PHOTO: (L-R) Marlow city administrator Jason McPherson, Electric Superintendent Chris Dilbeck, MESO executive director Cheryl Adams, electric crew members Brian Davis, Wayne Stepp, Josh Sheppard and Dusty Fazekas.
The Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma, Inc. (MESO) recognized the Marlow Municipal Authority, the city’s electric department, with two awards in the association’s annual Electric Operations and Reliability Competition. The department earned First Place honors for outstanding achievement in reliability and safety in the association’s “cities under 10,000 population” category.
“Safety and reliability go hand-in-hand,” said Jason McPherson, Marlow city administrator. “It shows the dedication the five-member crew of the Marlow Electric Department have to not only keeping the lights on as much as possible, but also getting home to their families each and every night. This is a tremendous honor for Marlow and a testament to the service of all city employees to the citizens of our city.”
The Marlow Municipal Authority earned recognition for its steadfast commitment to maintaining a safe working environment. In 2024, the electric department’s 5-person team logged more than 10,000 work hours with only one reportable incident — an achievement that underscores the crew’s vigilance, skill, and professionalism in day-to-day operations.
The department also delivered an exceptional Average System Availability Index (ASAI) of 99.99 percent in 2024. ASAI measures how often customers have power by comparing the number of hours service is available to the total number of hours demanded.
“Marlow Municipal Authority’s outstanding performance in safety is a model for excellence in the electric utility sector,” said Cheryl Adams, MESO General Manager. “We are proud to recognize the high standard they set for our industry.”
Adams noted that exceptional safety performance doesn’t happen by chance. “Success is measured by crews who prepare for every task with precision and care — supported by utilities that invest in proper training, maintain accurate records, develop clear emergency action plans, and model safe workplace practices,” she said. “The authority’s accomplishment is a testament to the dedication of its employees and their commitment to providing reliable, safe service to the Marlow community.”
The Marlow Electric Department has been recognized by MESO for excellence in Safety in 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2008. The department has also been recognized for excellence in Reliability in 2023, 2021 and 2020.
MESO is a municipal utility trade association representing cities owning a locally controlled electric utility, generally referred to as “Public Power.” The association’s member utilities provide electric services and electric power generation to some 750,000 people in Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas.
MESO’s mission is to enhance our members’ value to their customers through industry best-practice programs, training, and services. MESO serves municipal professionals through safety, job training, and professional development programs. We believe in building strong communities through a well-trained workforce.