1960's
1960
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1960 idle services were charged $36 per year starting in January 1960 and to this day, they have not changed.
- May 1960, Oliver-Mercer had 1,345 miles of line in the countryside. The co-op also had three substations, located in Beulah, Center and Fort Clark, a two-way radio system and seven vehicles.
- Nine people were employed by OME.
- In 1960, the board of directors adopted a 11/2-cent-per-kilowatt electric home heating rate.
- Eighty percent of the homes had to be heated by electricity and metered separately.
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1964
- January 1964 brought lower rates for mercury-vapor lights. The yearly rate was lowered to $33 for the first light and $30 for second light.
- The annual meeting, held on June 3, 1964, was well attended with approximately 500 people.
- Average farm consumption was 590 KWH a month in 1964.
1966
- Larry G. Vail was hired in October 1966 as Oliver-Mercer’s first electrical advisor. Today the title is member services advisor. The position provides help to consumers with electrical problems and solutions.
1967
- High-user for January 1967 was Truax-Traer Coal Company, using 732,360 KWH.
- New service in May 1967 was a drop box for payments. Today Oliver-Mercer has drop boxes in Hazen, Beulah and at the co-op’s main office in Hazen. The drop boxes allow members to drop their payment off in the drop box without postage, saving members money.
1968
- 1968 brought three new substations and two new transmission lines to the co-op’s service area.
1969
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- Construction started on the hospital on the east end of Hazen. Oliver-Mercer will supply the power to this community addition. Oliver-Mercer’s first underground power line was installed in late 1969, to supply power for this new service and for future expansion.
