Paulding Putnam released its 2026 work plan, highlighting continued investment in electric system reliability, accelerated fiber internet deployment, modernization of cooperative services, and expanded member engagement.

The cooperative will invest approximately $8.4 million in electric system reliability upgrades in 2026. These improvements are designed to reduce outage duration, enhance backfeeding capabilities for service continuity, support future capacity needs, and improve the overall member experience.

Operations and maintenance

Key operational activities include:

• System inspections and maintenance – Starting in April, pole testing is slated in the Ft. Brown and Continental substation areas. Equipment inspections (including underground, OCR, and recloser inspections) will also take place in the Cecil, Hessen, Continental, and Columbus Grove substation areas.
• In 2026, Contractors will work in Payne, Convoy, and Paulding to replace rejected poles that were found to be unsafe during 2025 testing.
• Substation upgrades – Herb Monroe substation is scheduled for expansion by Q4 to meet future business capacity needs; Convoy substation is slated for rebuild in 2027, with design work in progress. Signage at all substations is budgeted for replacement due to faded lettering and outdated branding. Substation testing will occur in the Van Wert, Hessen, Kalida, and Antwerp areas. These efforts will help shorten outage duration, improve communication between substations, and enhance backfeeding capabilities to reduce the impact of large outages.
• Vegetation management – To protect the system from tree-related outages, vegetation management crews will trim circuits out of the following substation areas: Seiler, Tillman, Route 14, Herb Monroe, and Hessen. The Seiler substation area trimming will begin in March.
• Paulding Putnam’s new right-of-way contractor, Tree Servants and GridGuards, will perform the work. Contractor vehicles will display Paulding Putnam logo magnets. Additional information will be posted online and impacted members will be notified.

Member Service & Events

Several digital enhancements and member programs are scheduled for 2026, including:

• Website redesign - Scheduled to go live this spring, featuring expanded fiber internet information, modernized design, and improved mobile experience.
• New pre-pay billing option – slated for Q4 for electric members, which would allow flexible “pay-as-you-go” account management options.

Upcoming events include:

1. Annual Meeting Broadcast – Saturday, March 28 at 10 am (online broadcast on ppec.coop, YouTube, and Facebook with $1,000 in bill credit drawings for viewers)
2. Member Appreciation Day – Saturday, July 25 at the Fort Wayne Zoo (electric members only)
3. America’s Electric Cooperatives Political Action Event (PAC) – Monday, Aug. 24 at Wassenburg Art Center, Van Wert (electric PAC members only)

Facilities Update

The cooperative’s Paulding headquarters expansion is underway, with completion slated for fall 2026. The expansion is required to accommodate growing staff, new fiber operations, and increased fiber-related materials and equipment storage needs. CME Construction is the general contractor for the project.

The cooperative has shifted operations out of its smaller Columbus Grove location, effective January 5, consolidating service and operational functions at the Paulding headquarters.

Safety & Training Initiatives

With continued growth comes a renewed emphasis on workplace safety and compliance. Under the leadership of a new safety and compliance manager, Dave Phillips, the cooperative is launching a safety initiative branded 3 Cs: Compliance, Competence, and Commitment. This reinforces a culture of adherence to standards, rigorous training, and shared accountability.

Lineworker training continues through a four-year apprenticeship program at the nationally recognized Central Ohio Lineworker Training Facility in Mt. Gilead.

Rates & Billing

Due to rising wholesale and operational costs, the Board approved a rate adjustment effective on bills members will receive in February (due in March). Residential and general service members will see the flat, monthly service charge increase from $41.50 to $45.00 (increase of $3.50 per month). Key points for members to remember:

1. The cost to deliver electricity has significantly increased—unrelated to the fiber internet project. Between 2020–2024, costs rose 30.2% while electric sales grew 21.6%, resulting in an 8.6% margin decline.
2. The variable energy charge (kWh) remains unchanged, giving members continued control over their bill. Members whose bills feel heavy may contact the co-op for a free home energy audit, rebates and calculators, advice from the energy advisor, or to sign up for budget billing or other assistance.
3. Electricity remains a strong daily value. The cooperative’s residential rate of 12.9 cents/kWh remains below median prices in both Ohio and Indiana, ranking among the ten lowest in Ohio electric cooperatives. The average member still pays approximately $7 per day for electric service.

As a not-for-profit, rural system with only around 7 members per mile of line (compared to 50 or more for investor-owned utilities), the service charge ensures fair allocation of fixed infrastructure costs across the cooperative’s nearly 14,000 members.

Fiber Internet Buildout

Paulding Putnam is constructing approximately 1,500 miles of mainline fiber across its 7-county electric service territory in Northwest Ohio and Northeast Indiana. To date, Paulding Putnam has built more than 400 miles of mainline fiber, with service currently available in areas of Paulding, Payne, Scott, and Haviland. As of February 2, service is also available to areas in Fort Jennings, Cloverdale, Ottoville, Middle Point, and others. 

The village of Grover Hill is expected to open for service in March, with the Village of Payne coming online this spring following weather-related construction delays. Crews are actively building in Van Wert and Convoy, with 2026 deployments planned for Kalida, Columbus Grove, Miller City, and other communities.

Fiber and electric operations are kept separate financially. Electric members will not see rates increase due to fiber activities.

Residential and business packages are available. The public may search service availability by address at www.fiber.ppec.coop.  

Strategic investments for a brighter future

“We are making strategic investments today that will define the future of this cooperative for decades,” says CEO Randy Price. “Reliability upgrades, fiber internet expansion, modernized facilities, and a stronger safety culture all contribute to a more resilient system our members can count on. Growth brings challenges, including rising costs, but the cooperative model is built on shared purpose. We are navigating this transition together, and the result will be a more connected, reliable, and modern utility experience for the communities we serve.”

Members with questions are encouraged to contact the cooperative at 800-686-2357, enroll in news updates via SmartHub, and follow Paulding Putnam on social media for timely updates.