OEC is excited to announce that we are lighting up services at various locations in the Laurens substation circuit area.  There are almost 100 services up and running and people are very happy with the service speed and reliability!  There is light on the fiber in many locations but not everywhere because we also need splicing to be finished in these areas in order to install services.  We are hoping to open up service in the New Berlin and Edmeston circuit areas very soon. 

The reason why we have had to jump around in various areas in the construction of the fiber system is because of the way the New York State grants were awarded.  The first grant was primarily awarded in the shape of a cross running through the center of Otsego Electric Cooperative’s system area and it connected 5 of our substation circuits in a big ring. This area encompasses about 300 miles of line. We were required to finish all of the mainline construction by May 1, 2019.  We have met this deadline except for splicing which is being done now.  Every home needs to be spliced into the network in order to get service because this is a Fiber to the Home network. As you know, the weather has been inclement and has caused many delays so far this year so we are trying to catch up now that it is spring! 

The second grant was awarded mostly for the Index and Copes Corners circuits and this construction has to be done by the end of 2019. The Index circuit includes parts of Hartwick, Middlefield, a little bit of Springfield, and a large part of Westford. The other part of the grant is for the Copes Corners (Gilbertsville) circuit and many other small areas in various parts of the system.  Copes Corners includes parts of Morris, Butternuts, and Unadilla.  Much of this construction has been done already but these areas have not been spliced yet.  We have built over 450 miles of fiber in the whole network to date.

The roads where we are currently contacting customers and members about service availability are primarily on the following roads in the Laurens circuit:

East:  Winnie Hill Road, West Street Extension, Airport Road, the southern part of Kelly Corners Road, NYS Route 205, Timer Road and Shanty Town Road, ?

West:  County Route 10 toward West Laurens, the north end of Brewster Hill Road, Peterson Road, Lull Hill Road, New Road, Keith Matteson or Ellis Road, County Highway 51 (part), Lake Misery Road or Hathaway Road, and Starr Corners Road,

North: County Road12A, Gilbert Lake Road(part), Pool Brook Road, Mary Brown Hill, Town Line, Gilbert Lake Road, Card Road, part of County Hwy 16, Bardin Road, Parker Road, and Miller Road.

Many of these roads are partially open.  We are planning on opening many more road areas and we will make contact when the splicing is done and has been tested. 

We appreciate everyone’s patience and we assure you that we are going as fast as we responsibly can under the circumstances. 

If you are not on the waiting list please call us if you would like service.