When our crews cross the Ohio border to serve our customers in Michigan’s Lost Peninsula, some consider it enemy territory. Others call it home. Either way, Buckeye and Wolverine fans alike can count on us to provide the energy they need, when they need it. But you can also count on a friendly rivalry happening behind the scenes, between our co-workers.
Despite growing up in Ohio, Dustin James had no choice but to be a Michigan Wolverines fan.
His father was a season ticket holder, and as a kid, they’d regularly make the nearly 60-mile trek from Toledo to Ann Arbor to see the team live in action. As an adult, he continued the family tradition and got season tickets himself.
Today, he’s our lineworker in charge for Monroe County, where he frequently encounters Ohio State fans – especially when he’s on the job in the Lost Peninsula, where residents get their power from a cable that runs under the Ottawa River. 
“There are quite a few Buckeyes around here,” said James, who grew up about a mile from the Lost Peninsula. “But no matter who they root for, we take care of them. Our job is to provide reliable service to everyone.”
Dixon Marten, a lineworker on the crew, said the team has fun with each other about their Michigan, or in his case, Ohio roots.
“My job is serving people here in Michigan. I enjoy the state and driving around during storms, learning more about it,” Marten said. “But I’m an Ohio boy, I still live in Ohio, and I make sure everyone knows it.”
Another lineworker on the crew, Landon Bryant, said he bleeds maize and blue.
“I’m a die-hard Michigan fan, I’m not a big fan of the Buckeyes,” he said. “I have a lot of buddies who are Ohio State fans, and to have bragging rights for another year over them for another year would just be amazing.”
Which team will walk away with bragging rights remains to be seen. But our crews will be ready to power all the fans and claim the bragging rights if their team wins!
