OUC History Book

Page 27

MERS CUSTO C I R T EC RS 7 EL STOME U C 59,98 R TE 5 WA ED 52,58 YEES NERAT EMPLO E G 0 H 4 7 ON MW OF MILLI 4 LLONS . A 1 G N O PED BILLI 9.6 WATER PUM

70 I N 19

1970–1989

UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH AND GROUNDBREAKING ENVIRONMENTAL REGUL ATION rom an energy crisis . . . to a heat wave and drought . . .

For OUC, this era marked a period of historic expansion that would

to a more competitive business climate, the 1970s and

continue for more than three decades. Between 1978 and 1988,

1980s marked a period of both turbulence and growth for

Orlando became the No. 1 destination for relocation in Florida, and

the energy and water industries. It was a perfect storm for brewing

the utility grew its customer base by a record 41 percent. In that same

sweeping environmental regulation, including the establishment of

time 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 also became the nation’s top tourist destination; and Orlando International Airport grew to one of the busiest in the world. With increased development came a heightened urgency to find new ways to move data and communicate. As a result, this time period would see major developments in information technology as the world moved from mainframes to desktop computers. In the midst of such transformative change, OUC faced a balancing act. To accommodate rapid growth, new environmental regulations and the need for fuel diversity, the utility added a series of new power plants, established energy and water partnerships, and significantly increased its water operation through acquisition of the Dr. Phillips Utilities, which served customers in southwest Orange County near the soon-to-be tourism corridor. OUC — like the region it served — was laying a foundation for the future. At the same time, it proved to be one of the strongest municipal utilities in the nation by being the first to receive an “AAA” rating on its bonds from a major rating agency in 1989.

Copyright 1971 Gary Gimee

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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