Powerline Press
NEWSLETTER
A Supplement of Oklahoma Living Published by Lake Region Electric Cooperative for its members.
December October 2026 2019
The Power of Prevention Why Vegetation Management Matters An August storm left some Lake Region members without power for several days. Uprooted trees and broken limbs brought down power lines and poles throughout the service territory. Fallen trees also blocked roadways and access through easements, making it difficult for crews to reach damaged equipment and begin repairs. Our crews worked alongside mutual aid and contractor crews around the clock in tripledigit heat.
Three construction crews from Liberty Electric Line Builders joined mutual-aid crews from Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative and Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative to assist with restoration efforts. Right-of-way crews from Riggs Tree Service and Gray Tree also worked alongside Lake Region’s right-of-way crews across our system, clearing trees and debris so line crews could safely reach damaged equipment. Together, these crews replaced
broken poles, repaired damaged lines and safely restored power. The extensive damage left behind by the storm is a powerful reminder of why vegetation management is so important. “At a time when storm restoration costs are at an all-time high, keeping electric lines and right-of-way clear is more important than ever,” said LREC CEO Glen Clark. LREC’s easement is typically 30 feet wide, extending approximately 15 feet on each side of the electric line. Many trees throughout our service territory grow well beyond that distance. During severe weather, trees and limbs outside the maintained right-of-way can fall into power lines, breaking poles, damaging equipment and creating dangerous conditions. “Severe storms can cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage in a matter of minutes,” Clark
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You Asked, We Listened!
SMARTHUB UPGRADE COMING IN NOVEMBER This November, a SmartHub upgrade will allow Lake Region members and fiber subscribers with both services to manage their electric and fiber accounts under one login. Existing notification preferences are expected to transfer to the upgraded system. Please log in to your electric and/or fiber account this month to make sure your contact information is current and that you have a valid email address registered to your account. If you have both electric and fiber service, the email address associated with your electric account will become your login for the merged account after the upgrade. More details, including important dates and what to expect during the transition, will be shared on our website, social media and in next month’s newsletter.