OUC Named the Nation's Most Trusted Electric Utility by Escalent

Independent national study ranks OUC No. 1 among electric utilities in the United States

OUC—The Reliable One has been recognized as the No. 1 electric utility in the nation for customer trust, earning the highest Brand Trust score among all electric utilities evaluated in Escalent’s 2026 Cogent Syndicated Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™: Residential Study.

“Being recognized as the most trusted electric utility in the nation is an extraordinary honor because it reflects the confidence our customers place in us,” said Linda Ferrone, OUC’s Chief Customer and Marketing Officer. “Trust is earned one interaction at a time – through reliable service, clear communication, and employees’ who are deeply committed to putting our customers first.”

OUC received a Brand Trust Index score of 771 – the highest score of any electric utility nationwide – placing it among just 32 utilities recognized as a 2026 Most Trusted Brand. Escalent’s annual study evaluated 155 gas, electric and combination utilities across the country, measuring customer trust through key factors such as reliability, customer focus, ethics, communications, community support, and overall company reputation.

Escalent found that even as trust across the utility industry has steadied amid broader economic pressures, the top‑performing utilities continue to shine by strengthening customer relationships and demonstrating a clear commitment to advocating for their customers.

The Cogent Syndicated Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement: Residential Study is conducted twice a year by Escalent, a market research and advisory firm specializing in the energy and utility sectors. Utilities earning the Most Trusted Brands designation do so by meeting one of several high-performance benchmarks: achieving a Brand Trust Index score in the top decile, earning the top score within their segment, or scoring within 20 points of the segment’s highest benchmark while still exceeding the industry average.

For more information about OUC’s commitment to customers and our community, visit OUC.com/community.