A different kind of rodeo

The Oklahoma men and women who maintain the power lines for our state’s publicly owned electric utilities came together in Stillwater in late September for a day of competition and comradery. Most importantly, they came together for the sake of safety and cooperation.

The event was the 2024 Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma (MESO) Lineworker’s Rodeo, an annual event that not only allows these lineworkers to put their skills to the test in a friendly competition setting, but also allows them opportunity to practice teamwork across utilities. That helps promote education and also helps prepare them for those critical times when mutual aid projects are necessary, following natural disasters, etc.

During the competition, they climb poles, splice damaged lines, change fuses, conduct simulated “hurt man” rescue operations and work together in other ways. That “working together” is the key.

All of the public power utilities represented at the “rodeo” are owned by the customers they serve, allowing for local control, not-for-profit rates and local resources that match local needs. However, when Oklahoma weather gets ugly – tornados, ice storms, flooding – those small local systems can be hit hard and, often, that means the job of rebuilding, replacement and repairs is accomplished with the help of other public power crews across the state. And even now, a GRDA crew is helping to restore electric service in Georgia, where Hurricane Helene caused extensive damage last week.

By the way, congratulations to GRDA linemen Tylr Smith, Casey Walters, and Josh Brazil for taking third place in the rodeo’s “dead end transfer” event. In addition, many other GRDA employees helped make the rodeo possible by serving as judges and auditors.

GRDA is not only proud of its team, but also proud to be a part of the greater Oklahoma public power team and the work it is doing every day to keep the lights on all across the state.

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.

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