Paulding Putnam has restored power to around 3,000 members following a powerful straight-line wind event that began Friday afternoon, March 13, 2026, and continued through Monday morning, March 16. The storm, which brought gusts up to 77 mph across Ohio, caused widespread damage — one of the toughest storms the cooperative has faced since the 2012 derecho. 
Ohio electric cooperatives saw power outages climb over 83,000 by Friday night, and thousands more are still without power at other utilities across the state.
At peak, there were 41 electric outages across Paulding Putnam’s seven-county service territory — from Allen County, Indiana, to Putnam County, Ohio. Roughly half of these outages stemmed from AEP transmission issues, notably impacting areas like Ottoville and Antwerp. Paulding Putnam crews documented 40–50 broken poles, countless downed trees, and even a transformer oil fire. Winds remained relentless over four days, making restoration challenging but never deterring the co-op’s commitment to safety and swift recovery. 
Paulding Putnam’s small but dedicated team worked around the clock in rotating shifts, prioritizing safe, efficient repairs. Behind the scenes, our dispatchers were working around the clock, managing outages, coordinating crews, and assisting in making decisions in this high-stress environment. Even with constant calls and distractions, they never lost focus on what mattered most: keeping our crews safe and getting power restored to our members.
Clean up and inspections will continue this week, and crews are ready for continued support if weather conditions worsen.
Paulding Putnam extends its deepest thanks to everyone who made this restoration possible, including:
- Mutual aid crews and contractors, including Frankart Power Line Services, Tricounty Rural Electric Cooperative, and North Western Electric Cooperative.
- Local police, fire, and EMS personnel who managed traffic and responded to hazardous situations with professionalism and care.
- Community partners who kept our crews fueled and fed, especially Millie's Cafe in Ottoville for Saturday lunch and the Schlatter Family for Sunday breakfast. Your kindness meant the world during long, difficult hours.
“Thank you to all members for your extraordinary patience and understanding during this frustrating time,” said Randy Price, Paulding Putnam President and CEO. “We know power outages disrupt daily life, and we truly appreciate how our community came together with calm and support. While restoring power quickly is always our goal, safety comes first, and I'm incredibly proud of our team for working long hours in tough conditions without losing sight of that commitment.”
Additional photos of storm damage are available on Paulding Putnam’s Facebook page, where updates were posted daily during the storm.
As a member-owned cooperative, Paulding Putnam remains committed to serving its members reliably and safely. If any member still experiences issues or has concerns, please call the office at 800-686-2357 or visit www.PPEC.coop. A live outage map is available online. 
Please note that SmartHub is the quickest way to report future power outages and receive alerts, plus make online payments, monitor energy use, and more. Download the free SmartHub mobile app or create an account online by clicking the green SmartHub button on our website.