High Demand For Generators As Oklahomans Brace For Wet Winter Weather

As artic air blasts the Sooner State, Oklahomans brace for a potentially harsh winter just three years after a historic ice storm.

The 2020 storm crippled much of the state’s power grid and left folks in the dark for days or weeks.

Now, fears of yet another wet winter are leading to a high demand for generators.

“When your power goes out man, you’re jealous of people that have that generator going,” says Brock Flannery, the CEO of Flanco Electric.

Flannery says he been hearing from a lot of people over the last few weeks that don’t want to feel that way.

“All of the sudden, it just started getting cold,” he says. “Everyone was like I need a generator; I need a generator; I need a generator.”

The size they’re asking about is not 3,500 watts, or even 7,000 watts.

“This is a home standby generator,” says Flannery.

The cost can be anywhere from $12,000 to $16,000.

“A generator is really an investment,” he says. “You spend the money now; you don’t have to worry about it later.”

He says plenty of people are willing to invest. Flanco Electric is fielding between 15 to 30 calls a week in search of one.

There has been so much demand, Flannery’s company - that opened a year ago - was forced to expand.

The company went from four employees when it opened to 18 employees today. That includes a person dedicated to generators.

“You kind of have to adapt as you go,” says Flannery describing the demand. “I didn’t expect it to be this wild.”

He says they are finding a way to fill every order despite the sudden influx.

Those who call hope it will avoid the experience of three years ago regardless of what this winter brings.