Latest News

Automated Meter Reading FAQs 
News Release Posted:
3/9/2009 9:35:49 AM

Over the next 14 months the City will be working with Johnson Controls, Inc. and U S Bronco Services installing Automated Meter Reading (AMR) equipment. To better inform and answer questions regarding this new initiative, we have listed frequently asked questions regarding AMR.  If your particular inquiry is not addressed or you need additional information, please call our Customer Business Office at 629-8411.

 
Be Aware... Be Alert... Be Safe! 
News Release Posted:
3/9/2009 9:39:47 AM

Recently in some areas of Florida, scam artist are posing as electric workers. A Hollywood, Florida resident was literally in the dark when a scam artist posing as a Florida Power & Light (FPL) employee robbed him of $200.

 
Agriculture Sales Tax Exemption 
News Release Posted:
3/9/2009 9:51:16 AM

Effective July 1st, 2006, electricity used directly and exclusively for the production or processing of agricultural farm products on a farm is tax exempt.

 
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News Letters

Residential Newsletter August 2008 
Newsletter Posted:
3/9/2009 9:23:03 AM

Residential Newsletter October 2008 
Newsletter Posted:
3/9/2009 9:22:36 AM

Commercial Newsletter September 2008 
Newsletter Posted:
3/9/2009 9:22:01 AM

Commercial Newsletter November 2008 
Newsletter Posted:
3/9/2009 9:21:49 AM
View All News Letters

OEU History 

1887 A.E. Waterman was granted authorization, by ordinance, to light the City of Ocala with electricity.
1889 City of Ocala repealed 1887 ordinance and granted a franchise to the Ocala Light & Power Company giving it the right to erect and place poles, wires, and operate the plant through the streets, lanes, alleys and avenues of the City of Ocala.
1898 City of Ocala purchased the assets of Ocala Light & Power & a new generator and began serving the citizens of Ocala with electricity.
1898 J. C. Norcross became Superintendent of Light & Water for City of Ocala.
1910 L. Boyd McKinsey became Superintendent of Light & Water for City of Ocala. (500KWD load)
1916 City constructed new power plant (size unknown) to serve 600 customers.
1923 City placed the power plant on standby and started purchasing power wholesale from the Camp organization who owned a hydro electric plant in Dunnellon. This plant was eventually bought by FPC.
1931 City extended distribution lines South on Shady Road, West on US 27 to Blichton and East on SR 40 to Lynne.
1940 Lloyd Lutz became Superintendent of Light & Water for City of Ocala.
1952 Burt C. Oliver became Superintendent of Light & Water for City of Ocala.
1959 Completed construction of North and East (Sharpes Ferry) 69/4 kV Substations and 69 kV transmission lines.
1960 Served 10,000 customers and system demand was 19MW.
1964 Completed construction of South (Dixie) and West (Shady) 69/4 kV Substations and Maricamp 69 kV Switching Station and 69 kV transmission lines.
1965 Tom Carey served as Superintendent of Light & Water for City of Ocala.
1965 E.C. Shreve, Jr. became Director of the Light & Water Department for City of Ocala.
1968 A new, separate building was constructed which housed the Utilities Business Office & Electric/Water & Sewer Administration. This building also housed Reproduction (now IT) and Purchasing Departments.
1968 Hurricane Gladys took down transmission lines south of Ocala.
1969 Completed construction of Enzian and Silver Springs 69/12 kV Substations and 69 kV transmission lines.
1970 Completed construction of Richmond Heights 69/12 kV Substation tapping to existing 69 kV transmission lines.
1971 Completed construction of Clyatt Park and Downtown 69/4 kV Substations tapping to existing 69 kV transmission lines.
1974 Completed construction of New Main (Anthony Road) 69/4 kV Substation and 69 kV transmission line.
1974 Added 15 MVA power transformer and three 12 kV distribution circuits at Maricamp Substation.
1975 E.C. "Charlie" Shreve, Jr. became Director of the Electric Department for City of Ocala when Water & Sewer became a separate department.
1975 Upgraded Enzian Substation 10 MVA power transformer to 15 MVA.
1975 Upgraded distribution voltages (4 kV to 12 kV) and power transformers (10 MVA to 15 MVA) at Dixie, North, Shady and Sharpes Ferry Substations.
1976 Added second 10 MVA power transformer and three 4 kV distribution circuits at Downtown Substation.
1977 City of Ocala purchased from Florida Power Corporation a 1.333% interest in the new Crystal River Nuclear Power Plant.
1977 Dean G. Shaw became Director of the Electric Department for the City of Ocala.
1977 Utilities Business Office, which had been under Finance Department, became a division of the Electric Department.
1978 Completed construction of Ocala #1 230/69 kV Substation and 6905, 6935, and 6955 transmission lines, Ocala's first 230 kV substation.
1978 Florida Municipal Power Agency was formed in Orlando. Ocala was a founding member.
1979 Current Diversion Program was begun within Meter Division to investigate theft of electricity.
1980 Completed construction of Dayco #1 and Dayco #2 69/4 kV Substations tapped to existing 69 kV Maricamp Substation bus and 6960 transmission line, respectfully.
1980 Added second 10 MVA power transformer and two 12 kV distribution circuits at Silver Springs Substation.
1980 26,500 customers, 500gwh and 120MW demand.
1980 Decommissioned and dismantled New Main (Anthony Road) 69/4 kV Substation.
1980 Energy Management Division was created to comply with a mandate from the Federal Government to provide information and assistance regarding energy usage to all utility customers.
1981 Changed color of all large trucks used by the Electric Department from white to safety yellow to provide distinctive identification as well as high visibility in all types of weather.
1982 Completed construction of Paddock Mall 69/12 kV Substation integrated into existing 69 kV transmission lines.
1982 OEU's Apprentice Program was approved by the State of Florida and the V.A.
1982 Installed pilot wire relay between substations using hard wire (copper), as part of the Systems Improvement Project.
1983 Took over responsibility for all "White Way Lights" from the City's Traffic Division. In conjunction with this change, a Streetlight Technician and vehicle were transferred from Engineering / Traffic Division to Electric / T&D Division.
1984 Municipal Service Complex construction completed which included an Electric building to house 6 Electric Divisions: Administration, Transmission & Distribution, Energy Management, Meter, Substation and Engineering.
1984 Installed a SCADA (Supervisory, Control and Data Acquisition) System.
1985 Completed construction of Ocala #2 230/69 kV Substation and 6917 and 6920 transmission lines, Ocala's second 230 kV substation.
1985 Sent crews to Tallahassee over Thanksgiving due to an ice storm.
1986 Upgraded Richmond Heights Substation 10 MVA power transformer to 18 MVA.
1986 Ocala ended its contract with Florida Power for purchase of power so it could instead purchase its power through FMPA at a reduced cost.
1986 Ocala, along with 4 other municipal electric utilities in Florida, became a founding member of the All-Requirements Project of FMPA.
1987 Completed construction of Baseline and Water Plant 69/12 kV Substations tapping to existing 69 kV transmission lines, using motor operated airbrake switches.
1988 Employees moved back into the remodeled Utilities Business Office (UBO) building. (3/28/88)
1989 Added second 18 MVA power transformer and three 12 kV distribution circuits at Paddock Mall Substation. All engineering and construction was performed by Electric Utility employees.
1990 45,700 customers, 869gwh and 205MWD
1990 Completed construction of Airport 69/12 kV Substation and 6975 transmission line.
1990 Upgraded Downtown Substation from 4 kV to 12 kV.
1990 Decommissioned and dismantled Old Main 69/4 kV Substation, Ocala's first substation.
1990 Decommissioned Clyatt Park 69/4 kV Substation.
1990 Changed Dayco #1 Substation 10 MVA power transformer with a 5 MVA power transformer with Load Tap Changer (LTC).
1991 Installed first fiber optic (multi-mode) cable for relaying and SCADA communications between Ocala #1 and Sharps Ferry Substations.
1991 OEU employees completed 500,000 hours worked with no lost time accidents for the first time in a Risk Management Safety Awards Program.
1992 Programmable Voice Response Systems were installed for three OEU divisions: Utilities Business Office, Transmission & Distribution and Energy Management Services.
1992 OEU Emergency Restoration Plan (ERP) Manual was developed by OEU personnel.
1992 Added 69 kV terminal at Airport Substation to serve Sumter Electric's Martel Substation.
1992 OEU employees completed 500,000 hours worked with no lost time accidents for the second time in a Risk Management Safety Awards Program.
1992 OEU sent crews to Homestead during a six-week time period for restoration work after Hurricane Andrew.
1993 The March 13th storm was a low-pressure system that spawned tornadoes resulting in severe damage to buildings, equipment and power lines in a number of different areas including the Ocala Airport and Scrambletown. It took OEU crews eight days to complete all of the restoration work.
1993 Upgraded Silver Springs Substation 12 kV distribution feeder breakers.
1993 Added 69 kV terminal at Shady Substation to serve Airport Substation.
1993 The Electric Department for the City of Ocala unveiled a new two-color logo (circle with light bulb in the center and lightning bolts on four outer corners, in colors of royal blue and yellow) and changed the name to Ocala Electric Utility.
1994 Upgraded North Substation 12 kV distribution feeder breakers.
1994 Upgraded Sharpes Ferry Substation 12 kV distribution feeder breakers.
1995 Began analyzing power quality and investigating power quality issues.
1995 Ocala Electric Utility was designated as a Tree Line USA Utility for the first time.
1995 Completed construction of 14 miles of 230 kV transmission line from Ocala #2 Substation to Red Oak Substation.
1995 Completed construction of Red Oak 230/69 kV Substation and 6945, 6965, and 6980 transmission lines, Ocala's third 230 kV substation.
1995 Renovation and enlargement of the Electric Building at the Municipal Service Complex was completed.
1995 A Management Audit of OEU was completed by R.W. Beck Inc.
1995 Electric Utility reduced its rates and implemented a 10% utility tax with the result being revenue neutral to the Electric Utility. These changes were made to safeguard the amount of the fund transfer to the General Fund, to prepare for future annexation, and to prepare for impending deregulation of the electric utility industry.
1995 Renamed Ocala #1 Substation as Eugene Dearmin Substation.
1996 OEU unveiled a new logo which included the name, Ocala Electric Utility, and 3 horizontal, parallel lines all in royal blue.
1996 A Telecommunications Enterprise was created which will function as a division of OEU.
1996 Completed 800 MHz Radio System Fiber Optic Project.
1996 Completed Fiber Optic Backbone System connecting all substations and System Control Center for relaying, SCADA and phone services.
1996 OEU employees completed 500,000 hours worked with no lost time accidents for the third time in a Risk Management Safety Awards Program..
1997 OEU staff members developed the first OEU Strategic Plan.
1997 Florida Power Corporation (FPC) purchased a part of the 230 kV portion of Dearmin Substation and the short 230 kV transmission line between Dearmin Substation and FPC's Silver Springs Substation. This added a third 230 kV transmission line between FPC's Silver Springs Substation and Seminole Electric Cooperative's Silver Springs North Switching Substation, which provided more capacity for FPC, a second 230 kV source at the Dearmin Substation, and increased reliability for OEU.
1998 OEU hired a marketing firm to assist OEU with marketing, advertising, and public relations issues due to impending deregulation of the electric utility industry.
1998 Upgraded Dearmin 230/69 kV Substation with a second 230 kV terminal to Seminole Electric's Silver Springs North Switching Station.
1998 Unbundled energy rates to prepare for deregulation.(first in Florida to do so)
1998 Sent crews to Key West for restoration after Hurricane George.
1999 Unveiled a new, two-color (swirl and print in green & gray) OEU logo with a tag line. The logo was registered as a trademark and the tag line was registered as a service mark. The wording is as follows: Ocala Electric Utility/Connecting the Community/City of Ocala
1999 Upgraded Dixie Substation 12 kV distribution feeder breakers.
1999 Renamed Ocala #2 Substation as Gerald K. Ergle Substation.
2000 Theodore the Electric (Ted E.) Bear was introduced as OEU's new mascot.
2000 OEU employees completed 500,000 hours worked with no lost time accidents for the fourth time in a Risk Management Safety Awards Program.
2000 Dismantled Clyatt Park Substation steel structures for the use at Red Oak 69/12 kV Substation addition.
2000 Added 18 MVA power transformer and four 12 kV distribution circuits to Red Oak 230/69/12 kV Substation. All construction performed by OEU employees.
2000 Upgraded Shady Substation 12 kV distribution feeder breakers.
2000 45,900 customers, 1,200GWH and 300MWD peak
2001 Hurricane Gabrielle resulted in 6,000 customers out of power.
2001 Designed, engineered, and wrote specifications for Ocala Palms Substation.
2002 A new Customer Service Center building opened in downtown Ocala, to house 3 Electric divisions: Customer Services Office, Energy Management Services, and Telecommunications.
2002 Completed construction of Ocala Palms 69/12 kV Substation. All engineering and construction was performed by OEU employees.
2002 Upgraded 15 MVA power transformer at both Dixie and North Substations to 25 MVA.
2003 Established ongoing Engineering contracts with Jones, Edmunds Associates and R.W. Beck, Inc.to perform engineering services on a project by project basis. ( no retainer fee)
2003 Replaced 30-year old mainframe-based utility billing system with new PC-based Customer Information System (CIS).
2003 A Management Study of OEU was completed.
2003 Leased the former Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Facility (ARFF) from the Airport, for future use as a West Ocala Operations Center for OEU.
2003 Ocala Electric Utility was designated as a Tree Line USA Utility for the second time.
2003 Upgraded 15 MVA power transformer at Enzian Substation to 25 MVA.
2003 OEU completed entry of all circuits into a Geographic Information System (GIS).
2003 Replaced old SCADA (Supervisory, Control and Data Acquisition) System with a new SCADA System.
2003 Jones, Edmunds & Associates was authorized to study adding 230 kV line from Silver Springs North to improve system reliability
2004 Ocala Electric Utility was designated as a Tree Line USA Utility for the third time.
2004 Began using the West Ocala Operations Center for an alternate T&D base and for training.
2004 Ocala Palms 69/12 kV Substation was brought on line with the new 6930 transmission line extension as part of Ocala Palms Project.
2004 A total of 47 Apprentices have graduated from the program since the program's inception.
2004 Jones, Edmunds & Associates was authorized to study the route of a 69 kV line to the proposed Nuby's station.
2004 Jones, Edmunds & Associates was authorized to develop a revised license agreement with Seminole Electric to add the second 230 kV line between Ergle Substation and Silver Springs North Substation.
2004 Dean G. Shaw, Director of OEU, retired after 26+ years of service. He served as Director from July 7, 1977 to April 16, 2004.
2004 Renamed Red Oak Substation to Dean G. Shaw Substation.
2004 Rebecca "Becky" M. Mattey became Director of OEU on April 19, 2004.
2004 Ocala Electric Utility hosted the Florida Lineman's Rodeo Competition in Ocala.
2004 OEU sent crews to assist Orlando Utilities Commission and Bartow, under the Mutual Aid Agreement, in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley which hit Florida on September 13.
2004 Florida was hit by four hurricanes within a span of six weeks, from September 13 to October 27:Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne.
2004 OEU submitted forms to FEMA for disaster recovery assistance for two hurricanes which did a lot of damage to the OEU system: Frances hit on September 3 and Jeanne hit on October 19.