News > We Work for You – Engineering & Operations Support

We Work for You – Engineering & Operations Support

October 2025

At Stearns Electric Association, our mission is member focused. In everything we do, a team of dedicated employees works behind the scenes on behalf of our member-consumers. 

When you think of the Cooperative, you might envision our lineworkers maintaining power lines or restoring power when the lights go out. With nearly 29,000 member-consumers and 4,300 miles of line, managing the Cooperative’s distribution network is truly a team effort. Our engineering and operations (E&O) support team plays a vital role in that effort, assisting with outage restoration, new electric service setup, system monitoring and field crew coordination. 

KEY DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONS
The E&O support team works closely with our engineering, operations, finance and information technology departments. Core responsibilities include: 

• Efficient outage management 
• New electrical service and alterations of service 
• Appointment scheduling with membership 
• Distribution system and crew location monitoring 
• Inventory and equipment management 

“Whether it’s coordinating outages, handling service requests or ensuring smooth communication across multiple teams, each day brings something different. While the variety keeps our daily responsibilities interesting, it also requires a lot of adaptability and focus to ensure that no task is overlooked.” 

ELECTRICAL SERVICE COORDINATION
If you’ve built a house in the Cooperative’s service territory or modified the electric service at your existing home, farm or business, you’ve likely worked with our E&O support team. 

Our mission is to work with and on behalf of our members. For any electrical service needs, the E&O support team keeps you informed every step of the way. They collaborate with our line superintendent to coordinate projects with members, electricians and crews, ensuring all work is completed safely and efficiently. 

SYSTEM MONITORING & OUTAGE MANAGEMENT
The E&O support team continually monitors the distribution system and weather conditions. During outages, they shift priorities to assist in the restoration process, serving as crucial safety partners to keep responding field crews informed and safe. Additionally, the E&O support team answers many of the outage calls that come from our members. 

Behind the scenes, the E&O support team constantly monitors the Cooperative’s Outage Management System (OMS). This technology, along with meter communication software, allows the team to quickly identify and provide insight into potential issues at specific locations within our service territory. These system monitoring tools help the E&O support team localize impacted outage areas, identify potential sources of an outage and dispatch appropriate line crews to ensure a safe and timely response. 

Following every outage, the E&O support team focuses on post-outage reliability. They evaluate outage times and causes, and perform follow-up action as needed to prevent future issues. This review provides valuable information to our engineering department in identifying areas on our distribution system which may require maintenance or upgrades. 

“One of the most rewarding parts of my job is assisting during large outages, especially in dispatching. Being able to quickly coordinate resources, relay vital information to the crews and ensure everything runs smoothly gives me a sense of accomplishment. It’s rewarding to know that my work directly contributes to restoring power and helping our members during crucial times.”

LINE CREW DISPATCHING AND COMMUNICATION
Stearns Electric values safety for both our employees and the communities we serve. Clear communication between the line crews and the E&O support team is essential to maintaining safe and efficient operations. During outage restoration, the E&O support team coordinates responding crews and relays any important information or details. They are in constant communication, which helps avoid misunderstandings, reduce downtime and enhance overall safety throughout the entire restoration process. 

Additionally, the E&O support team oversees crews performing switching operations, back feeding power or managing planned outages ensuring all crews remain safe while in the field.