Paulding Putnam announces 2026 work plan, investing $8.4M in electric system reliability upgrades
PAULDING, OH — Paulding Putnam, an electric and internet cooperative serving nearly 14,000 members across northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio, has released its 2026 work plan outlining continued investment in electric system reliability, fiber internet expansion, facility modernization, and member engagement.
The cooperative plans to invest approximately $8.4 million in electric system reliability improvements during 2026. Planned upgrades are designed to reduce outage duration, improve backfeeding capabilities to maintain service during disruptions, support future capacity needs, and enhance the overall member experience.
Operations and maintenance efforts will include system inspections and infrastructure upgrades across the service territory. Beginning in April, pole testing is scheduled in the Ft. Brown and Continental substation areas. Equipment inspections, including underground, OCR, and recloser inspections, will take place in the Cecil, Hessen, Continental, and Columbus Grove areas. Contractors will also replace rejected poles in Payne, Convoy, and Paulding that were identified as unsafe during 2025 testing.
Several substation projects are planned. The Herb Monroe substation is scheduled for expansion by the fourth quarter of 2026 to meet future business capacity needs, while design work continues for a full rebuild of the Convoy substation in 2027. Signage at all substations will be replaced due to fading and outdated branding, and substation testing will occur in the Van Wert, Hessen, Kalida, and Antwerp areas. These improvements are expected to improve system communication, enhance backfeeding, and reduce the impact of large outages.
Vegetation management will remain a priority to prevent tree-related outages. Crews will trim circuits in the Seiler, Tillman, Route 14, Herb Monroe, and Hessen substation areas, with work in the Seiler area beginning in March. Paulding Putnam’s new right-of-way contractors, Tree Servants and GridGuards, will perform the work. Contractor vehicles will display Paulding Putnam logo magnets, and affected members will receive advance notification.
Several digital enhancements and member programs are planned for 2026. A redesigned website is scheduled to launch this spring, featuring expanded fiber internet information, a modernized layout, and improved mobile functionality. A new pre-pay billing option for electric members is planned for the fourth quarter, offering flexible pay-as-you-go account management.
Member events include the Annual Meeting broadcast on Saturday, March 28 at 10:00 a.m., which will be held online and feature $1,000 in bill credit drawings for viewers. A Member Appreciation Day is scheduled for Saturday, July 25 at the Fort Wayne Zoo, and the America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC event will be held Monday, August 24 at the Wassenburg Art Center in Van Wert.
Expansion of the cooperative’s Paulding headquarters is underway, with completion expected in fall 2026. The project is necessary to accommodate staff growth, expanding fiber operations, and increased storage needs for fiber-related equipment and materials. CME Construction is serving as the general contractor. Operations have also been consolidated following the closure of the smaller Columbus Grove location in January.
Workplace safety and compliance remain a focus under the leadership of new safety and compliance manager Dave Phillips. The cooperative is launching a safety initiative branded the “3Cs”: Compliance, Competence, and Commitment. Lineworker training continues through a four-year apprenticeship program at the Central Ohio Lineworker Training Facility in Mt. Gilead.
Due to rising wholesale and operational costs, the board approved a rate adjustment effective on February bills, due in March. The flat monthly service charge for residential and general service members will increase from $41.50 to $45.00, while the variable energy charge per kilowatt hour will remain unchanged. The cooperative notes that delivery costs rose more than 30 percent between 2020 and 2024, while electric sales increased 21.6 percent, resulting in margin pressure. Paulding Putnam’s residential electric rate remains among the lowest in Ohio, averaging about $7 per day for service.
Paulding Putnam continues construction of approximately 1,500 miles of mainline fiber across its seven-county service territory. More than 400 miles have been completed, with service currently available in Paulding, Payne, Scott, Haviland, Fort Jennings, Cloverdale, Ottoville, and Middle Point. Grover Hill is expected to open for service in March, with Payne following this spring. Additional builds are underway in Van Wert and Convoy, with future deployments planned for Kalida, Columbus Grove, Miller City, and surrounding communities. Electric and fiber operations are kept financially separate, and electric rates are not impacted by fiber investments.
CEO Randy Price said the cooperative’s investments are focused on long-term reliability and connectivity for members and communities. Members with questions may contact the cooperative at 800-686-2357, enroll in SmartHub updates, or follow Paulding Putnam on social media.
