In a press release Owatonna Public Utilities (OPU) announced that  employees, Matt Clements and Tony Hartle, joined with crews from over 17 other Municipal Utilities across Minnesota providing mutual aid in Kissimmee Florida to help restore power in the wake of Hurricane Irma. The OPU crew joins crews from Alexandria, Anoka, Austin, Brainerd, Chaska, Elk River, Grand Rapids, Moorhead, Missouri River Energy Services, New Ulm, Redwood Falls, Rochester, St. James, Shakopee, Sleepy Eye, Marshal, and MMUA.
Minnesota Municipal Utility Association (MMUA) is coordinating and leading mutual aid efforts from Municipal Utilities across Minnesota. More than 25 trucks, including boom trucks, digger derricks, and support pickups, were part of the convoy that left from Rochester Public Utilities on Saturday, September 9th.
Mutual aid efforts are extremely important following large storms and natural disasters. It provides the ability to bring in additional line crews to assist in restoring power to large areas. At last report over 9 million people out of power in Florida. With Hurricane Irma following on the heels of Hurricane Harvey, many line crews in areas closer to Florida have already been assisting in efforts to restore power in Texas, requiring mutual aid from other states around the country. Minnesota is joined with Michigan, Nebraska, Indiana, Illinois, and others to stage mutual aid efforts in the most efficient and effective way possible.
OPU is a municipally-owned utility providing electric, water, and natural gas services in Owatonna, MN. More information is available at www.owatonnautilities.com.

Power lines on blue sky.
Tomasz Wyszoamirski
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