Category: Press Releases

Oconto Electric Cooperative and Norris Electric Cooperative Select Dairyland as Power Supplier

In her submission essay, DeWitt writes, “Earning a law degree will allow me to give back to my community in a substantial way. I love to raise others up and create a positive living and learning environment for others. DeWitt volunteers with various organizations including the UWGB Campus Cupboard (provides free food and clothing), Forest to Brooks Enrichment (serves youth with special needs), and Run for the Trails (annual race to fund a public trail.) She became interested in law while advocating against the takeover of family farms by industrial farms.

In recommending her for the scholarship, Dr. Nolan Bennett, assistant professor in the political science department at UW-Green Bay wrote, “Ember is a thoughtful, determined student with a driven desire to help others through law. Based on my evaluation of her intellectual capacity and empathetic approach to legal study, I strongly recommend Ember for your scholarship.”

Assistant Dean of Students Katie Morois wrote, “Ember played an integral role in our campus community, consistently exhibiting a strong sense of responsibility, initiative, and genuine passion for fostering positive change.”

DeWitt has not decided what area of law to pursue, but says she is interested in cooperative law. Her goal is to attend law school at Marquette or UW-Madison after graduation.

Congratulations Ember!

Oconto Falls, Wis. (March 28, 2024) — The Board of Directors for Oconto Electric Cooperative (OEC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan Miller, as OEC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Miller will assume his role on April 10, following the retirement of Byron Nolde.

“We are delighted to welcome Miller as the next CEO of OEC,” said Todd Duame, board chairman. “After a nationwide search, the board of directors decided Ryan Miller was the best candidate to be the next great leader for OEC, so that we can continue providing affordable and reliable electricity to our consumer members.”

Miller grew up in the electrical industry working in his family’s high-voltage electrical construction company. He has also worked as a substation operations manager. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Southland Utility Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative (CHELCO) where he oversees the day-to-day operations. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems, a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), and a certificate in utility management from Willamette University. 

Nolde has served as manager and CEO of Oconto Electric Coop­erative for the past 20 years, making him one of the longest serving CEO’s of OEC. “We appreciate all that Byron has contributed to the success of the cooperative,” said Duame. “We look forward to Miller’s deep understanding of the energy industry and that he will continue to build on the strong foundation we have and guide the cooperative towards a successful future.”

Despite what some local news outlets reported on January 30th, OEC did not receive a $12.9 million grant to improve and expand rural electric infrastructure and smart grid technology. The real fact is that OEC received a loan for that amount from Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a division of the USDA. We did not receive any “free” money, as the word grant implies.  

Oconto Electric has utilized low-interest loans through RUS for many years. Loan funds are used to complete ongoing work on our system. RUS is one of three loan sources that OEC uses, always seeking the best interest rates to keep costs as low as possible for our members. 

Lastly, OEC will not be getting into broadband as one news article implied. 

For additional questions concerning this announcement, please contact the office to speak with the CEO Byron Nolde, 920-846-2816. 

Thank you for your business

OCONTO FALLS – Oconto Electric Cooperative’s RadioShack wants to bring to your attention and announce that we have made the decision to sell our retail business. Effective June 11, a new Cellcom store will open next door to our current location at Highland Square Mall. We are pleased that we are placing the business in the very capable hands of the new owners who currently own three other Cellcom locations. We know you will continue to receive the best service available as the Owners/Operators have more than 28 years of combined hands on experience. 

    June 10 will be our last day as a Cellcom agent, but our RadioShack store will remain open through July 27.

    It has been a pleasure to serve this community for over two decades. “OEC has decided to put focus on our core business and emerging technologies that are directly related to our industry,” said Robin Banaszynski, OEC manager of member services.

    We wish to thank you for your patronage over the past 23 years. As we close we would like for you to know how much we appreciate your business and support.

    RadioShack is located in the Highland Square Mall, 323 E Highland Drive, Oconto Falls, WI.

Stiles Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 1981) Machickanee Flowage Drawdown

Press Release

Oconto Electric Cooperative (OEC) will be hosting a public information meeting to provide the public with information about the proposed drawdown of the Machickanee Flowage.  The meeting will be held on June 15, 2021, 1 PM, at the Stiles Town Hall, located at 5718 Watercrest Road, Lena, WI 54139. 

OEC is planning a temporary five-foot drawdown at the Machickanee Flowage upstream of the Stiles Hydroelectric Project (Project).  The purpose of the drawdown is management of aquatic invasive species, excessive plant growth, and consolidation of flowage substrate for the purpose of improvements to navigation.

The drawdown is scheduled to begin the week of July 5, 2021, weather dependent and following regulatory approval.  The water level of the flowage will be lowered over approximately 10 to 14 days at an average rate of 3 to 6 inches per day (depending on rainfall).  Once the maximum drawdown of five feet is reached, the water level will be maintained at this level for approximately 70 days.  Upon drawdown completion, the flowage will be refilled over approximately 10 days to a level within the normal operational range.  The total duration of the project is planned for approximately three months. 

Public foot traffic in the exposed areas may pose a public safety risk.  The public is asked to stay away from the exposed river/flowage bed.   Additionally, picking items off the bed of the river, and disturbing sediment may require permits from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  The public boat landing will be closed until the flowage is returned to normal water levels. 

Please contact OEC at 920-846-2816 if you have any questions about this project.

Click here to view slideshow from the meeting.

Information on aquatic invasive species is available on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website:

https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Invasives/

OEC Assists with Hurricane Irma Restoration
Relief convoy headed south

Oconto Falls, Wis. (September 12, 2017)— September 11, Oconto Electric Cooperative (OEC) linemen Ron Friedman and Ben Wilcox along with line superintendent Jack Pardy headed to Clay Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Keystone Heights, Florida, northeast of Gainesville to assist in restoration efforts due to Hurricane Irma. As of Tuesday morning, Clay Electric estimated that 90 percent of its system was without power.

OEC met up with volunteer line crews from ­­18 Wisconsin electric cooperatives­­–more than 50 employees­–to join in Florida’s massive recovery effort, helping rebuild shattered electric systems in the wake of Hurricane Irma’s devastation. Vehicles were dispatched, including bucket trucks, pole-hauling trailers, and digging equipment. OEC took a bucket truck, skid steer and pickup truck.

The Florida Electric Cooperatives Association, a statewide trade group, put out a call for help last Thursday, anticipating Irma’s Sunday morning landfall and the huge storm’s potential to simultaneously batter the entire state.

Line superintendents from Wisconsin cooperatives got word of the request at a previously scheduled meeting in Stevens Point and immediately began planning their response, assessing availability of workers and equipment.

Those preparations were completed during a busy weekend. Early Monday morning, co-op vehicles began departing from local headquarters across the state from assembly points at Eau Claire, Oakdale, Portage, and Janesville. At least three multi-co-op convoys planned to reach Ste. Genevieve, Missouri by Monday night, and Hattiesburg, Mississippi by Tuesday night, arriving in Florida by late Wednesday afternoon.

Participating co-ops traveling southward include Adams-Columbia, Barron, Bayfield, Central Wisconsin, and Clark Electric Cooperatives, Dairyland Power Cooperative, Dunn and Eau Claire Energy Cooperatives, Oakdale and Oconto Electric Cooperatives, Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services, Price and Richland Electric Cooperatives, Riverland, Rock, and Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperatives, and Taylor and Vernon Electric Cooperatives.

The relief mission is similar to assistance rendered by Wisconsin co-ops 12 years ago following Hurricane Katrina. Personnel from 14 Wisconsin electric cooperatives were dispatched over a four-week period to Louisiana on a rotating basis, helping to rebuild a local co-op distribution system that had been almost totally destroyed.

It’s also similar—on a larger scale—to the ROPE (restoration of power in an emergency) program in which Wisconsin co-ops help each other shorten recovery times when severe weather damages local electric systems.

On three previous occasions since this past spring, ten Wisconsin co-ops have loaned out line crews in ROPE deployments to help others speed up rebuilding of storm-damaged systems. OEC was one of those co-ops that called for help after the big windstorm on June 11.

 

OEC is a member-owned, not-for-profit, generation & distribution cooperative headquartered in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin. In 1937, the cooperative was formed to serve electricity in rural northeast Wisconsin. Currently OEC serves more than 9,600 members throughout Oconto, Marinette, and small portions of Shawano County.

Any questions please contact Katie Jagiello at kjagiello@rkm.ca1.myftpupload.com or call (920) 846-2816.