in December, high winds in summer, ice in spring, and flooding in winter. Ohio weather can surprise us in any season. That’s why September, National Preparedness Month, is a good time to talk about the role URE and our members each play in being ready for the unexpected.

At URE, preparedness isn’t something we think about only when storms are in the forecast. It’s built into our everyday work. Our line crews, gas employees, engineers, and operations staff are constantly working behind the scenes to keep the lights on and the gas flowing.

That includes an aggressive tree-trimming cycle; regular inspections of poles, substations, and distribution equipment; and tools like infrared imaging that help us spot hot spots or loose connections before they become bigger problems.

Our advanced SCADA substation monitoring and metering systems also help us detect outages quickly, often before members call to report them. And new underground cable diagnostic equipment helps crews pinpoint underground problems faster, shortening restoration times.

We’ve also launched a Reliability Evaluation and Planning project to review and refine our systems, data, and operational tools. The goal is to identify additional improvements that can reduce both the frequency and length of outages.

Preparedness is also a priority for our member service and communication teams, as we are constantly discussing how information gets dispersed internally so that our representatives can best respond to member inquiries and how we employ best practices with SmartHub and outage notifications to improve the member experience.

As our facilities age and our community grows, we also have to keep rebuilding and improving the distribution system. URE invests millions of dollars annually in improvements such as capacity additions, replacing aging equipment, and technology upgrades to keep the system up to date and support reliable service for the future.

These ongoing investments make a real difference by reducing the number of outages and helping our crews restore power more quickly when outages do occur. But even the most reliable electric system can’t prevent every outage. That’s where member preparedness becomes important.

Preparedness at home doesn’t have to be complicated. A few simple steps can make a big difference:

• Update your contact information in SmartHub so we can reach you with important updates.
• Sign up for outage notifications in SmartHub to receive real-time information when something happens in your area.
• Know how to report an outage. Report your outage through SmartHub, by calling 800-642-1826, or by texting OUT to 855-968-3021. Even if you think we’re already aware of the outage, it’s always a good idea to report it. Your report helps us confirm the location and extent of the outage.
• Build a basic emergency kit with water, non-perishable food, flashlights, extra batteries, a battery-powered radio, and needed medications.
• Have a family plan for how you’ll communicate and where you’ll meet if you can’t get home. Check on neighbors, especially those who are elderly or have special needs.
• If you work from home and depend on uninterrupted power, invest in a small uninterruptable power supply to keep your office equipment running through a blink.
• If you rely on medical equipment or have other critical power needs, consider whether a backup generator is appropriate for your home, and always operate generators safely outdoors and away from windows.

For more resources, visit https://link.ure.com/outage or Ready.gov.

Whether it’s an early fall snowstorm or a winter tornado, URE is ready to respond, and we want our members to be ready too. And when storms cause widespread damage, Ohio’s electric cooperatives can also count on one another through mutual aid, sending crews and equipment where help is needed most. After all, we’re owned by and responsible to members like you. That’s the Cooperative Advantage!