Manager Articles

OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING

AUGUST 2026

Behind the scenes: building a stronger cooperative

When you flip a switch, charge your phone, or power your home, you expect electricity to be there. At Darke Rural Electric Cooperative, we understand that providing safe, reliable, and affordable electricity is more than a service. It is our responsibility.

While restoring power after storms is often the most visible part of what we do, much of the work that supports reliability happens behind the scenes every day. Our employees are continually maintaining equipment, planning for future needs, and investing in improvements that help strengthen the electric system our members depend on.

One of our largest ongoing initiatives is the implementation of a new digital mapping system. Over the past two years, every pole, transformer, line, and piece of equipment on our system has been located and mapped using GPS coordinates. That work is now largely complete, and we are moving into the next phase of the project.

Over the coming months, employees throughout the cooperative will be training on new software and learning how to utilize the detailed information collected during the mapping process. New reporting tools and system data will provide greater visibility into our electric infrastructure and help improve decision-making across multiple departments. This implementation will affect many areas of the cooperative and will take time to fully integrate, but the long-term benefits will help us operate more efficiently and better serve our members.

At the same time, we continue our ongoing efforts to maintain and improve the infrastructure that delivers power to your homes, farms, and businesses. Through routine inspections and maintenance programs, we identify equipment that needs attention and replace it before problems occur. Taking a proactive approach helps us maintain reliability and avoid unexpected interruptions whenever possible.

Vegetation management also remains an important part of maintaining our system. Trees and branches continue to be one of the leading causes of outages, particularly during severe weather. Our crews and contractors work throughout the year to keep rights-of-way clear and reduce the potential for service disruptions.

We are also looking ahead to future needs within our service territory. Planning efforts continue for a new substation in Preble County, a project that will help strengthen our electric system, improve reliability, and support future growth. Projects of this size require years of planning and coordination, but they are essential to ensuring the cooperative is prepared to meet the needs of our members for years to come.

Just as important as investing in equipment and technology is investing in people. Today, apprentice linemen make up a good portion of our line crew. These individuals are developing the skills and experience necessary to safely operate and maintain our electric system for years to come. Their commitment to learning, combined with the knowledge and mentorship of our experienced employees, helps ensure a strong future for our cooperative.

Safety remains at the center of everything we do. Our employees regularly participate in training programs, emergency response exercises, and continuing education opportunities to ensure they are prepared to respond safely and effectively whenever called upon.

While much of this work takes place behind the scenes, its purpose is simple: making sure our members have the reliable electric service they count on every day.