MERS CUSTO C I R T EC RS 7 EL STOME U C 59,98 R TE 5 WA 52,58 YEES TED EMPLO ENERA G 0 H 4 W 7 ON M S OF MILLI 4 . ALLON 1 G N O BILLI MPED 9.6 WATER PU
CHAPTER IV:
A
B A L A N C I N G
A C T
1971
1980
1981
OUC develops its first Administrative Policy Manual,
• Charles J. Hawkins is
Grace Lindblom is elected first
elected first African-
female OUC Board President.
written by Assistant General Manager Harry Luff.
1973
1976
New computer-based
OUC lays off 39 employees
control center goes into
due to rate pressures resulting
operation at OUC’s
from the fuel crunch. This
Lake Highland Plant.
was the only layoff in the
UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH AND GROUNDBREAKING EN VIRON M EN TA L R EGU L AT ION rom an energy crisis . . . to a heat wave and drought . . .
1980s marked a period of both turbulence and growth for
Orlando became the No. 1 destination for relocation in Florida, and the
1984 • OUC begins Home
the energy and water industries. It was a perfect storm for brewing
utility grew its customer base by a record 41 percent. In that same time
sweeping environmental regulation, including the establishment of
period, OUC’s assets rose from $245 million to $1.2 billion as
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
infrastructure was added to meet customers’ needs. Thanks to the opening of Walt Disney World® in 1971, Central Florida
Energy Audit
1983 • On October 31, Curt
also became the nation’s top tourist destination; and Orlando
program.
International Airport grew to one of the busiest in the world. With
• Lake Highland
increased development came a heightened urgency to find new ways
Plant is retired.
to move data and communicate. As a result, this time period would see major developments in information technology as the world moved
Stanton retires at age 65.
from mainframes to desktop computers.
• Harry Luff is promoted to GM. • OUC acquires Dr. Phillips Water System.
original group, 13 employees were later rehired.
In the midst of such transformative change, OUC faced a balancing
1986
act. To accommodate rapid growth, new environmental regulations
• GM Harry Luff retires;
power plants, established energy and water partnerships, and
and the need for fuel diversity, the utility added a series of new
Ted Pope is named
significantly increased its water operation through acquisition of the
General Manager.
Dr. Phillips Utilities, which served customers in southwest Orange County near the soon-to-be tourism corridor. OUC — like the region
• OUC launches “Proud
it served — was laying a foundation for the future. At the same time,
to Serve Y.O.U.”
1978 OUC helps launch the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) – a non-profit, joint action public agency formed by 30 municipal electric utilities.
For OUC, this era marked a period of historic expansion that would
OUC Board.
system plants.
company’s history. Of the
it proved to be one of the strongest municipal utilities in the nation by
employee initiative.
1987 • Stanton Energy Center begins commercial operation. • OUC introduces the use of
being the first to receive an “AAA” rating on its bonds from a major rating agency in 1989.
1988 OUC opens first enclosed substation on Robinson Street Copyright 1971 Gary Gimee
mainframe computing.
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1990 –2010
continue for more than three decades. Between 1978 and 1988,
50th anniversary.
1974
1970 –1989
to a more competitive business climate, the 1970s and
purchases five water
Commission celebrates
1950 –1969
American President of • OUC Water Operations
Orlando Utilities
1923 –1949
1875 –1922
in Downtown Orlando.
Pictured left: In 1971, Walt Disney World® opened and Central Florida became home to the largest theme park in the world with hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Although Disney World was not inside OUC’s service territory, the park acted as a catalyst for growth throughout the region. From hotels and restaurants to accommodate tourists to homes for Disney employees, the demand for OUC power and water grew rapidly as a result of the park’s opening.
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